Canucks head home - Musings on a city in love with hockey

It was a hard fight, but now the Canucks are in shock, most likely trying to make sense of an intense series that is now over in their books. Ironically enough, they were the first to finish in the first round, with a squeaky-clean sweep against St. Louis. Those days seem like an eternity now.

I missed the game due to class. It would have been nice to have left SFU's downtown campus with a cheering crowd and honking cars going mad in the streets, and fans in blue jerseys waving enormous Vancouver flags. This activity, seen less than a week ago, is distant memory as well. From the recap on Sportsnet, the team banded together in support of Luongo's efforts, even though he felt he let his team down this week.

It's hard to tell whether or not the Canucks would have advanced had they the power they possessed during the St. Louis run. Many have commented on their long break working against them. With all the wrongful referee calls, injuries, what-ifs, it's all over now for this season.

Vancouver, time to get out and vote! Good timing too, an election is just the kind of diversion to make people get over their misery. And may I recommend a(nother) very intense series to watch, while I'm at it? Detroit takes on Anaheim at the Duck Pond tomorrow, puck drop @ 6PM PST.

Earth Hour, The Junos and the Freestyle Ski Moguls Championships

A typical Vancouver weekend in the city is chock full of events and activity, but this weekend was exceptional. For those into the Earth, we celebrated Earth Hour at 8.30 PM on Saturday. The Juno Music Fest and Awards were held in Vancouver over the past several days and included a block party, several showcase concerts around town and the Red Carpet leading to the Awards show on Sunday. In the local mountains, Cypress ski resort hosted the Canadian National Freestyle Ski competition, starting on Friday, and lasting three days. Skiers from all over Canada participated and the weather cooperated, adding full sunshine to Sunday's culmination of the mens and womens Dual Moguls finals.

I was amazed at the (small) size of the crowd, considering this was a lead event to the 2010 Winter Games! A free event right in our own backyard, and most of the audience consisted of family and fellow skiers coming out to show their support. I was able to get close to some of the top skiers in the world, including Jennifer Heil (who took the Gold medal), the Dufour-Lapointe sisters, Eddie Hicks, Vincent Marquis (Gold medal winner in the Men's division), Alexandre Bilodea, and Maxime Gingras.

Here's a few of many photos to remember the day.

Only in Vancouver

Kitsilano, to be precise! On my walk through the neighbourhood today, I spotted a garden with ski poles serving as stakes for the plants! Quite a funny scene; here's a photo.