Monday 22 August 2011

#37 - Forever a Canuck

 The hardest post I have had to write thus far. I'm not even through the first sentence and I'm stuck. *sigh*
Rick Rypien wasn't a goal scoring superstar. He wasn't a game saving goalie.. he was a scrapper. He only played 119 games with the Canucks,  but the impact he made on his fans is bigger than any game winning goal and harder to comprehend than a 7th game final loss.
The NHL is full of goons.. players whos main goal is to goon it up, put fear into opposing players, use their size to protect their teammates & fight anyone they deem a threat. Rick Rypien was not a goon. Our Rypper was a hockey player who could, and did, fight anyone he needed to but he could also skate and score. Rick never backed down or failed to protect his teammates and he always made us proud.

Goodbyes are not forever.
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I'll miss you
Until we meet again!

~Author Unknown

A week ago today, Monday, Aug 15th, 2011, we lost not just a great hockey player, but an amazing man.  The fight for Rick wasn't just on the ice but off the ice as well.. and many may think he lost the fight, but I like to think that he just needed a rest from it.
When I read the news on Monday,  I think I stopped breathing for a moment. My heart hurt to think that our Rypper was gone . My thoughts went to his family, then to his teammates and then to Rick.  I won't get to deep into my thoughts & feelings because I do not know his whole story and I can only begin to imagine what he was going through and what his family is going through now.
One thing I do know, is that I am not alone as a fan in my pain and sadness. The outpouring of love, respect & tears I have been a witness to in the past week is simply amazing.  The Canucks, as people, have so many fans who care about them , who worry about them, who consider them as their own family and it is heartwarming to see.  It doesn't ease the pain of losing our Rypper, but it does bring some comfort.
My 6 yr old told me not to be sad, because now Rick is up there with the Hockey Gods and he will hear us when we pray to them.  She's a smart cookie and i figure she is right.. so Rick better be ready .. I talk to those Hockey Gods an awful lot ;)

Some Rick Stats - Rick came to us via the Manitoba Moose in March of 2005. His first game as a Canuck was in the 2006/07 season. He played a total of 119 games in a Canucks uniform, scored 9 goals and had 7 assists.

Rick Memories -
He wasn't just a scrapper...
Oct 16, 2009 - Ricks 1st goal of the season vs the Flames. 
Nov 3, 2009 - Ricks game winning goal vs the Rangers.. nice pass from Kes & great heads up goal by our Rypper.
March -2009 - Rick showing off with a short handed goal vs the Flames :)
but when he did fight, he sure did it well...
Rick vs Gill -
vs Selleck as a Moose - the video says 'Rick Rypien Last Fight", but I tend to disagree...
vs Eager - I think we could have used Rick in the Stanley Cup Finals .. he would have set those Bs straight ;) 

To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.
~Thomas Campbell


RIP #37 Always Remembered... Forever a Canuck




~ Let your soul and spirit fly.. into the Mystic - Van Morrison

2 comments:

  1. I have been waiting for this... I knew you would write it... and I know how hard it was for you to do it.... well done.. congrats...

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  2. Best one yet, Ellen.

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