Silovs expecting 'lot of energy' in return to Vancouver
Arturs Silovs took the ice for practice on Saturday at Vancouver's Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre to cheers and yells of “Welcome back Silovs!” from the Canucks fans in attendance, welcoming back their reigning Calder Cup MVP-winning goaltender for the first time since his trade to the Penguins over the summer.
Ryan Johnson, the Canucks' assistant general manager and the general manager of their AHL team in Abbotsford, met with Silovs before practice to finally give him his championship ring after they won together in June.
"It's really nice to have it," Silovs said. "A great experience with the team back then. Just remembering the way how we battled every single game to get there, that's for sure a memory for life."
Silovs played 19 regular-season games with Vancouver, but his highlights at the NHL level during his time with the Canucks came in the 2023-24 playoffs. After Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith went down with injuries, Silovs was forced into a starting role in the playoffs, where he posted a 2.91 goals-against average, an .898 save percentage and one shutout in 10 games. He went 2-1 to close out the first round and eliminate the Predators, then went 3-3-1 in the second round as the Canucks were eliminated by the eventual-conference champion Oilers.
"Getting in the net in the playoffs, that was an incredible feeling," Silovs recalled. "And managing to win the series, it was really a great memory to have."
The fans in Vancouver chanted "Arty party" throughout that run, and he said he's hopeful to hear those chants again when he's welcomed back on Sunday.
"There's going to be a lot of energy there," Silovs said. "It's a great building, and the fans are really passionate about hockey. It's going to be a fun game."
THE ASYLUM
Silovs expecting 'lot of energy' in return to Vancouver
Arturs Silovs took the ice for practice on Saturday at Vancouver's Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre to cheers and yells of “Welcome back Silovs!” from the Canucks fans in attendance, welcoming back their reigning Calder Cup MVP-winning goaltender for the first time since his trade to the Penguins over the summer.
Ryan Johnson, the Canucks' assistant general manager and the general manager of their AHL team in Abbotsford, met with Silovs before practice to finally give him his championship ring after they won together in June.
"It's really nice to have it," Silovs said. "A great experience with the team back then. Just remembering the way how we battled every single game to get there, that's for sure a memory for life."
Silovs played 19 regular-season games with Vancouver, but his highlights at the NHL level during his time with the Canucks came in the 2023-24 playoffs. After Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith went down with injuries, Silovs was forced into a starting role in the playoffs, where he posted a 2.91 goals-against average, an .898 save percentage and one shutout in 10 games. He went 2-1 to close out the first round and eliminate the Predators, then went 3-3-1 in the second round as the Canucks were eliminated by the eventual-conference champion Oilers.
"Getting in the net in the playoffs, that was an incredible feeling," Silovs recalled. "And managing to win the series, it was really a great memory to have."
The fans in Vancouver chanted "Arty party" throughout that run, and he said he's hopeful to hear those chants again when he's welcomed back on Sunday.
"There's going to be a lot of energy there," Silovs said. "It's a great building, and the fans are really passionate about hockey. It's going to be a fun game."
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