Official Site of Darcy Hordichuk

I can’t believe this is my last blog already, has it been a year already?

Coming in here at the beginning of the year, I kind of knew that Vancouver was a big hockey market but I didn’t really know what to expect because of the hockey markets I came from but it was very different but a good different. To be honest, I was a little bit nervous but I think the fans made that go away because they’ve all been incredible.

My experiences this year with the team and personally have been great and so memorable. Playing at GM Place with a sold out crowd every night, it’s just something you don’t forget and something I’ve never had in my career playing in the markets that I did. . I wish every player has a chance to be part of a team and organization like this, we get treated so well I’m just fortunate to have had the opportunity to play in Vancouver. I can’t wait for next year already.

Everyone here is so opinionated because they’re so passionate about the team. It’s fun to be a part of something like that. When things are going great, it’s really good but it’s also one of those things when times are tough you have to bear down because there are so many people watching you.

In Nashville, there’s maybe one or two stations covering hockey but here, it’s all over Canada and exposure here so much greater. The organization, the way they’ve taken care of all the players and the work Mike Gillis has done with the team, I really couldn’t ask for anything more.

Obviously one of the most significant things in my life this year was Braden and everyday is amazing how much he grows and changes. It’s been a lot of fun because we get to go home now with two little dogs and a baby. We’ve got quite a full house now with all of them around.

We’re looking forward to being able to spend some time with the little guy this summer because it’s been tough with us on the road so much in the last bit of the season. Now he can get to know me and I have time to be there more as a dad.

He’s getting bigger everyday – he’s about 13 pounds now and he keeps growing out of all his clothes. He’s such a quiet baby (something he gets from his mom). A couple weeks ago, he was getting up every few hours and lately he’s been putting in 6-7 hour shifts of sleep and hasn’t been getting up.

He’s starting to develop his personality – he smiles when you talk to him, he’s more responsive to our voices now, he’s starting to talk (not real words but noises). It’s fun to come home to him and I’m just excited to get a few months here to really get to know him better.

We’ll be in Vancouver for most of the summer, we’re moving right now so we’ll have to settle into the new place and get all of that figured out. We’re going on a trip to California for my wife’s grandparents 50th anniversary for a little bit. We’ll go back to Nashville and Saskatchewan for a little bit but we’ll be back in Vancouver for August and start the on-ice training again.

I want to say thank you to the fans all year for their support and coming out to all the games. Personally, it’s been fun blogging for the website and share my perspective, which might be different than some of the guys on the team so it’s been great. And finally, thanks for keeping up with the blog and giving me such a great support. Have a good summer!