Originally published in Prospects Hockey in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd For Vancouverites, the lyrics of the famous soccer anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” rang true this winter: “Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain, though your dreams be tossed and blown.” Heavy storms toppled Stanley Park’s trees, deflated the roof of BC […]

Originally published in Prospects Hockey in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd “Hockey’s in his blood.” “He was born to play this game.” For some participants in the CHL Top Prospects Game, these aren’t mere clichés. They’ve clearly got genes that scream of athletic ability, and their hockey-oriented family environment has contributed toward their rosy prospects for […]

Originally published in Prospects Hockey in 2004 By Lucas Aykroyd Chocolate or vanilla? Classical or heavy metal? Leafs or Habs? Whatever the subject, everybody’s got their favourites. When it comes to choosing favourite hockey players, the motivations aren’t always obvious. Of course, most people love a scoring superstar with a silky touch, or a scrappy […]

Originally published in the 2004 NHL Yearbook By Lucas Aykroyd In biology, it’s known as a symbiotic relationship. Two organisms feeding off each other for mutual benefit, like the bee and the flower. In today’s National Hockey League, the equivalent is a dynamic duo whose offensive production stings opponents but sweetens their team’s success. Look […]

Originally published in Full Tilt in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd The official motto of British Columbia is “Splendour Without Diminishment.” But even if you agree with former premier Bill Vander Zalm that life here in Lotusland is fantastic, there’s no denying the lows are just as much a part of our sporting tradition as the […]

Originally published in Rinkside in 2004 By Lucas Aykroyd Heading into 2003-04, optimism among Vancouver Canucks fans was at an all-time high. Despite bowing to the Minnesota Wild in the second round of last year’s playoffs, the team had made great strides. Vancouver’s exciting, offensive-minded game paid off with a franchise-record 104 points in 2002-03, […]

Originally published on EuroReport in 2000 By Lucas Aykroyd Vancouver Canucks GM Brian Burke recently told EuroReport about his expectations for several of the team’s European prospects in 2000-01. Jarkko Ruutu (LW, Finland): “He’s a very aggravating presence, like Esa Tikkanen was in his prime, only bigger and stronger. He likes to bang and he […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd Before Christmas, the idea that the Vancouver Canucks could not only make the playoffs but even contend for the Stanley Cup was about as likely as Donald Trump becoming a Communist. But since Christmas, the team has been almost as difficult to defeat as the […]

By Lucas Aykroyd At 5-10 and 165 pounds, Gilbert Brule isn’t the biggest player in the WHL. But since breaking in with the Vancouver Giants this season at age 16, he’s towered above his peers as one of the league’s most gifted scorers. Already, scouts project Brule as a high first-round pick in the 2005 […]

Originally published in Rinkside in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd Wayne Gretzky got a ton of attention when he centered the NHL’s most dangerous line with Esa Tikkanen and Jari Kurri in Edmonton. It was the same for Eric Lindros when he hooked up with John LeClair and Mikael Renberg to form the “Legion of Doom” […]