Kiefer Sherwood was a thorn in the Vancouver Canucks香蕉视频直播� side last spring.
Eight months later, the feisty winger has bloomed into one of the team香蕉视频直播檚 top forwards.
Chants of 香蕉视频直播淜ie-fer Sher-wood!香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渁 pretty special honour,香蕉视频直播� Sherwood said.
香蕉视频直播淚 was trying to take it in,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 really appreciate the fan support. Obviously, their passion is something that Vancouver is known for, and it香蕉视频直播檚 pretty cool. I香蕉视频直播檒l definitely remember it.香蕉视频直播�
The Canucks香蕉视频直播� faithful weren香蕉视频直播檛 cheering for Sherwood in April as he used his speed and aggression to pester the team香蕉视频直播檚 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), he香蕉视频直播檚 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).
香蕉视频直播淚 just try to put my work boots on each and every night and I think when you do that, sometimes good things happen,香蕉视频直播� he said Monday.
香蕉视频直播淎nd I香蕉视频直播檓 just grateful for opportunity. There香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of good players up and down the line up here, so it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 really matter who we香蕉视频直播檙e playing with, but I think when everyone contributes, it香蕉视频直播檚 a fun group to be a part of and we showed that tonight.香蕉视频直播�
The Canucks believed the six-foot-tall, 194-pound winger had more offence to give when they signed him, said head coach Rick Tocchet.
香蕉视频直播淭his summer, I called him on a Sunday, he was going to shoot pucks because he told me, 香蕉视频直播楬ey, I香蕉视频直播檝e got some offensive game in me.香蕉视频直播� So he does,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd he香蕉视频直播檚 obviously an aggressive guy, and a guy that you need on the ice who gives us juice.香蕉视频直播�
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 香蕉视频直播渁 little bit of everything香蕉视频直播� to Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 team, said centre J.T. Miller.
香蕉视频直播淥bviously the physical aspect everybody香蕉视频直播檚 talked about,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut he香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�
As much as Sherwood was a pest for the Canucks last spring, he香蕉视频直播檚 now an integral member of Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 team.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a guy that香蕉视频直播檚 got a positive attitude every day, chatting guys up in the morning,香蕉视频直播� said goalie Thatcher Demko. 香蕉视频直播淢aybe you香蕉视频直播檙e a little groggy before the practice but he香蕉视频直播檚 bringing everyone香蕉视频直播檚 energy up and he wears his heart on his sleeve, plays hard for us. And he was definitely really annoying to play against.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a good dude. We love having him around and everyone香蕉视频直播檚 just pumped for him tonight, he played so well and getting a hat trick is really special for him.香蕉视频直播�
Sherwood香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just thankful for the support,香蕉视频直播� Sherwood said of the fans. 香蕉视频直播淚 was just trying to take it in. (It香蕉视频直播檚) 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 I香蕉视频直播檓 really thankful and grateful for them.香蕉视频直播�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2024.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
