NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Timbers FC Blogger Matt Martz weighs in with a Portland Timbers Player Profile: Darlington Nagbe. Nagbe was born in Liberia and after moving from country to country, he finally came to America at age of 12. After going pro after his junior year, and a national championship with the University of Akron, Nagbe was selected second overall by the expansion Portland Timbers.
NWSB Inside and Timbers FC Blogger Matt Martz weighs in with a Portland Timbers Player Profile: Troy Perkins. Perkins moved up the ranks in US soccer through developmental leagues and college before landing a gig with DC United. Serving several years in America, and a few in Norway before finally landing a spot as the number one keeper with the Timbers.
Dave B. profiles one of the Northwests own, former NFL, and Seattle Seahawk quarterback Jon Kitna. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Kitna has come full circle in his playing career. From high school and college ball in the northwest, to the Seattle Seahawks, and now as a math teacher and football coach at Lincoln High, and everywhere in between, Kitna has definitely been a world class QB.
NWSB Insider Dave B brings us another Northwest Athlete Profile of a hometown hero in Seattle. Marques Tuiasosopo was a leader and a champion as a Washington Huskies quarterback before entering the NFL with the Oakland Raiders. While his NFL career didn’t pan out, Tui immediately went to work to give back with his alma mater Washington. Soon after, he landed at UCLA as a specialty coach.
NWSB Insider Dave B brings us another Northwest Athlete Profile. This one is a legend from the University of Washington hailing from Spokane. His name? Steve Emtman. Although labeled a bust after he entered the pro ranks with Indianapolis, Emtman will always be a hometown legend for the years he spent anchoring the Washington Huskies defensive line.
NWSB Insider and Seattle Sounders writer Clinton Bell brings us a Seattle Sounders FC Player Profile: Michael Gspurning. The native of Austria was brought in to replace the legend Kasey Keller. After stops with several teams in Austria, Greece, and Spain, Gspurning is now at home in Seattle playing in the MLS. With playing time in the UEFA Cup, Gspuring brings the attitude and aggressiveness of a top flight European keeper to America.
Dave B. Profiles one of the Northwests own, Defenseman Karl Alzner of the Washington Capitals. Dave tells us how Karl Alzener hails from Burnaby BC, and how he made his way up the ranks of the CHL into the NHL, collecting a captaincy for Team Canada at the World Juniors along the way and how he started his Junior career for the Calgary Hitman.
Dave B. Profiles one of the classiest hockey players of all time, Joe Sakic. The Burnaby born and bred sniper played 20 seasons and now has his number retired by the Colorado Avalanche, the organization he spent his entire career with, including the first few with the Quebec Nordiques. He remains part of the NHL landscape today as Executive Advisor and Alternate Governor for the Avs.
Dave B. does another Northwest Athlete profile on one of the most prolific NHL’ers to ever come from these parts, Paul Kariya. Kariya played the majority of his career with the Anaheim Ducks where he once held all the franchise points records, but his career was cut short due to numerous injuries, namely concussions.
Stylin’ and Profilin’ more importantly, Dave B. tells us about the life and times of Al Wilson, legendary BC Lions player. Born in Duncan, BC, Wilson went on to spend 15 years with the Leos, his entire career. He won one Grey Cup and remains a cherished past member of the organization.
NWSB Blogger Dave B. checks in this time with a Northwest Athlete Profile on Minnesota Wild defenseman Clayton Stoner. After minor hockey, Stoner played Junior B for the Campbell River Storm and eventually graduated to Junior A where he played for another Vancouver Island team, the Powell River Kings. Stoner scored his first NHL goal on January 4, 2011.
NWSB Blogger Dave B. checks in this time with a Northwest Athlete Profile on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Stephan Elliot. He had his NHL debut on November 25th 2011 – he would score his first NHL goals a day later against Devan Dubnyk of the Edmonton Oilers. He continues to be a bright future star on the Colorado Avalanche roster.
