Have a story idea? Contact us at sports @theotherpress.ca @ Sports — CAMUCKS COLMEL By Josh Martin, Sports Editor ith a new year already begun, it’s nice to take a look back on all of the memories that made the previous year so special. With that said, let’s reflect on the top 10 Canucks moments in 2011. #10. Canucks get their 50" win of the season: March 27, 2011 For the first time in franchise history, the Vancouver Canucks captured their 50" win in a single season against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 4-1 victory. The Canucks went on to win four more games in the remainder of the regular season, setting their club record to 54 wins on the year. Can they do it again this year? #9. Back-to-back Art Ross Trophy Winners, April 9, 2011 With Henrik Sedin having already won the 2009-10 Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in regular season scoring (29-83- 112), it was up to brother Daniel to prove that he could do the same—and boy, oh boy did he ever. Daniel Sedin picked up two points against the Calgary Flames to clinch the title as the top point scorer in the NHL for 2010-11 (41-63-104), marking the first time in NHL history where twin brothers on the same team won consecutive Art Ross trophies. Something tells me that this particular event is one that will be hard to come by for many years to come. #8. William M. Jennings Trophy for goaltending tandem Backup goaltender Cory Schneider made his NHL season- debut last year, and he did not disappoint. Teaming up with starter Roberto Luongo, the tandem combined for only 180 goals scored against, which earned them the William M. Jennings Trophy for being the goaltending tandem to have the fewest goals scored against. Schneider played the minimum amount of games (25) to qualify for the award at the insistence of Luongo—who demanded that Schneider get the extra playing time so they could share the trophy. #7. Kesler gets the Frank J. Selke Trophy, June 22, 2011 After being nominated two years in a row, Ryan Kesler took home the Selke award for the forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive components of the game. The real kicker is that he finished the year off with a career-high of 41 goals in 82 games and still managed to dominate in the defensive aspects of the game. It was a real break- out year for the forward who showed flashes of superstar form, especially in the playoffs against the Nashville Predators where no one could seem to stop him. #6. Vancouver cleans up, June 16, 2011 One day after the Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals—when all hell broke loose and our beautiful city was literally getting destroyed in front of our very eyes by our own people—the true and faithful fans came back down to the core of Vancouver and cleaned up the huge mess. It was a memorable moment that brought our city closer together after such a disastrous day. #5. Manny Malhotra’s Return, June 4, 2011 Faceoff specialist Manny Malhotra underwent a tragic eye injury last March after being struck in the eye by a deflected puck. After several procedures and surgeries, he was told that Sad his season was over and that his career was in jeopardy depending on how well he recovered... Well, 29 games later Malhotra defied all odds and was back and ready to rock in game two of the Stanley Cup Finals. The crowd chanted “MANNY! MANNY?” upon his return. I still get chills thinking about it. #4. Clinching the President’s Trophy, March 31, 2011 The Canucks clinched the President’s trophy for the first time in franchise history in a game against the Los Angeles Kings, marking them as the number one team overall in the NHL. They finished with a remarkable 54-19-9 record and 117 points. #3. Up two games to none, June 4, 2011 What could be better than being up two games to none in the Stanley Cup Finals? Well, actually winning the Stanley Cup, for one. Alex Burrows scored with just 11 seconds into the first overtime frame against the Bruins to bring the series back to Boston with a commanding 2-0 series lead. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough to win the Cup, but let’s not take that away from this particular moment where every Canucks fan can recall was one Top 10 Moments in 2011 helluva time. #2. Stanley Cup Finals! May 24, 2011 “The Vancouver Canucks are going to the Stanley Cup Finals!” Who would of thought Kevin Bieksa’s bizarre slapshot blast in double overtime of game five of the Western Conference Finals was all it would take to beat the San Jose Sharks. For the first time in 17 years, the Canucks were moving on to the Finals. #1. Third time’s the charm, April 26, 2011 The number one most memorable moment of 2011 would have to be when the Vancouver Canucks finally beat the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs in a Game 7 overtime thriller. After their hopes and dreams were shattered by the Blackhawks for the previous two consecutive years, it was finally time that we returned the favour. With Jonathan Toews tying it up late in the third period and then Burrows firing a slapshot past the goaltender in overtime... oh man, what a game. It was by far the best hockey that I have experienced in my life. An instant classic.