From the drama and disappointment of the Vancouver Canucks to the Sochi Olympics to the Grey Cup, it was a busy year for B.C. sports fans. Here is a look back at some of 2014’s top sports stories.
A new era for the Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks didn’t have a successful year, but it certainly was memorable. Fiery head coach John Tortorella was shown the door after one season, taking general manager Mike Gillis along with him. The beginning of the end for Tortorella came in January when he charged the Calgary Flames locker room following a first period line brawl. In March, Tortorella benched goaltender Roberto Luongo for the Winter Classic, effectively ending the goalkeeper’s relationship with the team. The team finished the season well out of playoff contention, forcing the exit of Tortorella and Gillis. Ownership brought in Trevor Linden as the team’s new president. Linden brought in Jim Benning as his general manager, who promptly traded longtime Canuck Ryan Kesler to the Anaheim Ducks. Linden also hired head coach Willie Desjardins.
British Columbians make the podium at Sochi
British Columbians may not have been as excited about the 2014 Winter Olympics as they were about the 2010 Games, which took place in Vancouver, but there were more than a few highlights for local sports fans who got up early to watch the Sochi Games.
Several British Columbians made the podium, including gold medallist Marielle Thompson and fellow freestyle skier Kelsey Serwa, speedskater Denny Morrison, and short track speedskater Jessica Hewitt.
Canada’s gold-medal winning men’s hockey team featured players with B.C. roots such as Jamie Benn, Dan Hamhuis, Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, and goaltender Carey Price.
B.C. catches Seahawks fever
12th man flags flew across B.C. as the Seattle Seahawks won their first Super Bowl on Feb. 2. The Seahawks were a boon for local sports bars as many sports fans adopted the hard-hitting team located a few hours down the I-5.
The Seahawks honoured their fans north of the border by bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy to Vancouver.
R.I.P Pat Quinn
The hockey world suffered a huge loss with the passing of Pat Quinn. Nowhere was the loss felt more strongly than in B.C. where the hockey giant coached the Vancouver Canucks to a Stanley Cup Final and helped establish the WHL’s Vancouver Giants.
Quinn died on Nov. 23, after battling a long illness. The outpouring from the sports world, following news of his death, is a measure of how legendary he was.
Since his passing, some have floated ideas of how to best memorialize Quinn. Radio host Tom Mayenknecht has spearheaded an effort to rename a street near Rogers Arena Pat Quinn Way. Another movement is afoot to rename the Pacific Coliseum in his honour.
Playoff disappointment for the Whitecaps
The Whitecaps showed signs of progress under new head coach Carl Robinson, who excelled in acquiring talented players from Latin America such as Pedro Morales, Sebastian Fernandez, Matias Laba and Kendall Waston.
The team squeaked into the playoffs where they fell to FC Dallas thanks to a controversial penalty call.
B.C. Lions fail to host the Grey Cup at home
The last three Grey Cups featured teams playing in their home stadium. That streak ended after the B.C. Lions’ disappointing 9-9 season and a blowout loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the playoffs. Following the loss, Lions GM Wally Buono fired head coach Mike Benevides, replacing him with Jeff Tedford.
BC Place played host to the 2014 Grey Cup in November, with the Calgary Stampeders beating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Nick Taylor earns PGA win
Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor won the Sanderson Farms Championship in November, becoming the first Canadian to win on the PGA tour since Stephen Ames in 2009.
-with files from Amy Judd, Justin McElroy, Yuliya Talmazan and Canadian Press
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