Luongo Concerns

Roberto Luongo arrived in Vancouver this week full of questions, and some concerns, about what direction the team was heading.

During the off-season, the Canucks who saw Trevor Linden retire; also lost two well respected scoring veterans in captain Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison. Even though rookie general manager, Mike Gilles, did pick up forwards Pavol Demitra, Steve Bernier, Kyle Wellwood and Darcy Hordichuk, their star goalie, Luongo, was still concerned about whether the team plans to rebuild.

“Obviously there’s a lot of new faces,” he said on Tuesday. “There’s not a lot there I can control. The one thing I enjoyed about my meeting with Mike (Gilles) was that he’s not here to re-build … he’s here to win … and that’s a good sign.”

With only two years remaining on his contract, rumors have also began circulating that, this star goalie, won’t be around for the long term future. This was a rumor, that the eight- year veteran, was quick to shoot down.

“It’s not something I’m thinking about right now,” said Luongo, who was originally a 1997 New York Islanders’ first round pick. “First of all, it’s still two years, and that’s a long way down the road for me. My goal is — simply to win a Stanley Cup … and that’s the only reason I play hockey.”

If the Canucks are to have a successful season, they will need this former Hart Trophy finalist, from two years ago, to play at that same level.

As opposed to last season, when Luongo’s family was a continent away, his wife and baby daughter are with him, and as a result, he claims that his focus for hockey is clear, which is good news for Canuck fans.

“You prepare the same way; but it’s nice to have your family with you,” he said.

Partice Bergeron is Ready

One would have to excuse Boston Bruins’ forward, Patrice Bergeron, if next Monday night he gets a little emotional, prior to their pre-season game, against their heated rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.

While the exhibition season isn’t the most exciting time for established players, who are impatiently waiting for the regular season to begin, Bergeron is chomping at the bit, and for good reason. Last season, after getting off to a great start with 7 points in 10 games, this 23 year- old up and coming superstar, had his season ended, when he suffered a grade 3 concussion, a broken nose and a neck injury; when on October 28, he was rammed into the boards face first, by Philadelphia Flyers’ defenseman, Randy Jones.

As time went on, Bergeron couldn’t shake off the concussion symptoms, and doctors were wondering if perhaps his promising career was over. It wasn’t until April that this Quebec native began to feel symptom free, and was finally able to work out hard, in hopes of helping his Bruins in the post season. Unfortunately, any hopes of seeing playoff action came to a crashing halt, when he couldn’t get medical clearance.

During the off- season, Bergeron felt completely symptom free, and as of a couple of weeks ago, has been eagerly participating in every drill and scrimmages going on with his teammates, in a series of informal pre- camp workouts.

‘I’m feeling like I’m part of the team again,” Bergeron told the Boston Herald on Monday. “It’s great to feel that. I can’t wait for the start of camp and the season.”

With camp scheduled to begin this week, Bergeron is expecting to be cleared in his up coming meeting with neurologist, Dr. Robert Cantue, as a formality.

“I have to go talk to him, but I don’t feel like it’s going to be a big hurdle at all,” he said.

 This past summer, Bergeron got himself into shape, by undergoing a strenuous weight lifting program and power skating; all in anticipation of once more playing the game he loves.

 Looking ahead to that first game against Montreal, he knows that it’s not up to him, but rather his coach, Claude Julien, about whether he plays or not.

“Obviously, I’d like to get the first one out of the way as soon as possible,” Bergeron said. “But we’re going to have some scrimmages and that counts too, in my mind.” “There’s hitting in scrimmages, and it’s a training camp tempo.” “I’m very excited and I can’t wait for the first practice.” “It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s practice or a game, though the first game is obviously going to be a big test, and I can’t wait to get it out of the way.”

Playing without their best scoring forward, Boston still managed to make the playoffs, and in the first round took the, heavily favored, Canadiens to a full seven games, before being eliminated.

“I thought we did great last year,” Bergeron said. “A lot of guys stepped up and took over.” “This year, we obviously want to make the play- offs, Then … anything can happen.”

With a healthy and hungry Bergeron, anything can happen with this Bruins team come playoff time.