Kiefer Sherwood was a thorn in the Vancouver Canucks91裸聊视频� side last spring.
Eight months later, the feisty winger has bloomed into one of the team91裸聊视频檚 top forwards.
Chants of 91裸聊视频淜ie-fer Sher-wood!91裸聊视频� echoed through Rogers Arena at multiple points on Monday night as the American forward scored his first NHL hat trick and powered the Canucks to a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Hearing his name ring out was 91裸聊视频渁 pretty special honour,91裸聊视频� Sherwood said.
91裸聊视频淚 was trying to take it in,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 really appreciate the fan support. Obviously, their passion is something that Vancouver is known for, and it91裸聊视频檚 pretty cool. I91裸聊视频檒l definitely remember it.91裸聊视频�
The Canucks91裸聊视频� faithful weren91裸聊视频檛 cheering for Sherwood in April as he used his speed and aggression to pester the team91裸聊视频檚 stars throughout a first-round playoff series between Vancouver and the Nashville Predators. The Canucks eventually prevailed in the six-game set.
The post-season run capped a career-best regular season where he racked up 10 goals, 17 assists and 41 penalty minutes in 68 games.
The 29-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, went on to sign a two-year, US$3-million deal with Vancouver when free agency opened on July 1.
Thirty games into his first season with the Canucks (16-9-5), he91裸聊视频檚 already put up a career-high 11 goals and is tied with Pius Suter for the second-most on the team behind Jake DeBrusk (14). Sherwood also leads the league in hits (184).
91裸聊视频淚 just try to put my work boots on each and every night and I think when you do that, sometimes good things happen,91裸聊视频� he said Monday.
91裸聊视频淎nd I91裸聊视频檓 just grateful for opportunity. There91裸聊视频檚 a lot of good players up and down the line up here, so it doesn91裸聊视频檛 really matter who we91裸聊视频檙e playing with, but I think when everyone contributes, it91裸聊视频檚 a fun group to be a part of and we showed that tonight.91裸聊视频�
The Canucks believed the six-foot-tall, 194-pound winger had more offence to give when they signed him, said head coach Rick Tocchet.
91裸聊视频淭his summer, I called him on a Sunday, he was going to shoot pucks because he told me, 91裸聊视频楬ey, I91裸聊视频檝e got some offensive game in me.91裸聊视频� So he does,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd he91裸聊视频檚 obviously an aggressive guy, and a guy that you need on the ice who gives us juice.91裸聊视频�
Sherwood had an even-strength goal, a short-handed goal, an empty-net goal and three assists in nine minutes and 31 seconds of ice time against the Avs.
He adds 91裸聊视频渁 little bit of everything91裸聊视频� to Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 team, said centre J.T. Miller.
91裸聊视频淥bviously the physical aspect everybody91裸聊视频檚 talked about,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut he91裸聊视频檚 got a lot more skill than people probably think and can shoot the puck really hard. And I think he put all that on display today. Happy for him. It was awesome.91裸聊视频�
As much as Sherwood was a pest for the Canucks last spring, he91裸聊视频檚 now an integral member of Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 team.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a guy that91裸聊视频檚 got a positive attitude every day, chatting guys up in the morning,91裸聊视频� said goalie Thatcher Demko. 91裸聊视频淢aybe you91裸聊视频檙e a little groggy before the practice but he91裸聊视频檚 bringing everyone91裸聊视频檚 energy up and he wears his heart on his sleeve, plays hard for us. And he was definitely really annoying to play against.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a good dude. We love having him around and everyone91裸聊视频檚 just pumped for him tonight, he played so well and getting a hat trick is really special for him.91裸聊视频�
Sherwood91裸聊视频檚 second goal of the night came on an Avalanche power play midway through the second period when he picked a puck off Colorado superstar Nathan MacKinnon near the benches.
The winger then raced down the ice and put a shot up and over the glove of Avs goalie Mackenzie Blackwood to give Vancouver a 2-0 lead.
It was then that the first chants rang out around the rink.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 just thankful for the support,91裸聊视频� Sherwood said of the fans. 91裸聊视频淚 was just trying to take it in. (It91裸聊视频檚) something you dream of as a kid. Those are the kind of moments that you work for and just kind of manifest and visualize. So I91裸聊视频檓 really thankful and grateful for them.91裸聊视频�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
