Missing Marty
byThis past summer a really good friend of mine went away on vacation for two weeks with her husband. Upon their return home, they found their house had been broken into and most possessions were gone. I’m certain it was a devastating blow to the young married couple, being one of those myself, I know how hard things are in the first couple years together and this must have been quite the stressful situation.
Recently I remembered how much of a Canucks fan she used to be back in the day. Hanging around outside the Pacific Coliseum, getting Trev’s autograph [wiki], running into Corey Hirsch [wiki], and having a riot at the Canucks Family Carnival. Her favourite player was Marty Gelinas “Marty” and she had a signed jersey of good ol’ number 23.
Gelinas was a factor in the Canucks’ 1994 postseason run. Though they lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the New York Rangers in 7 games, Gelinas himself had an opportunity to force overtime late in the deciding game. With Ranger goaltender Mike Richter at his mercy, Gelinas wristed the puck into the post, coming within an inch or two of tying the game. He had a strong career in Vancouver during his four year tenure there. His best season came in 1996-97 when he scored 35 goals and 68 points, highlighted by a four-goal game, and being voted the team’s Most Valuable Player after the season. [wiki]
The man who was traded to Carolina alongside the now PPV star, Kirk McLean will always have a place in our hearts. Unfortunately, my friend no longer has the prized uniform in her possession – it was a victim of the break-in last summer. If you have seen a signed Marty jersey around town, smelling like teenage girl from 1994 – please let me know.
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That’s just wrong…
I started following the Canes when Geli and Archie Irbe both ended up there. They were two of my fave Nucks and i still think Gelinas is someone young players should model their game after – does everything pretty well but does everything with maximum heart and velocity.
To think he almost retired after a couple of years playing in the strict Carolina system under Paul Maurice … since then his reputation as a legendary playoff performer has increased many fold. I had hoped he’d trip up from Florida for the Nucks playoff run.
After racking my brain, I believe he is the only one to have played with all 3 western Canadian teams and certainly the only one to have gone to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals with each franchise.
I’ll keep my eye out for the jersey and throw a bike lock on it if i see it.