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A Big Difference - OCT.23.2007


Mason Raymond

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<table width=90% align=center><tr><td><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/raymond_blog.jpg border=0 align=left vspace=3 hspace=4>Again, it’s been too long since I last submitted a blog, but in my defence, it’s been hectic. This is a far cry from college hockey.

Last week I went from Vancouver to Winnipeg and back in 36 hours.

I was told after the San Jose game on Monday that I was being sent down. I had a pretty good idea that I was coming back up, so I didn’t check out of my hotel here in Vancouver. I just grabbed my plane clothes, a suit, and my shaving kit and left for the airport on Tuesday around noon. Thankfully I didn’t play that night.

We practiced Wednesday morning, played that night (we beat the Rochester Americans 7-1) and was back on a plane to Vancouver at 3:30 am (PST).

I don’t remember much, I slept most of the way to tell you the truth, but obviously a flight that early in the morning is tough on the body. It was good to get in Thursday so I had time to rest up for Friday’s game.

That kind of thing does throw you off, but that’s the nature of the business I guess.

<a href=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/10/oct1807_practice03_b.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/10/oct1807_practice03_t.jpg border=0 align=right vspace=3 hspace=4></a>Obviously I want to be here in Vancouver, but it was good to go down and play in some key situations and be a go-to guy.

Now that I’ve played a couple of games here, I really see the difference between the NHL and the AHL.

The game is different, but I don’t know how to pinpoint it exactly. Sometimes when you think you have more time to make a play here in the NHL, it’s less time down there – which is weird. And it seems like it’s the opposite there. I guess it’s just more scrambly or something.

And I’m supposed to write something about my “Welcome to the NHL” moment. That’s hard because that was almost a month ago now, and I don’t know that I really had one.

I guess it really sank in when I lined up for a face-off in the home-opener. I looked over and Thornton and Cheechoo were there – that’s pretty neat. I was watching them last year in the playoffs and all of the sudden they’re right there, and you’re playing against them. That was a neat experience.

<a href=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/sep2607_sharks03_b.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/sep2607_sharks03_t.jpg border=0 align=left vspace=3 hspace=4></a>Learning lots though. Some of the guys up here have really helped me out and gone way out of their way to make me feel comfortable.

They’ve been very welcoming and have always made it clear that if I need anything, I can come to them.

I went over to Trevor Linden’s one night for a great dinner. His wife cooked pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and salad. And a few of us guys went to Markus’s house for Thanksgiving dinner: myself, Ryan Shannon, Mike Weaver, and Mattias Ohlund’s family. It was a wonderful dinner.

You’re really thankful for it when you’ve only had two home-cooked meals in the last month and a half.

Most of us guys at the hotel eat together. Nobody’s cooking, so Earls has been pretty popular. So have The Keg and Cactus Club.

Somebody asked me to talk about my skates, I guess because they’re different. I wear Graf skates. Not many guys wear them – for one, they don’t do sponsorships. Bauer is probably the biggest skate around the locker room, but I like Grafs.

I know the owner from growing up in Calgary.They also have a factory in Switzerland. And for the guy that asked, I take a 5/8ths hollow. I like them sharp.

Okay, I’ve got to get some things together before the next flight. Hope that was okay.</td></tr></table>

13 Comments


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Guest #1keslerfan

Posted

Ahaha sleepin on the plane nice.

i cant beleave no one has commented on our blog yet lol

gosh but your doing freakin awesome. the game were

we played the blue jackets you where great. its so

amazing how fast you are. but good luck in the game

today, an try not to hit someone in the face with

your stick today =p haha.

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Guest Kesler Burrows Raymond Fan

Posted

Hello I was looking forward in seeing you playing on the Moose before you go back up. But I just wanted to say hope your having fun. Maybe get to see back in the Moose again, for a bit.

Keep up the good work!!!!

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wow... pork tenderloin..... i could go for some of that right now.... sadly i have fish and chips...

Cactus Club is the way!!!

haha

have fun tomorrow night..

Go Canucks! Go!

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Sounds like your having so much fun:)

Thats cool Linden, Naslund invited you guys to eat with them!

Your doing great out on the ice

Have fun with the twins tomorrow

Goodluck!

GO CANUCKS GO!!!!

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Hey Mason! It was a good seeing you play hockey for two years at UMD, but it is great seeing that you and nisky are getting some NHL experience. B) Hope to see you play when they play the Wild. An avid UMD Bulldog hockey fan..
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hey man god luck and lets see ya light it up with the twins i want to see ollie the goalie with a burn on the back of his neck from the red light go nucks go i envy you for being able to go to lindens house hes my hero you should convince him to blog and keep up the blogging its been great

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Man, must be such an overwhelming experience. I can see how playing an away game must be difficult after a big plane ride.

You're doing awesome out there and seem to be playing with a lot of determination!

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Hey Mason keep it up man, you've got some serious speed haha..you'll start putting up crazy big numbers before you know it!

-Nick Morgan

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wow sounds like youre having a good time playing in Vancouver. Really hope that you can stay here for the rest of the season because we need your speed! Good Luck and hopefully you can get that 1st NHL goal soon.

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Nice blog Mason! You guys did awesome out there with the caps. :) Your so super fast!! :o It's really fun to watch. Anyways, best of luck the rest of the way and the blogs are awesome.

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I felt so sorry for you the other day when the accident happened with Taylor's eye, you looked so concerned for him over at the bench.

Really enjoying reading your blog, keep it going when you get time :)

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