First Go - SEP.13.07
Entry posted by Ryan Kesler
294 views
<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>So here it goes: first blog on canucks.com.
I’ll be the first to say, I’m not completely sure about writing all this much, but I’ll give it a shot. If Burrows could do it...
So, most asked question so far has been what I did this summer. Coming off the injury, I had a lot of time off without skating, so I started in early July to get back into shape. I was back home in Michigan and mostly worked out with a few guys from the Red Wings, a couple of guys from Michigan that were in town, and a few other rif raf.
It was a pretty uneventful summer to be honest. I did get out to Toronto for my best friend’s bachelor party – <a href="http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/players/playerpage/1137185" target=_new>Chris Conner</a>. He plays in Dallas and Iowa for the Stars. That was a good time, but not exactly blog-worthy stuff.
This was the fist year my dad Mike hasn’t done a skating school, which is kind of a big deal. A lot of stuff happened last year and I don’t think anybody was feeling up to it. He asked my brother to take it on, but I think it’ll happen again next year. We’ll see.
It’s funny, my dad still gives me pointers all the time, whether I want it or not. Being a skating coach, he gives me a lot of constructive criticism. I don’t want to hear it all the time, but he knows his hockey (he’s been coaching for over 30 years), so I always tend to listen to him whether I want to hear it or not. At the end of the day, he’s usually right anyway.
I’m rooming with Mason Raymond through camp. For most of last season I was with Burrows. Raymond’s a great kid and he’s not going off in French all the time. That’s a big plus right there.
I remember my first camp and how nervous I was. We talked a bit last night and I just told him, that he’s got great speed and great offensive skills, so he should just go out and play his game. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to do everything else, and forgetting what got you there.
I think he’s going to play in this league for a long time. All he needs is a little time at the professional level. He was in the second group today, so I didn’t see him at camp, but we’ve been skating together out at 8-Rinks for the past week or two.
I’ve been reading a few of the other blogs and there seems to be some misconception about vets choosing beds.
Yes, I took the window bed. He was in the room first and asked me what bed I wanted. I said I did not care. I mean, it’s a bed right?!?! I’m not one of those veterans who says, “Give me this bed because I’m a vet.” I’m not like that. It’s not an issue.
All last year Burrows and I would just randomly pick beds. It just depended on who got in there first. We don’t care.
So anyway, I’m by the window and you can see the golf course from our room. I haven’t golfed all summer, but seeing this course - I don’t know what it is - but I’ve got the itch. I’ve got to play it, even if I’m out there for eight hours.
I’ll be up front, I’m probably the worst golfer on the team. I’ll try to drag Burrows and Bieksa out there. Those two are probably the only guys on the team who are worse than I am. I don’t even know what my handicap is, but let me put it this way: my clubs are in serious need of a cleaning… from all the dust.
Anyway, I liked what I saw on the ice today. The new guys are fast and are really good. I think we improved over the off season. If we can be a team that’s tough and play’s physical, we’ve got the speed, so we should be a scary team to play against.</td></tr><table>
17 Comments
Recommended Comments
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now