TOM LARSCHEID RETIRES

Whether I was a youngster listening to Canuck games on CKNW or watching the simulcast on BCTV or working behind the scenes of Canuck broadcasts at Team 1040, there has always been one constant. And that's Tom Larscheid.

He is retiring after the Canucks season opener on October 9th vs. Los Angeles. A career that dates back to the late 70's when he joined Jim Robson in the booth.

The one thing that stands out for me listening to him all these years is the passion he brought to the booth every single game. His energy is something that i'm sure we all wish we had.

Tommy loved the Canucks and wanted nothing more than the Canucks to win. He would praise them when they did well. But wasn't afraid to criticize when the team was playing poorly.

All the while doing it with a style and flair that truly made him one of a kind. That is one thing I will always remember about Tom. There is only one, and ever will only be one Tom Larscheid. No one will ever be able to genuinely match that enthusiasm.

His one liners on the air are too many to mention, whether it be "bingo bango bongo, his name is Roberto Luongo!" or helping give Jeff Cowan the nickname of the brabarian. I know i'm forgetting so many from his career but you get the idea.

I can tell you from getting to know him a little since the Canucks broadcasts have been on Team 1040 coming over from CKNW, Tom is the same person off the air as he is on it. A class act who is always in a fantastic mood.

Usually during a break I would ask Tommy how he was doing, and he would respond i'm doing great. But I would mainly want to do it to get a great reaction from Tom.

One time i'll never forget is after the first break of the first period of game 2 in this years playoffs vs. Chicago, the Canucks were up 1-0 in the series and got off to a fantastic start leading 2-0 and dominating the play and I asked Tom how he was doing to get the reaction, and he was over the moon with excitement.

I just want to say thank you Tom for all the great work you've brought to the Canucks broadcasts over your career. It was always entertaining, it was honest, and more importantly, it was from the heart. I wish you all the best in your retirement.

There's only one stop remaining and that is the Hockey Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Foster Hewitt award along side your longtime partner in the hall Jim Robson.

KYLE TURRIS INTERVIEW

It's been a few years since I was able to catch up with Kyle Turris. He was at the Queensborough Best Buy today promoting the upcoming release of NHL 2K11. I spoke to him about the game, his development since being drafted 3 overall by Phoenix in 07, and his approach heading into Coyotes camp in September.

Click below to hear from Kyle.

RECORD BOOK UPDATED

The Express record book has been updated.

You can now check out the Express record for goals assists and points in game. Just click on the single game records link in the links section on the right side of the page.

Coming soon will be the Express all time leaders in games played, goals, assists, points and more.

SEABROOK DOESN'T WANT TO JINX HIS CHANCE

Express alum and Calgary Flames prospect Keith Seabrook has dreams of doing what his older brother Brent did this year. Play for and win the Stanley cup. Keith has had quite a first hand view of quite a magical season for his older brother.

Earlier this year, Keith was on the east coast when he caught a red eye flight back home to Vancouver in time for the Olympic gold medal game to watch his brother help Team Canada defeat the United States 3-2 in overtime.

Then when Brent returned to the Hawks, his magical season continued when he helped the Blackhawks win their first Stanley cup in 49 years with a 4-2 series win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

As a Stanley cup champ, one of the perks is to have it for a day to do what you please. Brent took it to the local fire hall, police station, hospital and a high school. But one of the memorable events may have been the roller hockey game that Brent played for the cup in a best of 7 of games that saw the first team to reach 5 goals win.

But there was one notable absence from the game, and that was younger brother Keith. He decided to decline to play as to not jinx his chances of winning the silver chalice one day himself.

"I invited him to play but he doesn't want to jinx it," Brent said. "He wants to keep an open slate so he can look forward to winning it for real one day. I'm sure, deep down, he's pumped I won the Cup, but he's also gunning for it in another way. I can respect that."

Here's the highlights from the roller hockey game.

TURRIS PART OF NHL 2K11 TOUR

The folks at NHL 2K11 are making a North American tour as a promotion for their upcoming release of the game.

Express alum Kyle Turris will be part of the Vancouver stop at the Best Buy in Queensborough and Thursday between Noon and 5PM. There is also a event on Friday, but I haven't received word on it yet.

He will be taking on all comers in a game. So take some time and check it out.

Q&A w/ KYLE TURRIS

(Taken from San Antonio Rampage website)

SARAMPAGE.COM caught up with Kyle Turris for a question and answer session ...

How are you staying busy during your off-season?
I've been working out every day, eating as much as I can and hanging out with my friends and family.

Are you fully recovered from the injury you suffered during the last game of the season?
I am 100% recovered from the injury. I haven't felt any soreness or pain whatsoever and I've been back on the ice and everything. Both shoulders feel exactly the same!

What is your focus going into Coyotes training camp?
My focus going into camp is going to be to prove that I can play at that level, show that I’ve grown as a player and make the team!

What were you able to take away from spending a year developing in the AHL?
I worked on all the little things last year, face offs, protecting the puck, defending, my skating. Ray helped me a ton and I feel like I have improved in all those areas.

