What am I asking YOU, the fans for? Simply to share your Canucks story and what makes YOU a Canucks fan through and through. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, simply send me an e-mail to nucksaid@gmail.com with the subject line: TRUE BLUE and I will send you the details. I will be featuring True Blue profiles all way up until to the first game of the 2014-2015 regular season, so there is plenty of room for as many fans as would like to participate! Every post will feature TWO profiles.

In part three I introduced you to Justin & Charlene (click the link below for their True Blue stories!):

https://nucksaid.wordpress.com/2014/07/17/true-blue-part-three/

Are you ready to meet two more True Blue participants? Here, we go!

Let me introduce you to, Jason Allen from Perth, Australia! Pictured below in his Canucks gear at a recent CAN/USA ice hockey game in Perth! (Picture provided by Jason).

This is his TRUE BLUE story, in his own words:

“When/how did you become a Canucks/hockey fan? If you live outside of British Columbia, what drew you to the Canucks as your team?

I started getting into hockey during the start of the 2009/2010 season; living in Perth, Australia the sport is currently in a small market, but it’s definitely growing at an extremely fast rate! Like many Australians, their first contact with Ice Hockey came about through ‘The Mighty Ducks’ movies, I was no different (I believe even Australia’s own Nathan Walker started his journey after watching the movies!); after watching that I wanted to get into the game, but at that moment in time there was no way to watch games live available to me, so I just watched video upon video of highlights and really just got my fill through reading up on the history of the sport.  But during the 2009/2010 season a number of live NHL games were shown live on national television every week, since then I’ve been absolutely hooked to the sport.

Nothing specifically hockey related drew me to the Canucks, not surprising at all since I knew nothing of the sport at the time… But I’ve always had a love for Canada and more specifically Vancouver ever since I was little; so it was came more as a “why wouldn’t I support them?” than anything else. Fingers crossed I can head over to Vancouver to see its beauty first hand and catch a live game/s over the next few years.

Who is your all-time favourite Canuck (current/retired/no longer a Canuck) and why? 

I can’t go past players who gave absolutely everything for the team; dedication, perseverance and effort over just skill any day! So with that being said, Rick Rypien has to top the list for me. During that first season of me watching hockey, his enthusiasm never failed to make me happy, to see him punch above his weight and thrive doing so was a joy to watch. Soon after, I purchased a Canucks jersey with his name on the back; it is still to this day my favourite hockey attire and I’m sure it’ll stay that way for many more years to come.

What is your all-time favourite Canucks moment?

“Finally, after 3 seasons, and 19 playoff games against Chicago, for Vancouver, it’s a wonderful day for an exorcism”. Burrows. Blackhawks. Need I say more?!

What is your favourite and your least favourite part of hockey?

Two things stand out as my favourite parts of hockey; first would be the intensity of the game, no other sport in the world can compete with a Stanley Cup playoff game. Second of all, it’s the connection and togetherness of fellow fans through social media; I’ve had the privilege of coming into contact with some pretty amazing people through twitter and I really do hope that continues!

Least favourite part? Hands down, the time difference between Canada/USA to Australia. Most games usually start between 8am-2pm over here, far too many times have I had to watch them on my phone during lectures at university…

Do you have any game day/pre-game rituals? 

Nothing too crazy like some others are bound to have, just the usual of wearing a jersey every time there’s a game on, at the very least a hat, if I’m out and about. I’m pretty boring in this sense, I’m usually far too focused readying myself for the game itself to worry about any rituals! Although I do have a knack of tweeting the right scorer every once in about 50 guesses, so I’d like to think they scored because I tweeted it…

How do you feel about the upcoming 2014-2015 season? 

Excited and optimistic. The selection of Desjardins and Benning along with the earlier appointment of Linden definitely fills me with confidence as to what the future holds for this franchise. Quietly still dreaming of a Stanley Cup in the near future, but it’ll be an interesting and fun rollercoaster ride we’re in for regardless!

As always, GO CANUCKS GO! -Jason”

No Jason, you need not say more…that moment will ALWAYS be one of my all-time favourites. No contest. Here’s to seeing some more dragon slaying moments in the near future! Go Canucks Go!

Next up, please meet Beck Mitchell…who is also from OZ! (Picture provided by Beck).

This is her TRUE BLUE story, in her own words:

“Hi, I’m Bec, and the 2013/2014 season was my first ever hockey season. Being from Australia, Ice Hockey is not really a mainstream sport. The only ice hockey I had seen was The Mighty Ducks movies in the school holidays. I randomly went to a local hockey game at the Icehouse in Melbourne and fell in love with the sport. I started researching the NHL and decided to pick a team, not knowing anything about Canada or the teams I decided to choose a team that reminded me of my Australian Rules Football team and this was the Vancouver Canucks. I ordered NHL Game Center and I was hooked.

Not knowing anyone else that liked hockey in Australia, I joined Twitter and started chatting to fans. I have met some of the most amazing people this way and all have been very helpful teaching me the ins and outs of being a True Blue Canuck, I could not have hoped to pick a better team with a nicer fan base.

My favourite Canuck player at the moment is Zack Kassian; he is fast and hard hitting I like that. My best memories have been sitting on the beach on my summer holidays watching the games live on my iPad while soaking up the sun and cheering online with people all over the world. I even drove 5 hours this past Christmas to meet a fellow Canuck fan who was over in Australia for a holiday. We are now lifelong friends, she has recently moved here and I was bridesmaid at her wedding. Us Canucks fans, really are like one big family.

My favourite part of hockey is the speed and skill in the game, its very thrilling to watch and games are always full of excitement. My least favourite part is that being in Australia you are so far from the action of the NHL, although I have recently started following The Melbourne Mustangs which is a team in the 8 team National AIHL. I have found a whole new group of Ice Hockey friends Australia wide.

I try to watch every Canucks game, whether I be on holidays or dragging myself out of bed for the New York games at 5AM! I am known where I live as the crazy Canuck ice hockey fan and I love it. I have bought loads of merchandise from Canada and wear it with pride all year round. I am always getting asked about my team and trying to convert as many Aussies into fans as I can. The Vancouver Canucks have me so hooked that I am even heading to Canada in the 2015/16 season just to see a game at Rogers Arena! A  crazy solo hockey trip for a crazy Canuck, just to see the team I love but I’m sure it will be worth every dollar and the 18 hours on the plane to see it.

I am so excited about the upcoming season. The team has made plenty of changes and it will be completely different season! It will be interesting to see how the new management and coaches run the boys and I’m hoping to see the Canucks in the playoffs. I want to say a big thanks to the whole Canucks fan base for being so nice to me and I look forward to cheering on the boys next season with you all.
Bec- Aussie Canuck”

Sometimes, twitter really is amazing…I love you have made some incredible connections through your love of the game! I promise you, that when you finally do come to see a LIVE Canucks game…you will not regret it! A game at the arena, cheering with 18,000+ fans is an experience like no other.

Special thanks to BOTH, Jason and Beck for sharing their TRUE BLUE stories! I look forward to cheering on the team with you and all of Canucks nation when the season begins in October!  There are more stories to come from fans around the world as the summer continues we count down the days until the NHL returns! Stay tuned!

As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.