Hard to Say Goodbye - APR.10.08
Entry posted by Ryan Kesler
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<table width=90% align=center><tr><td><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/kesler_blog.jpg border=0 align=left vspace=2 hspace=6>It’s still hard to believe that the season’s over already and that this will my last blog for the year.
This year definitely had its ups and downs - I mean I don’t have to tell you guys, you’ve all lived it with us. It was a tough year with all the injuries we’ve had to deal with but it as a really good group of guys this year and we’ve dealt with everything pretty well. There’s been a lot of adversity and narrowly missing the playoffs was so tough but we have to move on and be better next year.
Coming into training camp, I was really excited and I really wanted to prove myself because I didn’t get to play much last year with the injuries. It was tough having to sit out for most of the year so coming back for me this year was huge. This year, I not only had to prove to myself but also to my team and the fans, that I’m even more capable of being a good player. It was great to stay healthy and play out a full season, it’s just unfortunate it ended earlier than any of us wanted.
People keep saying that the silver lining of this year is that I’ve achieved career numbers but they don’t really matter that much to me. Personally, I judge how I play on team success. I would’ve taken two goals this year for the playoffs. I’d much rather have that than personal success but it didn’t work out that way so we’ll work towards next year and hopefully have another career best year.
<a target="_blank" href="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/04/040308_oil02_b.jpg"><img vspace="1" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2008/04/040308_oil02_t.jpg" /></a>Hopefully this isn’t the best for me – next year the goal is to make the playoffs and continue improving my game and becoming a better player and a better person.
In the midst of an already emotional couple of weeks, the last game of the year was definitely up there with the support from the fans and the ovation they gave to Trevor. I think I speak on behalf of the team that the fans were so great that game – we just can’t say enough about them. We all knew that before the game was over that it was going to mean a lot to Trevor, to the city, and to the team. We were getting beat down pretty bad there and they were still cheering for him and it was so special to see.
Coming in as an 18 year old, Trevor kind of took me under his wing and basically taught me how to be a pro and become a pro so I’d have to thank him a lot for that. The thing I admire most about him is without a doubt, his character. He gets along with all the guys and no matter what, he never complains and always gives it his all. He’s just an amazing person and whatever decision he chooses to make, it will be the right one.
<a target="_blank" href="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/07/dice21_b.jpg"><img vspace="1" hspace="4" border="0" align="left" alt="" src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/07/dice21_t.jpg" /></a>Andrea and I will be leaving in a week or two and fly back home so she can be around family to have the baby. She’s due mid-May and can fly up until April 20th so it's better we leave earlier but I think it’ll be good for both of us to be near family when she arrives. We’ve decided on Mackayla (not sure on spelling yet), which is the name I chose and my wife gets the middle name, Rylan. I just can’t wait to get to hold her. It’ll be exciting and between that and getting ready for next season, I’ll be pretty busy. I’m sure my time will be taken up and we’ll get to start the season again.
It's weird this will be my last entry, I still remember thinking I'll probably have nothing to write about when I first started. Hopefully I lived up to expectations (and maybe did a little better than Burr - I hear his blogs were great). Thanks to everyone for your comments and following the blog this year.</td></tr></table>
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