A rollercoaster.
That91裸聊视频檚 how Brock Boeser describes his emotional journey over the last year.
The Vancouver Canucks forward lost his father Duke to cancer on May 27, 2022 which subsequently impacted his on-ice performance. He was almost a healthy scratch against the Arizona Coyotes on Hockey Fights Cancer night on Dec. 3, 2022. The situation snowballed to the point where Boeser and his agent Ben Hankinson were eventually given permission by the organization to explore trade options.
Boeser even admitted in the team91裸聊视频檚 season-ending media availability session that at points he 91裸聊视频榬esented91裸聊视频� the game given the adversity he had gone through.
This off-season, however, Boeser91裸聊视频檚 love for the game was rekindled. He made some tweaks to his off-season workout program and re-dedicated himself to the game.
The results have been shocking.
Not only has Boeser regained his previous form, he91裸聊视频檚 surpassed it.
He now leads the NHL in goals with 17 after his two tallies in the Canucks 3-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. With the pair of goals, Boeser is now two ahead of Tampa Bay91裸聊视频檚 Nikita Kucherov and Florida91裸聊视频檚 Sam Reinhart for tops in the NHL.
91裸聊视频淚t just shows how crazy this league is. There are times when you get low blows and there are times when you have highs. It91裸聊视频檚 a rollercoaster but you have to stay even keel and focus on the process,91裸聊视频� Boeser replied when asked about what has transpired over the last year.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet sees a difference in Boeser91裸聊视频檚 game this year 91裸聊视频� particularly in his own end.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 played better defensively than last year 91裸聊视频� he91裸聊视频檚 conscientious. He91裸聊视频檚 also actually one of our better practice players and I think his practice habits have translated into his game now. Whatever the drill is, it seems like the spots he91裸聊视频檚 going to score goals from91裸聊视频hey91裸聊视频檙e there. The repetitive drills we do in practice91裸聊视频hich he is doing properly91裸聊视频omehow in the game he91裸聊视频檚 getting those chances. He91裸聊视频檚 also going to the net more this year. Now it91裸聊视频檚 about keeping that consistency level. He91裸聊视频檚 raised that bar now we have to keep it there,91裸聊视频� Tocchet noted.
Canucks captain Quinn Hughes says Boeser91裸聊视频檚 hard work has paid off not only in terms of production but in his overall value to the team.
91裸聊视频淚 see a lot in his game. It seems like he91裸聊视频檚 really grown over the last couple of years. He91裸聊视频檚 a man 91裸聊视频� emotionally and physically. He had a great summer of training and put everything he had into it. He came here and he91裸聊视频檚 had a great start to the year. For him now it91裸聊视频檚 just staying consistent which I know he will do. He91裸聊视频檚 been great for us. It91裸聊视频檚 not just the goals - he91裸聊视频檚 been on that matchup line with Millsy (J.T. Miller) and playing on top of guys and it91裸聊视频檚 just been massive for our group,91裸聊视频� says Hughes.
With 17 goals, Boeser only needs one goal to match last year91裸聊视频檚 total of 18. Barring injury, he should eclipse his career-high of 29 goals set in his rookie season of 2017-18.
OVERTIME:
*Elias Pettersson91裸聊视频檚 goal against Anaheim was just his second in ten games. There has been plenty of speculation on whether or not Pettersson is playing hurt but his play in the third period against the Ducks was encouraging as he was his old dominant self. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 happy with the fact that he91裸聊视频檚 recognized that he has to play better in certain situations. He knows it. I also think sometimes he91裸聊视频檚 reading off other people too much. We talked about it the other day 91裸聊视频� you just go. You do your thing. It91裸聊视频檚 our job to get other people to react off of you. He91裸聊视频檚 just got to be more decisive and play a little quicker through the neutral zone,91裸聊视频� answered Tocchet when asked if he thought Pettersson was staying true to the process.
*Forward Andrei Kuzmenko returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for two games. After the game, Tocchet categorized Kuzmenko91裸聊视频檚 performance as 91裸聊视频極K91裸聊视频�.
*Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev left the game in the third period after taking a shot in the left leg and did not return. Tocchet said afterwards that he should be 91裸聊视频極K91裸聊视频� after X-Rays came back negative.
*Prior the game, the Canucks announced that they traded forward Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks for a fifth-round draft pick. The move clears a $4.15 contract off the books and gives the organization some wiggle room in an effort to acquire a defenseman.
*Boeser was at the University of North Dakota the same time as Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira. While Boeser isn91裸聊视频檛 exactly close to the Oliveira these days, he speaks highly of the Bomber running back91裸聊视频檚 character having known him during his time at UND from 2015 to 2017.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 91裸聊视频渢he Moj91裸聊视频� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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