A Bag of Pucks: Ryan Shannon, 2010 Weather and... Women's Basketball?

Posted by David Roberts
Filed in Sports
February 12, 2008

Ryan Shannon scored a clutch goal in the shootout on Sunday night to win the game against Chicago for the struggling Canucks. What interests me more is the reaction of Chicago goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. He took a shot at the back of Shannon's head as Shannon was wheeling away to celebrate. How did he get away with that? Recently, many players have been fined and suspected for similar actions (see Todd Bertuzzi, Chris Simon, and Steve Downie). The only difference between those acts, which received severe suspensions and fines, and Khabibulin's, is the result. Should the NHL be handing down punishments based on the result of the action or the action itself? Check out the YouTube video, make your decision and vote in the poll below!

In other Canucks news, Willie Mitchell looks like he will be back in the lineup sometime this week. The Canucks need him badly, as seen in the 6-2 drubbing they suffered at the hands of Colorado on Saturday night, when Marek Svatos and Milan Hejduk ran wild all over the depleted defense corps. If Mitchell was on the ice on Saturday, I can almost guarantee that one of those two would have been silenced and rendered ineffective. Also, who is hotter than Alex Burrows right now? (Well, other than Evgeni Malkin.)

With the Olympic venue construction completed up at Cypress Mountain, several test-runs have already been conducted through events such as FIS Ski World Cup competitions, like the one held this past weekend. However, poor weather derailed some of the events, causing delays and some cancellations. What is going to happen come 2010 if we have weather as poor as it was over the weekend? Exact same time of the year... and proponents of global warming and climate change are going to tell you that it's only going to get worse.

The SFU women's basketball team finished the season at 21-1 and heads into the playoffs to defend their title as the number one seed. Led by Captain Lani Gibbons, the Clan are almost certain to meet crosstown rivals UBC in the second round. Although Basketball has never really interested me, I think I just might attend the game between SFU and UBC should they play each other. Go Clan!

Photo courtesy of Canucks.com

Reader Reviews and Comments

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Let's hope it snows, snows and snows in 2010!

Posted by: C-A at February 12, 2008 2:55 PM | Quote Comment

Forgot to mention this, but as one can clearly see in the YouTube video, Khabibulin used his blocker to jab into the back of Shannon's head... which is a 5 minute major (intent to injure) and a match penalty if it happened in regular play.

Posted by: David Roberts

at February 12, 2008 4:46 PM | Quote Comment

Getting hit in the back of a hockey helmet by a blocker is like taking a baseball bat to a batting helmet. I'd be surprised if Shannon wasn't feeling that great later on in the night.

Fine the bastard.

Posted by: Jason at February 13, 2008 10:44 AM | Quote Comment

"Let's hope it snows, snows and snows in 2010!"

But not so much that events get cancelled. ;)

Posted by: karl at February 13, 2008 11:00 AM | Quote Comment

There is no way Khabibulin's act could be compared to Bertuzzi or Simon in terms of severity. What Bertuzzi did was grab a player, glide with him and then knock him senseless. Looking at the Khabibulin video again he gets only a glancing blow on Shannon as he skates away. For that kind of shove he would receive at most 2 minutes for roughing during a game, not 5 and a game as you suggested. Other than that, go Clan Women's Basketball!!

Posted by: Matt at February 13, 2008 6:44 PM | Quote Comment

If you look at the YouTube video around the 18 second mark, you can clearly see Shannon making contact with Khabibulin while the puck is still in Shannon's stick. Still a nice move nonetheless.

Posted by: Irving at February 16, 2008 11:43 PM | Quote Comment