I’m 40 years old. I’ve been a Canucks fan ever since I realized I hated the Maple Leafs and the Canadiens. Let’s just ballpark it around 1976-77. Never in my 40 years was I more excited after watching a hockey game than when I witnessed the Russian Rocket play his first game for my Canucks.

My colleague here at NWSB Kevin Vanstone summed it up perfectly in his Canucks fans remember Pavel Bure a happier time post on November 15, 2012.

“There were harsh ups and downs during Bure’s career with the Canucks, but the talent evident in every highlight pack he stars in is undeniable.

The rest as they say is history.

This week, thanks to current Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini,  the Rocket – Pavel Bure, has finally made his long awaited return to Van City.

I for one am extremely happy. I met Pavel in Victoria back in the early 90′s and he left one hell of am impression on me and I’ll never forget that encounter. He’s one of my favorite ALL-TIME Canucks without a doubt.

Yesterday in the Province Jason Botchford wrote that Bure met with Aquilini over dinner in Toronto after being honoured with an induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Step 1. Reconnect

“Bure said Aquilini wanted him in Vancouver this week, during which time he will work with charities, including the Canucks for Kids Fund Telethon at  Wednesday’s game.”

Bure said Aquilini wanted him in Vancouver this week. So did Nucks Nation!

Step 2. Honour Bure back in Vancouver!

Versus the Oilers on Thursday I was brought to tears. Rogers Arena erupted into an amazing ovation for Bure, it was LONG overdue. Most of us long-time, hard-core, life-long suffering Canucks fans looked at each other and said FINALLY.

It’s obvious to me now that the final hurdle has been jumped, and my team will hang Bure’s No. 10 from the Rogers Arena rafters.

Botch went onto to write “Stan Smyl, the Canucks legend and current senior advisor, said it’s time for Bure to be honoured by the team.” That’s good enough for me.

Step 3. #RETIRE10 Vancouver!

Pavel deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest Canucks EVER. He’s the most electrifying player we’ve ever seen in Vancouver, and he’s done just as much for our team “ON THE ICE” as Linden, Smyl, and Naslund.

Bure played for 12 seasons in the NHL with the Canucks, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers. He played his first game for the us on November 5, 1991.  He averaged a point per game in the NHL career (779 points with 437 goals 702 games). He’s third all-time in goals per game. In 2012 he was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Who can forget 1993-94 when he grabbed himself 60 goals, 50 assists for 110 points in 83 games.

The only Canuck in the Hockey Hall of Fame deserves everything this city can do for him. Do the right thing Vancouver.

Hang #10 up high, where it belongs!

Go Nucks!

VIDEO

Jason Bay made the final squad, Casper Wells did not. Also sent down to the minor this week Danny Farquhar, Jesus Sucre, Brad Miller and vet Endy Chavez.

Here’s the final Seattle Mariners 25-man roster.

Starting pitchers

Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, Joe Saunders, Brandon Maurer and Blake Beavan.

The M’s GM has made the moves. Lets Go! (Photo: Seattle Sports Central)

Relievers

Tom Wilhelmsen, Stephen Pryor, Carter Capps, Kameron Loe, Charlie Furbush, Oliver Perez and Lucas Luetge.

Catchers

Jesus Montero and Kelly Shoppach.

Infielders

Justin Smoak, Kendrys Morales, Dustin Ackley, Brendan Ryan, Kyle Seager and Robert Andino.

Outfielders

Michael Saunders, Franklin Gutierrez, Michael Morse, Jason Bay, and Raul Ibanez.

We thankfully don’t have to wait long for baseball. The M’s open the regular season tomorrow versus the Athletics.

With added power comes more runs and with more runs comes wins right Seattle?

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE MARINERS BLOG IN OUR CLUBHOUSE TODAY AT NWSB!

A great twist on a classic Vancouver Rivalry.

The 2 netminders Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo both say the media has blown the ultra competitive rivalry between the pipes over the top. The two netminders have some fun for the camera, caught on You Tube.

Canucks fans will LOVE this Video.

Luongo vs. Schneider.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CANUCKS BLOG IN THE CLUBHOUSE TODAY!

The 2013 commercials are finally OUT.

We look forward to baseball season every single year. And one event that lets us Seattle Mariners die-hard fans know the season is right around the corner is the Mariners releasing their commercials.

The M’s unveiled their ads Tuesday morning.

The newest season features Dustin Ackley wearing his love for fans on his sleeve. A Mariners fan does his part to create a little luck for the team. A diehard fan goes above and beyond to support the Mariners. Brendan Ryan is a friend to all, including those in the animal kingdom, and my favorite Felix Hernandez turns his skills into a hot, new product.

See some of your favorite M’s auditioning for leading men roles today!

Enjoy folks.

Bloopers

The Lineup

The Wise Ol’ Buffalo

Hottest Thing in Town

If this vid doesn’t play go here. (Thanks MLB)

Focused & Relaxed

Fan Mail

Did you watch all six? Comment below on which one is your favorite!

CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE SEATTLE MARINERS CLUBHOUSE AT NWSB!

The Vancouver Canucks (11-6-4) are at home tonight playing host to the struggling San Jose Sharks (10-6-4). The Canucks are coming off a 4-2 loss against the Flames in Calgary on Sunday, while the Sharks beat the Nashville Predators on Saturday for just their third win in ten games.

The Canucks are off on a three game road trip after tonight’s game that sees them play in Columbus twice and once in Minnesota. Gotta love these condensed season schedules.

Kicking off a road trip with a big win at home.

Since February 14th, the Canucks are 1-2-1 at home. With the team leaving on a three game road trip after tonight’s game against the Sharks, a big win is key to the Canucks taking a winning attitude and carrying it over on the road for the next three games.

Cory Schneider will get the start in goal. Keith Ballard who has been a healthy scratch for the last two games has found his way back into the lineup taking over for Andrew Alberts.

What the Canucks need to do to win:

Win the game at even strength and don’t take the bait.

The Canucks power play hasn’t been given many opportunities over the last few games, even still it, when they’ve had the man advantage they haven’t capitalized on the chances they have had. The Canucks need to focus on winning this game at full strength tonight.

The Canucks will need to avoid another gong show of a game

The last time these two teams played there were penalties issued before the puck was even dropped. The Canucks need to maintain a level head and not get sucked into any between the whistle shenanigans with the Sharks.

Ryan Clowe had almost as many penalty minutes as there were minutes played.

The Canucks will need to avoid another gong show of a game against the Sharks if they hope to win.

Get on the Sharks early

Get the Sharks the way they got the Canucks earlier this season. The Canucks need to score early and often and take the life out of the Sharks before they have a chance to get their legs going. San Jose has struggled in their last ten games (3-4-3) but that’s no reason to underestimate them.

If Vancouver can convert early it will make it increasingly harder for the Sharks to stand a chance at coming back.

Score some goals

On Saturday night against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings, the Canucks, for the third time this season, scored five goals in a game. The Canucks need bigger games from everyone and it starts at the top. If the Twins get going then it causes the trickle down effect.

While it’s been nice to see Jannik Hansen and Chris Higgins starting to put up points, it would be nice if there was a consistent flow of goals from the top six.

If the Canucks can win the game at even strength, stay away from the between the whistles game, get on the Sharks with a few early goals and continue to pop a few in the net, they should have no problem defeating the struggling San Jose Sharks.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CANUCKS BLOG IN THE CLUBHOUSE TODAY!

Did you miss the Huskies vs. Tigers Week 2 football game Saturday? We’ve got the highlights for you.

Did you miss the Bulldogs vs. Ducks Week 2 football game Saturday? We’ve got the highlights for you.

Hard to believe the NFL season begins this Sunday with a Seahawks matchup versus the Arizona Cardinals.

I’m ready…are you?

The Seahawks 2011 Recap

“History is a vast early warning system.”  ~Norman Cousins

The 2011 season was a head-scratcher wasn’t it?

The NFL Draft brought us James Carpenter, John Moffitt, K.J. Wright, Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell, and Malcolm Smith.

All still with the club in 2012.

We also stumbled upon Brandon Browner a CFL retread who had himself a pro bowl season, and a UDFA from Stanford named Doug Baldwin who had a coming out party.

The first season in over a decade where the Seahawks had a new starting QB in Tarvaris Jackson who beat out 2012 holdover Charlie Whitehurst. (Now in San Diego…again…thank god).

Matt Hasselbeck one of the most popular Seahawks EVER departed via free agency for the Tennessee Titans. Deion Branch exited quietly, just like his play on the field.

Also exiting stage left were past Tim Ruskell first round picks Kelly Jennings for Clinton McDonald from the Bengals, and Lawrence Jackson for a 6th rounder from Detroit.

Throw in a beastmode running back named Marshawn Lynch, and a maturing young, fast defense and the wheels were in motion for a return to past glory.

A UDFA from Stanford named Doug Baldwin had a coming out party in 2011.

A crazy first eight games saw them go 2-6. Wins over Arizona and the NY Giants.

Then came the second half of the season.

Seattle looked like a budding playoff team for the last eight games last year. They went 5-3 during that span, and did not lose a game by more than six points.

They also picked up a win over a very strong Baltimore team.

The Seahawks equaled their 7–9 record from 2010, however this time they failed to defend their NFC West division title (finishing 3rd) and missed out on the playoffs.

They scored 321 points, averaged 20.1 PPG good for 23/32 teams, and they had a Top 10 defense.

The talent was there in 2011, and its here in even bigger ways in 2012.

Seahawks 2011 Record: 7-9
Seahawks 2011 ATS Record: 9-6-1

The Seahawks 2012 Preview

Pete Carroll and John Schneider have quietly built a team their way up in our great northwest.

The 2012 Draft Class

After making a couple of trades to gather extra picks, the Seahawks compiled an impressive 2012 draft that met the needs of the team all the way through.

Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner, starting QB Russell Wilson, Robert Turbin, Jaye Howard, Jeremy Lane, Winston Guy, converted D-tackle J.R. Sweezy, and Greg Scruggs.

All but one of the rookies are on the Seahawks 2012 roster. (Korey Toomer is on the practice squad)

As we said earlier this year in our draft recap.

The first 4 picks were pretty solid, but the team continued to go defense in positions that were already stacked. Carroll & Schneider value special teams players, and we’ll see plenty of the rookies on the teams.

There were no sexy picks in this draft class, but the Seahawks fulfilled their biggest need with the Irvin pick (who might be the steal of the draft in all honesty).

More New Faces

The 2012 off-season was fun to watch. In came Kellen Winslow, Terrell Owens, Antonio Bryant, Deuce Lutui, Alex Barron, and two kids that went to Northwest colleges. Jermaine Kearse and Lavasier Tuinie.

When the team made the cuts to the 53 man roster, the only guy still around was UW’s Kearse (practice squad).

Making the 2012 roster however were some more new faces.

Ex Packer and Aaron Rodgers understudy Matt Flynn our new backup QB, and obviously one of the higher priced backup QB’s in the NFL was the first big signing.

When compared to Charlie Whitehurst and Tarvaris Jackson its obvious we have an upgrade at the teams most important position.

Ex Titans DT Jason Jones picked the Seahawks over the Rams and ex-coach Fisher. He came in on a 1-year contract hoping to prove that he deserves a long term deal as an inside pass rush specialist.

Charly Martin at WR hopes to be this years Doug Baldwin, and Frank Omiyale (from the Bears) provides depth on the O-line.

How far can the 5’10″ Russell Wilson take us in 2012?

Just in this week TE Evan Moore (picked up from the Browns who had released him) will get a lot of looks as a pass-catching tight end.

ON IR and missing the 2012 season are, Dexter Davis, Jameson Konz (the world’s luckiest football player), Matt McCoy, Cameron Morrah, and Vai Taua.

On the 2012 practice squad to start the year are Allen Bradford, Edawn Coughman, Rishaw Johnson, Josh Portis, DeShawn Shead, Kearse and Toomer.

Per Curtis Crabtree on Twitter on Thursday September 6th theSeahawks have added TE/LB Gabe Miller and OL Tommie Draheim to the practice squad and released OT Edawn Coughman and LB Allen Bradford.

Deep Thoughts

How far can the 5’10″ Russell Wilson take us in 2012? That is the $100,000,000 question.

Some people are in love with the idea of having him start for the Seahawks, others hate the idea.  I’ll let you know where I’m at after I see him play a few games versus the Cardinals and the Cowboys.

Wilson is now a starting quarterback, and with Pete Carroll making him the starter he is now one of the top 32 people in the world who play that position. That much we know for certain, and I have his back.

He is on my team, and I trust Pete and John. I hope for the best.

While we have re-stocked the cupboards so have the San Francisco 49ers, last years second best team in the NFC and the 2012 NFC West champs.

The Seahawks are going to have to come on strong if they want to win the fight versus the Niners this year. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but one would be wise to think its going to be a MAJOR challenge.

I’m not sure I should begin to talk about the Arizona Cardinals or the St. Louis Rams.

These two franchises in my opinion will be fighting for the basement in 2012, and I really don’t want to waste your time. They’ll be fairly competitive but neither strike fear into me.  I see a 6 win season in the desert, and for the re-tooling Lambs a 4-win season is in their future.

Our Seattle Seahawks have the potential to get into the 2012 NFL playoffs, but we all know the NFC West is not the walkover division it was back when we made the playoffs with a 7-9 record.

Remember those days?

Here’s  how I see our record for the 2012 Seahawks. I can only hope its good enough for a wildcard slot in the NFC.

Seahawks 2012 Record: 10-6
Seahawks 2012 ATS Record: 9-7

Still to come on the Seahawks blog, our 2012 Season Preview / Depth Chart analysis, that Alistair is working on. Followed by our 2012 Season Preview – The Predictions (Game by Game) so stay tuned.

CLICK HERE CHECK OUT OUR SEAHAWKS BLOG AT THE NWSB!

Did you miss the Red Wolves vs. Ducks Week 1 football game Saturday? We’ve got the highlights for you.

PFW predicts a 7-9 season for our Seahawks. That can’t be right can it 12th man?

WE all know the 49ers are the class of the division finishing 13-3 last year. Maybe… Maybe not.

PFW weighs in with another of their 32 preseason team previews. It’s 2012 NFL Preview time.

Can Bobby Wagner keep up his tackling machine ways and replace David Hawthorne? You let Hawthorne get away and we plug him with a rookie. I love it.

Who is going to lead this team in catches in 2012? Sidney Rice? Doug Baldwin? Golden Tate? Time will tell.

Can this Defense become elite? They won the PFW offseason defense competition, now lets hope they play like a #1 defense on the field.

Pro football weekly weighs in with their 2012 Seahawks predictions.