A tribute to Bourque's and Sakic's Cup victory
Ray Bourque, Boston's adored player, is known for his respect for the sport itself. Joe Sakic, Denver's beloved child, still impresses the NHL players with his simplicity. Both are now linked by the most emotional Stanley Cup moments in NHL history. Let it be said that on June 9th, 2001, legend met class.
By Josie Lemieux Sports Central Columnist
"I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time, I am right." - Albert Einstein
When Ray Bourque scored his first NHL goal on October 11th, 1979 against the Winnipeg Jets, he probably felt at that moment something like great joy and a feeling of accomplishment. A new step was made in his life. At nineteen, anything could now be possible. Nobody knew at that time what life would request from him.
He built himself a lot more than a hockey career. After twenty-two NHL years, he experienced every possible pro hockey aspect: wins, losses, joy, tears, sweat, blood, penalties, bad ref calls, refused goals, boos from a reacting opponent crowd, as well as hysteria emerging from the very heart of the Boston Garden. He saw fans everywhere, knows about trophies, all-star games, and knows what MVP means. He saw himself develop as a star and is now a legend. He met money, fame, and glamour, the most outrageous NHL personality disturbances. However, none of these demons have been able to take away what number 77 stands for: respect for hockey, fans, and life.
While performing in hockey, he became a devoted husband to Christiane and father to Melissa, Christopher, and Patrick. He now had two families to take care of: his own at home, but also his teammates, and he could now consider numerous rookies as his own sons, for them not even being born when he entered the NHL.
The fame brought him the extreme pleasure of collaborating in numerous charity events, where all famous individuals can (and should) be implicated. Helping others is indeed the best way to thank life. He preaches team spirit and work on and off-ice, never forgets to mention teammates and it is a pleasure to chat with him always.
He refused to leave Boston, his city, where his heart truly belongs. He resisted the wave of multi-million salary extravaganza that swept the league. No way. He stayed. The feeling of belonging is incredibly deep. You cannot retrieve his Quebec and Boston roots, which are combined with commitment, politeness, and loyalty seeds. The works.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Norman MacEwen
It took Joe Sakic nine more years to accomplish what Bourque had done earlier: one NHL goal as a Quebec Nordique, on October 8th, 1988 against New Jersey. Joe had a more difficult time considering that the widely criticized and controversial Nordiques games were like a roller coaster ride: thrilling, but you could easily switch to panic mode and gasp for air. Number nineteen once mentioned: "We had a good team. All we had to do was to be patient." The Quebec Nordiques/Montreal Canadians rivalry is still today one of the most talked about topics in hockey. With hungry devoted fans on each side, media debates close to propaganda, such a rivalry will never be lived again. Sakic got over it.
In 1995, he saw one of his goals refused by referee Kerry Fraser during series against the New York Rangers. A real bad call, wrong place, wrong time, which was certainly costly and plunged the Nordiques into one of the darkest episodes in NHL bad referee calls history. After the game, with reporters away, a cameraman spotted Sakic sitting alone at his locker, looking down, frozen in space and time. Quebec fans cannot remember all plays and shots, but they will always remember Sakic's face, a pout which clearly represented the unfairness he was undergoing.
As a captain, he embarked on the Avalanche -- along with Debbie, the future Mrs. Sakic -- and sailed ship to Denver in 1995, passing from the East to the Western Conference. Just like Bourque, he faced multiple challenges, but bad call probabilities were left behind him. He held the Stanley Cup in 1996. Denver fans went crazy for their team from the very start and it was more than justified. Meanwhile, Quebec hockey lovers had time to grieve about their loss -- and are still doing so.
At 27, Sakic had two trophies that year: the Stanley Cup and his first child, his son named Mitchell (twins Chase and Kamryn joined the family in October 2000). Throughout the following hockey seasons, Sakic would become one of the most respected players in the NHL; there isn't anything different about him than when he came first into the league. He soon became Denver's most appreciated sport star, appearing on covers such as "The Sporting News" and the Colorado phone directory.
Just like Bourque, he is devoted to charity events and considers golf a good way to raise funds. Plus, he is perceived as patient, smiling, and attentive to others. It doesn't take much time to realize that he does this with everybody: what we admire at that very moment is not really him, it is ourselves -- in that nice looking mirror.
His heart lives in Denver, but he still has a strong link to his native Vancouver, British Columbia, where friends and family reside. He loves playing against the Canucks for that particular reason. He does not talk much about himself, humble as usual, because when you talk too much that becomes bragging, according to his father.
On July 9th, 2001, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup with two of its most looked-after players. Joe passed the Cup to Ray. Bourque kindly returned the favor by thanking Sakic for his classy move during the NHL awards, five days later. A smiling Sakic answered, "No problem," as the audience applauded. A better example of sports camaraderie, anyone?
The Avs logo is not the only thing those two players have in common, either. That same warm June night, they played the game of their lives, until the very last second, for different reasons, though: will Bourque come back? No one knows. Sakic will be an unrestricted free agent and incredible salary negotiations will then take place. Will he dress as an Avalanche player again next season? Bets are open.
No matter where you will be next season, thank you, Ray and Joe, for your sportsmanship, your devotion to the game, and the way you teach the whole world what hockey and team spirit are all about. You've always shown it as an example of what to do and let's hope upcoming rookies will follow in your footsteps.