Knowing that you’re a big cheesecake fan, what’s your favorite type?
There are so many good types of cheesecake, cookie dough, raspberry, strawberry, Oreo, all are great but sometimes just the basic New York style is the best!

YIP RE-SIGNS WITH AVS

Former Express Brandon Yip has signed a new contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Brandon Yip to a two-year contract through the 2011-12 season. Yip was a restricted free-agent.

Yip, 25, was recalled by the Avalanche on Dec. 18 of last year and went on to tally 11 goals and 19 points (11g/8a) in 32 games during his rookie campaign. He finished first among all NHL rookies in goals-per-game at 0.34. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound right wing also appeared in all six playoff games for Colorado, recording two goals and two assists to rank second on the team in postseason scoring with four points.

“We’re pleased to have Brandon under contract,” said Avalanche General Manager/Executive Vice President Greg Sherman. “With his energy and style of play, we think he can be a solid player for our team.”

The Vancouver, B.C., native missed the first two months of the 2009-10 season due to a hand injury he suffered during a preseason game on Sept. 18. He made his professional debut with the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) on Dec. 1 and his NHL debut on Dec. 19. After going pointless in his first two contests with Colorado, Yip tallied 11 goals and 18 points in his next 20 games. He later missed 14 games from March 3-31 due to a shoulder injury.

Selected by the Avalanche in the eighth round (239th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft, Yip played four seasons at Boston University (Hockey East), where he helped lead the Terriers to the 2009 NCAA Championship.

BCHL PRODUCTS @ NHL SUMMER CAMPS

That time either has come, it's present or it's in the near future when NHL teams will be holding their annual summer "evaltuation, development or prospect" camp. What ever you want to call it, you will find a number of BCHL products skating at most camps around the NHL.

Here's a list of who is skating where.


BRIAN LEBLER - PENTICTON VEES - Free Agent



CONOR MORRISON - SALMON ARM SILVERBACKS
CHRIS CROWELL - VERNON VIPERS
ALEX GELLERT - COWICHAN VALLEY CAPITALS






RILEY NASH - SALMON ARM SILVERBACKS - 2007 1st Round Pick Edmonton






TOMMY GRANT (Also took part in New York Rangers camp)
JUSTIN COURNTALL - VICTORIA GRIZZLIES, BURNABY EXPRESS






RYAN JOHANSEN - PENTICTON VEES - 2010 1st round pick Columbus
CHRIS RAWLINGS - SALMON ARM SILVER BACKS, POWELL RIVER KINGS, COWICHAN VALLEY CAPITALS - Camp Invitee






AUSTIN SMITH - PENTICTON VEES
JORDIE BENN - VICTORIA GRIZZLIES





KELLEN JONES - VERNON VIPERS - 2010 7th Round pick
CONNOR JONES - VERNON VIPERS - Camp Invitee
KYLE BIGOS - VERNON VIPERS - 2009 4th Round pick
DAMON KIPP - SALMON ARM SILVERBACKS - Camp Invitee









SEAN BONAR - PENTICTON VEES







MARK MACMILLAN - ALBERNI VALLEY BULLDOGS - 2010 4th Round pick






CAMERON REID - WESTSIDE WARRIORS, VICTORIA GRIZZLIES - 2009 7th Round pick
TAYLOR STEFISHEN - LANGLEY CHIEFS - 2008 5th Round pick
MARK SANTORELLI - BURNABY EXPRESS, SALMON ARM SILVERBACKS - 2007 4th Round pick





ZACH JOSEPHER - PENTICTON VEES








RANDY MCNAUGHT - NANAIMO CLIPPERS - 2010 7th Round pick
TOMMY GRANT - WESTSIDE WARRIORS, QUESNEL MILLIONAIRES, VERNON VIPERS - Camp Invitee









PATRICK WIERCIOCH - BURNABY EXPRESS - 2008 2nd Round pick







JASON BEATTIE - SALMON ARM SILVERBACKS - Camp Invitee
CHRIS RAWLINGS - (Also took part in Columbus' rookie camp)
BRIAN STEWART - ALBERNI VALLEY BULLDOGS - 2010 Free Agent signee




JOSH LUNDEN - CHILLIWACK/LANGLEY CHIEFS
BLAIR RILEY - NANAIMO CLIPPERS, MERRITT CENTENNTIALS







BEAU BENNETT - PENTICTON VEES - 2010 1st Round pick
CASEY PIERRO ZABOTEL - MERRITT CENTENNIALS - 2007 3rd Round pick
BRAD THIESSEN - PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS, PENTICTON PANTHERS






GRANT ROLLHEISER - TRAIL SMOKE EATERS - 2008 6th Round pick








MAURY EDWARDS - ALBERNI VALLEY BULLDOGS
BRENDAN ELLIS - WESTSIDE WARRIORS
AARON VOLPATTI - VERNON VIPERS - 2010 Free Agent signee
SCOTT ZUREVINSKI - VERNON VIPERS







*This list is subject to change as more teams announce their summer camp plans.