Sports

Bruce Almighty: New coach revitalizes Canucks

By Allen Coosemans

Published 11:17 PST, Tue February 1, 2022

Last Updated: 12:57 PST, Tue February 15, 2022

A fresh start can often be the spark needed to get things back on track.

Needless to say, that’s exactly what the Vancouver Canucks needed when they were dead last in their division with an 8-15-2 record under Travis Green’s coaching. The team seemed to be underperforming despite their skilled roster. 

That’s when, on Dec. 6, new coach Bruce Boudreau came into play. 

Boudreau helped the Canucks win their first seven straight under his leadership, tying a National Hockey League (NHL) record for the longest winning streak to begin a tenure with a new team. In doing this, he impressively surpassed Patrick Roy with six consecutive wins as Colorado Avalanche coach in 2013-14 and matched a record set by the New Jersey Devils’ Jacques Lemaire in 1993-94 and the Calgary Flames’ Geoff Ward in 2019-20.

Boudreau has received a ton of praise from Vancouver Canucks fans and media.

He was less than 24 hours into his role as coach when the fans started a chant: “Bruce, there it is!”

Before long, even the in-house DJ, Tom Fleming, caught on and started playing Tag Team’s legendary song “Whoomp! (There It Is),” which inspired the chants.

Fans were so loud they could be heard over the broadcasters.

Boudreau said in all his years as a player and coach, he’s never heard that chant before. He noted the reception is unlike anything he’s ever experienced.

“The thing about ‘Bruce, there it is!’ is that they make it about me. And I don’t want it to be about me,” said the veteran NHL coach. “It’s about the players. They’re the ones who are doing the work, they’re the ones who are committing themselves to doing things the right way.”

Boudreau wasn’t always a coach. The former centre played 141 games in the NHL—134 for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1976 to 1982 and the remainder for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1985-86 season. 

He went on to work behind benches in the minor leagues for several years before being named head coach of the Washington Capitals in the 2007-08 NHL season. That season, after guiding the struggling Capitals through a bounce back campaign, Boudreau received the Jack Adams Award for being the league’s top head coach. 

The Canucks seem to be in good hands with Boudreau. He has offered hope and positivity since his first days with the club. He inspires change, a step in the right direction and most importantly a fresh new start. 

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