Forever Number 16

December 17, 2008 will go down as one of the most bitter-sweet days in Vancouver’s sports history. It marks the day that Trevor Linden’s number 16 jersey will be officially retired, never to be used again by another Vancouver Canuck. It is a tribute to a player that has meant so much not just to the sports fans in Vancouver, but to the general residents of this city as well.

I wrote a tribute to Mr. Linden on April 5 (see http://blackshouldereng.blogspot.com/2008/04/end-of-era.html) when he played his last NHL game. This time around, I actually don’t have much else to say… Instead, I want to show you a few videos that hopefully can capture the illustrious career of Trevor Linden:

This first video is vintage Linden. With the Canucks down 3:1 in the Stanley Cup final against the New York Rangers, Linden and goaltender Kirk McLean forced a game 6. In game 6, it was Linden, McLean, Geoff Courtnall and Cliff Ronning that provided the magic that allowed the Canucks to play a winner-take-all game 7. At the end of the game (starting at 2:02 on the clip), when the outcome of game 6 was certain, Linden was high-sticked. While struggling to get to the bench, Linden was cross-checked by Ranger captain Mark Messier in a despicable, dirty play. What was so powerful from this clip was what legendary broadcaster Jim Robson said, “he (Linden) will play, you KNOW he will play.” And played Linden did, with broken ribs and a broken nose, in game 7. He scored the only two goals for the Canucks that night, and almost single-handedly helped Vancouver capture its first modern era Stanley Cup. The picture of Linden and McLean (shown at 3:10 of the clip) embracing each other at the end of the game is one I will never forget…

Fast forward fourteen years, and Linden was playing in his final NHL game on April 5, 2008. What is so special about this video is the tremendous respect Linden gets from his teammates but also from his rivals. Jerome Iginla and the Calgary Flames gave way to a tribute to Linden at the start of the third period, and lined up to shake Linden’s hands at the end of the game out of respect for the warrior player that has played over 100 hard-fought games against the Flames. It takes a classy guy like Iginla to recognize that class act that Trevor Linden is. And for that, I will always respect Mr. Iginla.

The last video is a tribute a fan has created for Trevor Linden. It captures some of the greatest moments in Trevor Linden’s 20-year career, including the two above-mentioned goals Linden scored in game 7 of the 1994 playoffs. It does not capture all the big moments (no Jeff Norton hit, for example), but it is nonetheless very good.

Because he has never won a Stanley Cup, has never captured a major award for his on-ice performance, and has never won a scoring title, Trevor Linden probably will not find himself a spot in the hockey hall of fame. That said, when looking back at a career that includes so many behind-the-scene charity work, Mr. Linden has touched the lives of so many people. His dedication to hockey and the community will forever be a role model that many would aspire to follow.

Congratulations on a great career, Mr. Linden. You will forever be a Vancouver Canuck, and I will always be a Trevor Linden fan. Forever number 16!