Chara vs. Hamhuis In Stanley Cup Final
Until 2010, the Prince George Cougars had never seen a member of their alumni compete in the Stanley Cup final. Now for the second straight year, two former Cougars go toe-to-toe for the Stanley Cup, as Zdeno Chara’s Boston Bruins advanced to the final round Friday against Dan Hamhuis and the Vancouver Canucks.
Chara, the Bruins Captain and member of the Cougars in the 1996-97 season, played 26:44 seconds against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 7 Friday, which the Bruins won 1-0. Chara was facing two former Cougars on the Lightning roster, with defenceman Eric Brewer leading the Lightning in playing time in game seven, with 24:09 of ice time. Forward Dana Tyrell saw action for the Bolts in games 4, 6 and 7, producing one shot in the series finale. Chara has been the anchor of the Bruins defence in the 2011 playoffs, producing two goals and five points in 17 games, while also posting a plus/minus rating of +11. This is Boston’s first trip to the finals since 1990 and they are looking for their first Cup win since 1972. This will be the fifth straight time the Bruins will face a Canadian team in the final, losing to Edmonton in 1990 and 1988 and to Montreal in 1976 and ’77.
As for Hamhuis and the Canucks, the President’s Trophy winners are the favourites for the first time in their three trips to round four. The Canucks were swept by the power-house New York Islanders in 1982 and then fell in a heart-breaking game 7 to the New York Rangers in 1994. Hamhuis, a member or the Cougars from 1999-2002, has been one of the top Canucks in the post-season on the back end, sitting second in ice-time average per game for the Canucks at 25:45/game, just 11 seconds behind Kevin Bieksa. Hamhuis has a goal and six points in 18 games in the 2011 playoffs, with four of those points coming in the Western Conference Final against former Cougar Devin Setoguchi and the San Jose Sharks. Hamhuis, a Smithers, BC product, also has a plus-5 rating in the post season.
The Stanley Cup Final starts Wednesday, June 1, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, starting at 5:00pm Pacific Time. Last year, Dustin Byfuglien became the first former Cougar to hoist the Stanley Cup when his Chicago Blackhawks defeated Blair Betts and the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. Hamhuis and Chara will desperately look to join the club over the next 4 to 7 games.
