The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing are officially over, and I have a question for our readers out there: Near the end of the swimming events in the Water Cube, Did you find yourself imagining all of those guys in their teensy, tiny swim suits wearing hockey gear? In your minds eye, did you slowly place some shoulder pads and bulky hockey pants on Michael Phelps? Maybe accessorized that mental image with hockey garters for added visual effect?
If so, congratulations...you are beyond hooked on hockey!
Yes, we are getting close to the return of NHL Hockey. Well, maybe not close if your are Mats Sundin. While Canucks Nation is chillin’ on ice waiting for a Sundin rumor to suddenly become true, I figured I should spend a little time writing about new Canuck, Darcy Hordichuk. (Numbers: 747 career penalty minutes, 26 points, plus minus, -14 over 302 NHL games)
I searched Darcy Hordichuk on the Internet, and came across his official website. Instantly I was grooving because Darcy’s site is crankin’ out a wicked Prodigy tune, Breathe, taking me back to my crazy years in the late Nineties.
I couldn’t remember all of the lyrics (and there aren’t that many – yes, the crazy years) so more searching came up with the following...
Breathe the pressure,
Come play my game I'll test ya.
Psychosomatic addict, insane.
Breathe the pressure,
Come play my game I'll test ya.
Psycho,-somatic addict, insane.
Come play my game
Inhale, inhale, you're the victim.
Come play my game
Exhale, exhale, exhale.
I’d say those are fitting lyrics for a role player like Hordichuk. And Breathe has just been added to my pre- game song lists for the coming season.
Canucks fans should be thrilled that Darcy takes his roll as enforcer very seriously. This summer he trained with UFC fighter, Chuck Liddell’s team. (for those not in the know, Liddell’s nickname is the ICEMAN – another good fit for the Hordichuk experience)
Next, I checked in with Marie in Nashville to hear what a Predators fan had to say about the former Preds enforcer. Aside from his fighting prowess and unfortunate lack of scoring touch, I found out some interesting things about Darcy’s off ice life.
Darcy hosted a radio show during his time in Nashville. “The Darcy Hordichuk Show” aired between 6 and 7pm on The Zone 104.5, and was broadcast from the Blackstone, a local Nashville brew Pub. During the one hour show, Darcy welcomed guests, including his Predator teammates for hockey chats, plus during commercial breaks he took time to pose for pictures with fans, and sign autographs. One of Hordi’s biggest shows happened when Peter Forsberg was a guest. Marie (pictured above with Darcy) said there was a great turnout for that show.
A Predator fan favorite, Darcy’s other talents include magic tricks (he’s supposedly a pretty good magician) and dancing (he was the celebrity guest dancer in the role of Mother Ginger during the annual Nutcracker Performance in Nashville)
Darcy married Lisa, a professional dancer, and their wedding was featured in the Life Style section of The Tennessean. According to his player bio, Darcy would be a motivational speaker if he were not a hockey player. I am sure Darcy will learn a little bit about that gig from Canucks new assistant coach, Ryan Walter, who is a professional motivational speaker.
Darcy is a very spiritual person, and he feels his faith in God has helped keep him focused throughout his professional hockey career. Please visit his youtube video outlining his life on and off the ice to learn more about this hard working and dedicated NHL enforcer.
Welcome to Vancouver, Hordi!
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