Wow.  After attending my first ever Stanley Cup Final game there is really no other word that explains how I feel.  Wow.

I’ve been to many hockey games and many big events.  In fact I produce events for a living.  But Game 2 tonight takes the cake for excitement, emotion, highs, lows, and ultimately the most incredible and unexpected finish you could ever dream up.

Eleven seconds.  Wow.  Imagine how those people feel that didn’t quite make it back to their seats for the start of overtime.  Still in the washroom or out in the concourse and then Rogers Arena explodes.  I have never heard a sound quite like that of those 18,000+ fans as they jumped to their feet and high-fived anyone they could their hands on.  Me – I jumped up and down like I had just been called to be the next contestant on ‘The Price is Right’.

And then the beautiful thing – no one leaves. Wow.  The celebrating continues as first the goal is announced and then the three stars are introduced: #3 Tim Thomas (I think a bit of a curious choice given the winning goal he gave up); #2 Roberto Luongo and #1 Alexandre Burrows.  Burrows’ two goals and one assist have to rank as one of the best Canuck playoff performances of all-time.  This is a guy who had to fight (and chew) for everything he has.  His story is well documented so I won’t re-hash it here, but if Alex Burrows doesn’t motivate you to never give up and to work hard, I don’t know what will.

Two wins.  Two more.  Just two more wins and the Vancouver Canucks will win the Stanley Cup.  Wow.  I know how I feel…and I can’t even begin to imagine how the City of Vancouver will react.  Throughout these playoffs I have not allowed myself to get overconfident.  We’ve all been there before and none of us have wanted to get hurt again.  But this time is for real.  This team is for real. It is no longer a matter of if – it’s now a matter of when.

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