Former NHLer Dave Babych shed light on his hockey history during the , held Tuesday, Nov. 28, at the Sheraton hotel in Guildford.

The retired defenseman talked about his 20 seasons as a pro player, including the coaches he liked and also disliked.

Most of his years in the NHL were spent playing for Vancouver Canucks, from 1991 to 1998.

The teamB次元官网网址檚 1994 run to the Stanley Cup Final was with Pat Quinn as head coach.

B次元官网网址淭errific guy,B次元官网网址� Babych told the awards luncheon crowd. B次元官网网址淚 mean, this guy was a playerB次元官网网址檚 coach, you know, probably the best overall coach IB次元官网网址檝e seen in any sport. IB次元官网网址檓 sure thereB次元官网网址檚 some that rival him but I donB次元官网网址檛 know of any.B次元官网网址� It was amazing how prepared he was, and a very, very smart guy.B次元官网网址�

Later with the Canucks, Babych played for Mike Keenan, who is definitely not his favourite coach of all-time.

B次元官网网址淲onderful guy B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 kidding,B次元官网网址� Babych said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淗e wasnB次元官网网址檛 a very nice person, first of all, thatB次元官网网址檚 just the way it was. He coached through threatening players and so on, but technically he was the worst coach IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen, even from minor hockey to the NHL, and how he got jobs I donB次元官网网址檛 know.B次元官网网址�

Keenan enjoyed some success at every level of hockey, Babych noted, B次元官网网址渂ut it was very short-term, so for leadership like that, nobody needs it. I think IB次元官网网址檝e learned a lot from all my coaches and probably the most from him of what not to do, you know, if that makes sense, because youB次元官网网址檝e got to weed out a few things and then you can define what the right path might be. But yeah, I could say more but I better not. I did not enjoy being coached by that fella.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� RELATED: .

Babs!!

B次元官网网址� Vancouver Canucks Alumni (@canucksalumni)

Babych played in Winnipeg, Hartford, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, and in 2000 ended his pro career in Switzerland with the Ambri-Piotta club.

The CanucksB次元官网网址� 1994 Cup run was a highlight with heartbreak, ultimately, in a loss to the Keenan-coached Rangers.

B次元官网网址淥f course New York, you know, they they kind of broke our hearts,B次元官网网址� Babych said. B次元官网网址淲e should have won that, we could have easily won it, but it was not to be. We went to Game 7, and lost, I think it was 3-2 the final game.

B次元官网网址淚t still stings,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 really watched any of that series just because I know the outcome, doesnB次元官网网址檛 change anything, I know. ItB次元官网网址檚 funny, before the series they made us give a ring size just in case, you know, you win the championship. IB次元官网网址檓 thinking, B次元官网网址極h, here we go, here we go, this could be good.B次元官网网址� Of course, it didnB次元官网网址檛 happen. We lost.B次元官网网址�

Today, Babych is vice-president of the , the members of which play hockey at North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex.

B次元官网网址淚n the wintertime, weB次元官网网址檙e older but we still enjoy going out for skates with our teammates and people weB次元官网网址檝e played with before,B次元官网网址� said Babych, who lives in North Vancouver.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been great because we have our own dressing room, which we share with the Knights (SurreyB次元官网网址檚 junior team). Added to that is weB次元官网网址檝e been connected with Wickfest, which is Hayley WickenheiserB次元官网网址檚 hockey festival for young ladies, and thereB次元官网网址檚 like 2,000 participants there.

B次元官网网址淚 participated in sledge hockey for the first time ever,B次元官网网址� Babych added. B次元官网网址淭he building is set up to be able to handle these kind of games and where everyone is included, and it was a lot harder than I expected, not going to lie. I was a little sore the next day in different ways than normally playing hockey, but it was terrific. Like I said, weB次元官网网址檙e just so happy that weB次元官网网址檙e included within the city, because most of us are from different places.B次元官网网址�

at the 2023 Surrey Arts & Business Awards is posted on Surrey Board of TradeB次元官网网址檚 Youtube channel, starting at the 23-minute mark.