Emotional Rypien tribute, but dismal Canucks loss

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It was an emotional start to the Canucks game at Rogers Arena last night, as the team paid tribute to Rick Rypien.

“Rick became a fan favourite. Lauded for his speed on the forecheck, his heart of a lion, and displays of pure finesse, Rick’s number 37 started cropping up on jerseys across the province,” said the announcer in the tribute video.

News1130 Sports Director Ann Schmaltz was there and says there was hardly a dry eye in the place:

“Rick’s entire family was emotional as they were presented with the final jersey that Rick wore as a Canuck. It was handed to his brother by his best friend Kevin Bieksa. The most heart-breaking moment was the long embrace Bieksa gave Rick’s mother.”

Rypien battled depression for much of his career, and committed suicide in August.

Stinker for the home team on-ice

The Canucks were shut out 4-0 by the New York Rangers and the boobirds were out, with Robert Luongo taking the brung of their anger. But was he really the problem?

“Everyone’s blaming Roberto, but I don’t think you can blame him for all the goals,” says Rick Dhaliwal with News1130 Sports. “There were certainly some defencemen who made big mistakes in their own end.”

“It clearly looks like the fans are targeting [Luongo],” he adds. “For some reason… with Luongo, it continues to be a love-hate relationship with this guy.”

“You know what, every October is like this,” Dhaliwal notes. “It seems like the team and Roberto himself just don’t do well in October. They get going in November and beyond and October stinks for this club all the way around.”

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