"There is a great man who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the one who makes every man feel great." - Gilbert K. Chesterton
"I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time, I am right." - Albert Einstein
When Ray Bourque scored his first NHL goal on October 11th, 1979 against the Winnipeg Jets, he probably felt at that moment something like great joy and a feeling of accomplishment. A new step was made in his life. At nineteen, anything could now be possible. Nobody knew at that time what life would request from him.
He built himself a lot more than a hockey career. After twenty-two NHL years, he experienced every possible pro hockey aspect: wins, losses, joy, tears, sweat, blood, penalties, bad ref calls, refused goals, boos from a reacting opponent crowd, as well as hysteria emerging from the very heart of the Boston Garden. He saw fans everywhere, knows about trophies, all-star games, and knows what MVP means. He saw himself develop as a star and is now a legend. He met money, fame, and glamour, the most outrageous NHL personality disturbances. However, none of these demons have been able to take away what number 77 stands for: respect for hockey, fans, and life.
While performing in hockey, he became a devoted husband to Christiane and father to Melissa, Christopher, and Patrick. He now had two families to take care of: his own at home, but also his teammates, and he could now consider numerous rookies as his own sons, for them not even being born when he entered the NHL.
The fame brought him the extreme pleasure of collaborating in numerous charity events, where all famous individuals can (and should) be implicated. Helping others is indeed the best way to thank life. He preaches team spirit and work on and off-ice, never forgets to mention teammates and it is a pleasure to chat with him always.
He refused to leave Boston, his city, where his heart truly belongs. He resisted the wave of multi-million salary extravaganza that swept the league. No way. He stayed. The feeling of belonging is incredibly deep. You cannot retrieve his Quebec and Boston roots, which are combined with commitment, politeness, and loyalty seeds. The works.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Norman MacEwen
It took Joe Sakic nine more years to accomplish what Bourque had done earlier: one NHL goal as a Quebec Nordique, on October 8th, 1988 against New Jersey. Joe had a more difficult time considering that the widely criticized and controversial Nordiques games were like a roller coaster ride: thrilling, but you could easily switch to panic mode and gasp for air. Number nineteen once mentioned: "We had a good team. All we had to do was to be patient." The Quebec Nordiques/Montreal Canadians rivalry is still today one of the most talked about topics in hockey. With hungry devoted fans on each side, media debates close to propaganda, such a rivalry will never be lived again. Sakic got over it.
In 1995, he saw one of his goals refused by referee Kerry Fraser during series against the New York Rangers. A real bad call, wrong place, wrong time, which was certainly costly and plunged the Nordiques into one of the darkest episodes in NHL bad referee calls history. After the game, with reporters away, a cameraman spotted Sakic sitting alone at his locker, looking down, frozen in space and time. Quebec fans cannot remember all plays and shots, but they will always remember Sakic's face, a pout which clearly represented the unfairness he was undergoing.
As a captain, he embarked on the Avalanche -- along with Debbie, the future Mrs. Sakic -- and sailed ship to Denver in 1995, passing from the East to the Western Conference. Just like Bourque, he faced multiple challenges, but bad call probabilities were left behind him. He held the Stanley Cup in 1996. Denver fans went crazy for their team from the very start and it was more than justified. Meanwhile, Quebec hockey lovers had time to grieve about their loss -- and are still doing so.
At 27, Sakic had two trophies that year: the Stanley Cup and his first child, his son named Mitchell (twins Chase and Kamryn joined the family in October 2000). Throughout the following hockey seasons, Sakic would become one of the most respected players in the NHL; there isn't anything different about him than when he came first into the league. He soon became Denver's most appreciated sport star, appearing on covers such as "The Sporting News" and the Colorado phone directory.
Just like Bourque, he is devoted to charity events and considers golf a good way to raise funds. Plus, he is perceived as patient, smiling, and attentive to others. It doesn't take much time to realize that he does this with everybody: what we admire at that very moment is not really him, it is ourselves -- in that nice looking mirror.
His heart lives in Denver, but he still has a strong link to his native Vancouver, British Columbia, where friends and family reside. He loves playing against the Canucks for that particular reason. He does not talk much about himself, humble as usual, because when you talk too much that becomes bragging, according to his father.
On July 9th, 2001, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup with two of its most looked-after players. Joe passed the Cup to Ray. Bourque kindly returned the favor by thanking Sakic for his classy move during the NHL awards, five days later. A smiling Sakic answered, "No problem," as the audience applauded. A better example of sports camaraderie, anyone?
The Avs logo is not the only thing those two players have in common, either. That same warm June night, they played the game of their lives, until the very last second, for different reasons, though: will Bourque come back? No one knows. Sakic will be an unrestricted free agent and incredible salary negotiations will then take place. Will he dress as an Avalanche player again next season? Bets are open.
No matter where you will be next season, thank you, Ray and Joe, for your sportsmanship, your devotion to the game, and the way you teach the whole world what hockey and team spirit are all about. You've always shown it as an example of what to do and let's hope upcoming rookies will follow in your footsteps.
"There is a great man who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the one who makes every man feel great." - Gilbert K. Chesterton
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