Garrison adds humour to Heritage
Blue-liner’s beard contest provides some welcome levity in lead-up to B.C. Place contest
Jason Garrison has embraced his return to the Lower Mainland in the same manner the locals savour that first sip of an extra-shot latte.
Nothing tastes quite the same. And nothing feels as good to Garrison as returning home to play for the Vancouver Canucks, when the free agent signed for six years at $27.6 million US on July 2, 2012. He bought a place in trendy Yaletown. He was often seen around town. He was amiable, accountable and accepted any challenge to broaden the Canucks’ appeal and brand.
It wasn’t surprising to see the 29-year-old White Rock native take to Twitter to help drum up interest in Sunday’s Heritage Classic, pitting the Canucks against the Ottawa Senators at B.C. Place.
Winner of the best-beard photo competition — real or fake — was awarded two tickets to the outdoor game.
Of course, nobody sports a growth quite like Garrison’s bushy beard, so the interest level was considerable. So is Garrison’s interest in the game. And if it takes a little levity to help sell a game that could lack the drama of other NHL outdoor endeavours — like Toronto and Detroit playing in the University of Michigan’s football stadium, “The Big House,” before 105,591 fans, or Los Angeles and Anaheim playing amid palm trees at Dodger Stadium — so be it. Tickets were readily available as Sunday approached and there were freebies to be had through various promotions.
“It’s something I thought about just to reach out and try and create a little buzz and have a little fun,” said Garrison. “It was cool checking out everybody’s interest in it and the support. They (fans) were very creative. It wasn’t about who has the biggest beard. For me, it was who made me laugh the hardest when I looked at a picture. People even had their pets and their children in there.”
That’s funny. What isn’t is Garrison’s only competitive experience at B.C. Place.
It came from John Tortorella to commence a tough training camp last fall.
“My connection is the twomile run,” Garrison recalled of Tortorella’s idea to send his charges sprinting around the stadium’s field.
“I get nightmares going into that place now. As a kid growing up here, I didn’t get in there too much. But I saw a bunch of semi-trailer trucks pulling up to B.C. Place the past week, and with the games we had Wednesday and Friday, you don’t really know what’s going on in there, and I wanted to check it all out before the game.”
Garrison wasn’t able to completely check on the outdoor ice until Saturday’s practice, and as a blue-liner expected to defend and start the breakout, his concerns were obvious.
Especially with conditions that could change depending on the weather — especially if the roof is open — and his wide skating style. It helps Garrison move faster and lessens the strain on his groins, which were a chronic problem when he played for the Florida Panthers.
And how about winding up for a slapshot and having the puck bounce over your stick for a turnover?
“You’ve got to figure out if it’s going to be soft, you’ve just got to play through it,” he added.
“But everybody is on the same page and I expect it to be pretty good, but on that first shift you’re going to find out if it’s a good idea to pass the puck or shoot it off the boards. Around the boards is going to be the biggest thing.
“You’re so used to seeing people there and you have that depth perception of how far you have to pass the puck. Having that space on the other side of the boards is going to be interesting to see.
“I’m going to have at least 20 to 30 family and friends there and I’m getting pretty familiar with the history of the Canucks and bringing the ’94 team back. I think it’s pretty cool because it is a Heritage Classic.”
Especially when the only outdoor ice you find in Vancouver is usually in a glass.
“When I was growing up here, we had a couple of winters where we tried to make some ice in the back yard in Burnaby, but it really didn’t work out too well,” said Garrison, laughing.
At least the ice won’t melt Sunday at B.C. Place.