Everyone has one, whose your favorite?
Posted 11:14 PM ET | Comments 12
The very first live professional hockey game I ever seen was between the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings. The year was 1994 and Wayne Gretzky was a King. Edmonton was leading the game 4-2 with 10 minutes in the third period. I believe it was Louie Debrusk had just been kicked out of the game following a fight/scrum.
In the next 4 minutes the Kings came back, tied and took the lead. The Oilers, try as they might, could not take it back. I was devastated, this was another year in a series of years that Oilers would push and push but just miss that 8th spot, the game itself was in March, meaning this was one fewer game the Oilers had to catch that last spot.
The game, leading up to the 4-2 score, was magnificent. The player that stood out to me, in that game, and too this day is my very favorite... Is Doug Weight.
Anyone who has ever read a post of mine, or even my previous blog, is aware of how ferociously Canadian I am, and also aware of the pride I carry for many of the Canadians that currently play the game of Hockey. So it may come as a shock that my favorite player is not Canadian, and more shockingly American. Here's why;
Statistically he was the last Edmonton Oiler to score over a hundred points in a season (104 pts*25g79a* 95-96). Not many more than the greatest of great can make this claim. Upside vs Downside; in his prime there we 2 out of 5 seasons he played less than 77 regular season games, was a great team player, most of his points coming from assists. While he did not play without spending time in the "sin bin" he consistently kept his PIM less 60 min a season for a better part of his career. On top of all this, I've never heard a player mention he did not enjoy his time on the same team as Doug Weight nor a coach speak ill of number 39.
Doug Weight was pure class, this year when St. Louis was visiting Edmonton, it was Doug Weight's 1000th career game, the team honored him at center ice pre-game, and the crowd was electric, off the hook even. it had been 5 years since he played here, but off those 1000 I believe he played 588 here. He did a lot for the game in this city, and as well him and Mrs. Weight did some great work for the cities various charities.
It didn't sting one bit.. Scratch that, it didn't sting too much to see him Hoist the Cup in 05-06 with the Hurricanes, no one could dispute he deserved it. He is a terrific player, who leads by example, his comments are always positive and he tends to take much of the responsibilty for his teams performance.
Honestly very few highlight reel moments come to mind when I consider my favorite player. One such play that comes to mind is a "only has to work once kinda play" when Dougie was behind the net, and he flicked it almost straight up, over the net and to Bill Geurin who slid it past the goaltender unawares. To me Doug Weight opitomizes hockey both with class and on ice vision and skill. This is why he is my favorite,
Who is yours?
Go Oilers!
mckeevs1980
In the next 4 minutes the Kings came back, tied and took the lead. The Oilers, try as they might, could not take it back. I was devastated, this was another year in a series of years that Oilers would push and push but just miss that 8th spot, the game itself was in March, meaning this was one fewer game the Oilers had to catch that last spot.
The game, leading up to the 4-2 score, was magnificent. The player that stood out to me, in that game, and too this day is my very favorite... Is Doug Weight.
Anyone who has ever read a post of mine, or even my previous blog, is aware of how ferociously Canadian I am, and also aware of the pride I carry for many of the Canadians that currently play the game of Hockey. So it may come as a shock that my favorite player is not Canadian, and more shockingly American. Here's why;
Statistically he was the last Edmonton Oiler to score over a hundred points in a season (104 pts*25g79a* 95-96). Not many more than the greatest of great can make this claim. Upside vs Downside; in his prime there we 2 out of 5 seasons he played less than 77 regular season games, was a great team player, most of his points coming from assists. While he did not play without spending time in the "sin bin" he consistently kept his PIM less 60 min a season for a better part of his career. On top of all this, I've never heard a player mention he did not enjoy his time on the same team as Doug Weight nor a coach speak ill of number 39.
Doug Weight was pure class, this year when St. Louis was visiting Edmonton, it was Doug Weight's 1000th career game, the team honored him at center ice pre-game, and the crowd was electric, off the hook even. it had been 5 years since he played here, but off those 1000 I believe he played 588 here. He did a lot for the game in this city, and as well him and Mrs. Weight did some great work for the cities various charities.
It didn't sting one bit.. Scratch that, it didn't sting too much to see him Hoist the Cup in 05-06 with the Hurricanes, no one could dispute he deserved it. He is a terrific player, who leads by example, his comments are always positive and he tends to take much of the responsibilty for his teams performance.
Honestly very few highlight reel moments come to mind when I consider my favorite player. One such play that comes to mind is a "only has to work once kinda play" when Dougie was behind the net, and he flicked it almost straight up, over the net and to Bill Geurin who slid it past the goaltender unawares. To me Doug Weight opitomizes hockey both with class and on ice vision and skill. This is why he is my favorite,
Who is yours?
Go Oilers!
mckeevs1980
Great choice but I choose Doug Gilmour - they have similar qualities, but I give the edge to Gilmour based on his passing ability and having just a little bit bigger of a chip on his shoulder/nasty streak. I do have to say that Doug Weight earned a lot of respect for his performace in the Finals two years ago.
great blog mck I think I choose ignla
Lanny was a sentimental favorite when we won the cup, even though gilmore scored the game winner every flames fan of a certain age remembers Lanny putting it over roy's shoulder for the game clencher. Great question though because it's hard to pick one!
steve staios. in the 05/06 season we went on our cup run, we were playing anaheim at home during the regular season. he bocked a shot whith his shin. it had obviously hurt because he tried to get off the ice limping to the bench thinking the block was going to cross the blueline into the neutral zone. an anaheim d-man (can't remember who) caught up to the puck and kept in edmonton's zone. Steve was able to see this take place and manged to limp back to his position. the d-man wound up and slapped that puck at the net at which point staios went down and blocked with that same shin without hesitation. that's why he's my favorite.
great story oil. its funny what 5 seconds can do to your opinion of any player. kinda like how drury will be putting his face in front of pucks for the rangers. but i'm not bitter.
Michael Ryder - The guys scores goals. He's young and isn't the greatest on defence, but he's my favourite.Go Habs GoZach Parise is a close second.
I give an edge to Joe Sakic over Brendan Shanahan, both highly skilled and high character.
Joe Thornton
you gotta love steve staios (the greek god of hockey!)... the shot blocking against anaheim was huge... he also pulled off a huge steal for the oilers in game 7 of the finals... i think it was right at the end of the 1st period and the hurricanes had just scored...probably... but steve staios positioned himself in the night blocking the view of the puck from the goal camera!!! kept us in the game after a lackluster 1st period... staios is a beauty!
mats sundin
Alfie has always been my favourite player. I remember when I was really young and Yashin was having one of his (few) great seasons in Ottawa and my aunt wanted to get me a jersey for my birthday. She asked what player I would like to have and I told her I wanted Alfie's jersey. She said " are you sure you don't want Alexi Yashin's with the 'C'?" (This was still when Yashin was a fan fav) Told her "no" and she got me my Alfie jersey with the 'A' on it. Its really small on me now but i still wear it. My most memorable Alfie moment will be his OT winner this year against Buffalo. The circumstances of that goal are just so ridiculous. My close second is from game 5 of the Cup final when Alfie just kept battling (scoring 2 goals) despite the futility of the situation.Love Messier too, that guy was the ultimate player
Doug Weight will never be remembered as the great player he was... which is sad... He was a phenominal talent and a great team guy as you said... He reminds me a little of Dale Hawerchuck... One of the best of an era that will likely never get the recognotion he deserves... except for the minority of fans such as yourself that won't let these types of players go unrecognized :)