Historicbecausein a shortwhile, we'regoingtoraisetwobannersasonefromthatfirsttrainingcampinStockholmin 2000 tothatemotionalfarewellhomegame a coupleofAprilsago.
Andtrustme, I willgotomygrave, kickingmyselffornotrealizingthatthewinninggoalwasscored 20 to 33 ofthethirdperiod.
Butthroughallthoseyears, it's beenmydistincthonorprivilegetohavebeen a partofchroniclingeverystepofDanielandHenrikcitiesjourneywithyourVancouverCanucks.
Youhave a strongfoundationwhenthewindsofchangesyourheartalwaysbejoinedMaybesomeleavesDanielForeverstayforeverYoungladiesandgentlemen, they'resimplyputthetwogreatestcanoxofalltime.
TodayitwasannouncedthattheCityandFamilyFoundationwillpartnerwithConductsforKidsFundtocreateanannualcommunitylegacyprojectthat'llberesponsivetothecommunity's needson a yearlybasis.
And I think I canspeakonbehalfofallofuswhen I saywedon't hatehearingyourvoice.
But, youknow, whentheyfirstaskedmetocomeouthereandsay a fewwordsonbehalfofDannyandHank, myfirstthoughtwaastoroasthim.
But I mean, I don't knowwhy I hadthatthoughtinmyhead, butitcouldhavesomethingtodowiththefactthatKatzenbergtaxwouldbetoroast, um, butnevertheless, putthisuphere.
I'vebeento a fewoftheseceremoniesbeforewithNa Z andTrevorandBigMatsandTorontounderstandthethingsthatyou'resupposedtohighlightandthethingsthatyou'renotlikewhenwehadallchalkblowsthewaterontheroadthenightbeforethegameandDannyandHankwouldhostcheesecakepartiesintheroomforalltheSwedes.
I mean, theywoulddrinkblackcoffee, so I guessit's allright.
Theo, that's That's thegreatnesswecametoexpecton a nightlybasisfromthesetwo.
Andagain, I don't wanttobethebearerofbadnews, butpartofthereasonthattheyalwaysknewwheretheotherwasontheiceisbecausetheywereanearpieceandtheytalktoeachother.
Andtheytoldeachotherwhentheywereopenand I approachedhimonetimeand I said, Whatisthat?
Andtheysaid, Well, wehave a wordinSwedenthatweusedtoexplainit.
Andwasitagain?
Oh, yeah, cheating.
And I thought, Yeah, nokidding.
Soanyways, I followedtheirleadand I trieditwithBird.
But I couldn't understandanythinghewassayingwhen I gave a warmortrywithRoberto, youknow, theyearhewasthecaptain.
Buteverytime I trytocommunicatewithhim, hetoldmeNocomment.
I knowweallknowthatDanielrecentlywontheswordandwin, butheranthemarathoninsubthreehoursandHendrickthisonetimeinAtlanta.
Betterthebunchofusthathecouldjuggle a soccerball 1000 timesin a rowbeforepracticeinthehallway.
I don't knowifyourememberthis.
Canyouevenhearme?
No, don't worryaboutit.
Butanyways, hejuggledthefirst, like 80 onhisforeheadlike a seal.
Andthenwhenhewasat, like, sixor 700 I justkickedtheballawayfromhimandgavehimhismoney.
Butthepointis, they'regreatathletes.
Butforme, thethreethingsthat I trulyadmiredaboutthesetwoguysovertheyearsweretheiraccountability, alwayslookingthemselvesinthemirrorfirst, neverpointingthefinger, shoulderingtheblameinthemediafortherestoftheteam.
Andthat's hardtodoin a Canadianmarketwhenpressureishigh, howhardtheyworked.
I mean, we'vealreadyestablishedthefacttheyhadterribleeatinghabits.
So, throughalltherollerbladinginthesummerandthetrailrunsandthebikeracesandthestrengthtradingwithRogerTakahashi, theyputthemselvesin a positionwherethey'realwaysthesecondandthirdbestconditionguysontheteam.
Tobesuccessfulinthisleague, youneedtobesurroundedbygreatplayersandyoumadeithappenAsyougetolder, youstarttounderstandwhatittakestobuild a teamandregretfultheyearinyearout.
Youputanamazinggroupofplayersontheice.
Thankyou.
Actually, inthefamilyMrCollini, Francesco, RobertoandPaoloYoumadethemcruelfor a specialplaceforustoknowthatthisfamilywilldoanythingforthisteamtowintheStanleyCupmakes a greatorganizationtoplayfordiscussionswiththemwasalwaysaboutwhattheycoulddotohelpusperformatourverybest.
TheywillhelpbringthisdownthecuptoVancouver.
Youknowthatwewillneverforgetthespringof 2011.
Itdidn't happenthewaywewantedto, buttoget a chancetoplay a GamesevenoftheStanleyCupfinalswasthehighlightofourcareers.
KevinBieksa.
Weenjoyedeveryminutewithyou, meandHenrik.
A prettyquietpeopleonyournotes.
It's a goodcombination.
You're a hardworkingguy.
Youmadesureyourteammateswereheldaccountable.
A trueleader.
I can't runningKesslerAh, tobecome a greatteam, youneedinternalcompetitionandyougaveus.
You'reanoutstandingplayerwith a bigheart.
Whodiditallforus.
You're a guyandyou're a guythateveryonewantedtoplaywith, whichis a realtestamenttowhatkindofplayer.
I didn't alwaysunderstandyourJos, but I'm suretheywereriverlong.
Wecametodrinkeverydaywith a smileonherfacebecauseweknewtherewouldbegreatstoriesonlotsoflaughs.
Youhave a specialplaceinourhearts, allofyou.
A tremendousoccupierswhoeverydaypushedourteamtobecomegreat.
AlecSadler, Theoplayer.
That's beenwithus, thelongestwe'vewatchedyougroweveryyearfrom a youngrookietoallagree, thefranchiseisbestdefensemanway, Missallthemomentsatthebackofthebusortheplanewakingupveryontheroadtohavebreakfast, talkingaboutlife.
Alex.
You're a greatfriend, andit's been a pleasure.
What a pleasurewatchingyoubecomewhoyouaretodaytoJohnSanderson, BrianHamilton, Paddy O'Neil, MikeBurstein, DavisornoBrodyTakahashiandeveryonewehaveworkedwiththroughouttheyearsbefore, peopleknewhowmuchshemeanstheplayersonhowmuchamountus.