A Quick Chat With Jim Van Horne

As a youngster, my after school routine would consist of running home to catch TSN Sportsdesk--that's what it was called before it became SportsCentre.

Although Teresa Hergert (now known as Teresa Kruze) would sometimes host, Jim Van Horne was behind the desk the majority of the time.

Two things were noticeable about Van Horne, his moustache and his professionalism.

These days Jim Van Horne busies himself training others in the art of media as well as some freelance broadcasting work--including a stint doing commentary for the World Poker Tour Canada.

I recently had a chance to talk to him about a number of different things, including the Canucks.

Beyond Robson: "Do you have any opinions on what the Canucks are doing with the firing and hiring of GMs?"

Jim Van Horne: "Well, Mike Gillis was a very competent player agent, but I think once you get into running a hockey team you take on an entirely different perspective.

It's much more difficult to organize a hockey team and put a team together.

Just because you hire superstars doesn't mean the team is going to be good--it's a meshing of the individuals and personalities to make sure that the dressing room is cohesive.

It's a lot different running a hockey team than it is representing a lot of players, I think Mr. Gillis is going to have his hands full."

"I feel bad for Dave Nonis. In a very limited time, Dave did a great job and I think people forgot what he accomplished with Brian Burke before Burke left Vancouver. You have to give him a lot of credit, it was Nonis who was in charge of negotiating contracts and watching the [salary] cap so I think he was given the short end of the stick."