Shes turning four and shes a very serious hockey fan.
Darcy Carriveau stood beside a giant van plastered with Canucks mascot Fin and described her small blond daughter Royal. A day after the NHL labour dispute was resolved, finally ending the contentious, extended lockout, hockey fans like the Carriveaus sought out the NHLs place of worship in Vancouver: Rogers Arena and the Canucks retail store.
In their household, hockey rules. The lockout was a terrible disruption to the family. Its been driving her crazy, Carriveau said about her daughter, but the mood is now jubilant.
Her dad is called the chief Canuck. Thats his nickname, said Royals mom. Shes been to more games than I have, probably five or six since she was born.
Standing alongside the Canucks promotional van painted with a large image of Fin and parked outside the store, the pair posed for a self-portrait. The three-year-old was too shy to speak or pose for the Couriers photographer.
At her first NHL contest, Royal was broadcast on the arenas big screen. My husband is making big plans and shes ecstatic, said Carriveau. For her, the main attraction is Fin.
Near Granville Street at the Red Card Sports Bar, Alan ODonnell doesnt give two shakes about the Canucks, but moved from Ireland to Vancouver three months for one primary reason. On Sunday, he wore a Detroit Redwings jersey behind the bar.
I moved here for hockey, said the bar manager who chose Canada over Australia on his three-year visa application. I love hockey.
The NHL lockout was more than an annoyance, it was a deep disappointment that cost him money and disturbed travel plans.
I booked flights to Detroit for the Winter Classic, I bought tickets, I had all these plans and it blew up in my face, said ODonnell, who holds no grudge. NHL hockey will likely resume Jan. 19, So Im pretty delighted, he said as the BCS collegiate championship kicked off Monday evening in the bar. Not a single patron wore a Canucks jersey.
People are saying theyll stay away. I dont think they will, he said. I think theyll get straight back into it, especially with the football coming to an end. The NFL playoffs wrap up Feb. 3 with the XLVII Super Bowl in New Orleans.
ODonnell believes fans hurt feelings will subside, at least in Vancouver and other rabid hockey markets.
Everyone is still pretty pissed off about it. They say they dont care, the lockout is over and we dont care, they say. But I reckon as soon as it starts again theyll get back into it.
The Carriveau family certainly holds no hard feelings for the millionaires and near-billionaires who squabbled for months and caused, as many believe, irreparable damage to the leagues image and profitability.
Im Canadian, said Carriveau, so I just want them to get back to the game everybody loves.
