FeedMy Friend The World Junior
January 3, 2012 in Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, World Junior Championship Tags: Bunny Laroque, Gary Lupul, Mario Lemieux, New Westminster Bruins, Rogie Vachon, Victoria Cougars, Western Hockey League
I can’t wait for tonight’s Canada-Russia battle. It’s payback time for the Canadians and they have the team to do it.
I was going through some old photos and found my friend Gary Lupul (below), who passed away in 2007 at just 48 years old, and who played in the 1979 World Juniors, when it was still club teams participating. Gary was playing in the Western Hockey League for the Victoria Cougars and was recruited by the New Westminster Bruins for the tournament, held in Sweden.
He showed me his jersey from the tourney one night when we were downstairs at his parents’ house playing pool. It was blue, with white lettering.
Gary would go on to play for the Canucks, but sadly his lifestyle derailed his career. But he made some serious noise as a player. He was a crowd favourite, and the Pacific Coliseum faithful used to chant ‘Loop, Loop, Loop’ thoughout the game. They loved him. He scored on his first NHL shot, against Rogie Vachon, and one night in Montreal, Gary beat Bunny Larocque twice in a game against the Habs.
He was a star from the beginning. In minor all-star, he once notched 70 points in 16 games. At 16 he was rookie of the year with the BC Hockey League Nanaimo Clippers. And he racked up 300 points in three years with the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League.
As a Canuck he was a force to be reckoned with in the 1981-82 Stanley Cup finals against the Islanders.
He played a total of 300 games, with 70 goals and 75 assists, and if he would’ve buckled down, it would have been so much more.
Mario Lemieux’s first fight in the NHL was against Gary.
Here’s Gary and myself and some friends, taken about 15 years ago. It looked like we were having a good day. He was a tremendously fun-loving guy, made us all laugh and kept things lively and upbeat, and was a great guy. (Gary’s in black shirt and sunglasses, I’m in white with the goatee.)
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Sad that things got ruined like they did. My dad lost out on so much because of his drinking. He’s not the dad of the Leafs player is he?
I look forward to this game as well. I love watching the Juniors and it being Canada vs Russia makes it even more entertaining. Man I hope we win tonight. We need some happiness around here to make up for our Habs.
I doubt very much though that it’ll be a 10-2 game. Both teams will bring it and I just hope we don’t get cocky.
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Darth, no relation to Joffrey in Toronto. Lupul is one of those names that can be spelled frontward or backward.
January 3rd, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Dennis, did you know that the first words ever spoken by man read the same way whether they are spelled backwards or forwards?
“Madam, I’m Adam.”
January 3rd, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Is pictue #1 at the Shingle Mill?
January 3rd, 2012 at 5:05 pm
You bet, Beatnik.
January 3rd, 2012 at 9:38 pm
That ended up being one hell of game. Sad to lose it, but what a comeback attempt. Those undisciplined penalties will nail you every time.
January 3rd, 2012 at 10:04 pm
KGB payed off GB again.
January 3rd, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Beatnik, who’s GB?
January 3rd, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Gary Bettman…I think. He is one of the absolute evil people on this planet so he must be behind this somehow.
January 4th, 2012 at 9:13 am
I love the top picture! You all look like you’re having a blast! How can you not with the gorgeous backdrop. Where are you in the picture?
January 4th, 2012 at 10:46 am
Marjo, I’m the one in white with the goatee, just beside Gary who is in the middle.