Kiefer Sherwood was a thorn in the Vancouver CanucksB次元官网网址� side last spring.
Eight months later, the feisty winger has bloomed into one of the teamB次元官网网址檚 top forwards.
Chants of B次元官网网址淜ie-fer Sher-wood!B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渁 pretty special honour,B次元官网网址� Sherwood said.
B次元官网网址淚 was trying to take it in,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 really appreciate the fan support. Obviously, their passion is something that Vancouver is known for, and itB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool. IB次元官网网址檒l definitely remember it.B次元官网网址�
The CanucksB次元官网网址� faithful werenB次元官网网址檛 cheering for Sherwood in April as he used his speed and aggression to pester the teamB次元官网网址檚 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), heB次元官网网址檚 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).
B次元官网网址淚 just try to put my work boots on each and every night and I think when you do that, sometimes good things happen,B次元官网网址� he said Monday.
B次元官网网址淎nd IB次元官网网址檓 just grateful for opportunity. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of good players up and down the line up here, so it doesnB次元官网网址檛 really matter who weB次元官网网址檙e playing with, but I think when everyone contributes, itB次元官网网址檚 a fun group to be a part of and we showed that tonight.B次元官网网址�
The Canucks believed the six-foot-tall, 194-pound winger had more offence to give when they signed him, said head coach Rick Tocchet.
B次元官网网址淭his summer, I called him on a Sunday, he was going to shoot pucks because he told me, B次元官网网址楬ey, IB次元官网网址檝e got some offensive game in me.B次元官网网址� So he does,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd heB次元官网网址檚 obviously an aggressive guy, and a guy that you need on the ice who gives us juice.B次元官网网址�
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 B次元官网网址渁 little bit of everythingB次元官网网址� to VancouverB次元官网网址檚 team, said centre J.T. Miller.
B次元官网网址淥bviously the physical aspect everybodyB次元官网网址檚 talked about,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut heB次元官网网址檚 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.B次元官网网址�
As much as Sherwood was a pest for the Canucks last spring, heB次元官网网址檚 now an integral member of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 team.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a guy thatB次元官网网址檚 got a positive attitude every day, chatting guys up in the morning,B次元官网网址� said goalie Thatcher Demko. B次元官网网址淢aybe youB次元官网网址檙e a little groggy before the practice but heB次元官网网址檚 bringing everyoneB次元官网网址檚 energy up and he wears his heart on his sleeve, plays hard for us. And he was definitely really annoying to play against.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a good dude. We love having him around and everyoneB次元官网网址檚 just pumped for him tonight, he played so well and getting a hat trick is really special for him.B次元官网网址�
SherwoodB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just thankful for the support,B次元官网网址� Sherwood said of the fans. B次元官网网址淚 was just trying to take it in. (ItB次元官网网址檚) 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 IB次元官网网址檓 really thankful and grateful for them.B次元官网网址�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
