An Open Letter to Jean-Sebastien Giguere

Posted on January 31, 2010

While most of the details only pertain to me personally, but if you agree with anything on this piece, feel free to sign your name or leave a comment of your favorite Giguere moment.

Dear Jean Sebastian (JS) Giguere,

I want to personally thank you for being an Anaheim Duck, in my opinion the model of the Anaheim Ducks for the past several years. I don’t live in Anaheim. I live about 650 miles away. I loved the duo of Kariya and Selanne, what took me away from my love of the Los Angeles Kings, but later got distracted while living in Michigan for a short time. However, your goaltending and your love of the game brought me back to the Anaheim Ducks in 2002. I still loved the Ducks during that short time away, but I didn’t follow the team. I still remember listening to NHL.com’s radio feed of your shutout win of 5-0 over your hero Mario Lemieux in December of 2002.

While going to the Cup Finals in 2003 I was serving my church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and was only allowed to check my e-mail once a week. My future brother in law taped your shutouts on the VCR and saved the tapes for me. My younger brothers sent me newspaper articles and scores through the mail and internet. Your shutout streak gave me inspiration to achieve difficult goals. Your face of disappointment gave me hope for the team. You taught me an important lesson; you can’t win them all, but you can enjoy the ride along the way.

Derek, just over 2 months old, and I watching Game 5 versus Ottawa in 2007.

Derek, just over 2 months old, and I watching Game 5 versus Ottawa in 2007.

My son was born March 30, 2007, a few weeks within your son’s birth. I remember reading what was happening with Maxime’s eyes and praying for your family, wondering what it would be like for me to go through the same with my newborn son. Following the playoffs this time was much easier than 2003 (and 2006 for that matter). I was so relieved when you got your job back from Bryz to take on Vancouver, to best Detroit and to finish the finals to win the Cup against Ottawa.

The past two years have been hard for me to watch. I’ve cheered you on every day when others doubted, I knew there was a warrior inside you. You deserve to be number one Giggy. I’m so sad to see you leave the franchise, but I am glad you will be able to rise to the top again. A part of me hopes you shut the Ducks out the next time we see you, as long as you don’t ruin anything for us.

Thank you, J.S. You’re the best.

We won’t ever forget what you did for us.

Sincerely,

Bryce Randle

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My Resolution, Not My Resolution

Posted on January 1, 2010

I haven’t blogged about the Ducks in a while. I blame that on my schedule with the new DVD I edited and was also an associate producer on entitled, Growing Up Hockey. Now that we are on to a new year and that project is about over, I hope to give more attention to the Ducks of Anaheim and nurse them back to good health.

A few things I have noticed.

1. Name a starting goaltender.

Let me be more specific. Name J.S. Giguere as a starting goaltender. I don’t see the consistency needed as a starting goaltender in Hiller. He can’t do back to back nights and he just hasn’t convinced me that he can carry the team. Giguere has the track record and is showing a performance much better than last year.

2. Getzlaf is/should be a Power Forward.

Being from out of town, I am unable to make it to games much and I can’t pay the price for Center Ice. Point is I don’t SEE a lot of games. I watch about every episode of Ducks TV, read the OC Ducks Blog, munch on my Ducks twitter feed and  clips on YouTube. However, the one game I have made it to was in the end of October against the Stars. It was an exciting game- if you count just the 3rd period. However, if you take a look at Getzlaf’s goal (below) you can see the commanding presence he has.

That was his first goal of the season. He should be scoring more goals like that. Granted, he is one of the best on the team in points, but we expect higher goal production. Yeah, I know what you are saying, “Stop picking on the injured guy.”

3. Defense.

Get us some more defense! Work on the turnovers. Give our goalies a chance to keep us in the game. Niedermayer can’t do it all alone. Today we saw Whitney’s name not be included on the Team USA roster. He went from a favorable chance to a no chance. Our D needs to be tighter. Keep Boynton out there. Our record speaks for itself when he is on the ice.

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