The Engleson Files

Today the Vancouver Canucks made it official in recognizing Trevor Linden as one of their greatest players to ever play for the organization by raising his number #16 jersey to the rafters. While the Canucks do not boast the great lineage of players as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings or Montreal Canadiens do, but in British Columbia there are not too many people more respected in the game of hockey than #16. Linden was a great player and captain and gave all of us Canucks fans many wonderful memories; but one of his most enduring charms was how he carried himself off the ice as well - pure class. Vancouver is his home and he has always selflessly given himself to the community in the hopes of making it a better place. It absolutely sickened me what Mike Keenan and Mark Messier did to him back in 1998 and it certainly seemed to have hurt Linden as well; and it was so great that Brian Burke brought him back. My most enduring memories of Linden definitely come from the early 1990’s when he was given the captaincy and the Canucks began to turn themselves into a really good hockey team (and of course who can forget his great play during the ‘94 Stanley Cup run!) This honour is certainly deserved for Trevor Linden and I hope to see him back in the organization again very soon. Congratulations Trev, and thanks for everything you have given!