Thwack-thwack-thwack.
If you’ve been to a Vancouver
Canucks game this season, you have most certainly heard that sound. Watch a
game on television or listen to the radio feed, and you’ve probably heard it,
too.
Canucks game this season, you have most certainly heard that sound. Watch a
game on television or listen to the radio feed, and you’ve probably heard it,
too.
It’s Troy Stecher letting
everyone in the building know he wants the puck. And he wants it right now.
everyone in the building know he wants the puck. And he wants it right now.
Thwack-thwack-thwack.
Growing up in Richmond and
watching the Canucks in his youth, Stecher is well aware of the way Ryan Kesler
used the ‘beaver tail’ – short taps of the stick on the ice in an effort to
signal his desire for the puck. Kesler generally used the tactic as a defensive
ploy hoping to fool opponents into an ill-advised drop pass.
watching the Canucks in his youth, Stecher is well aware of the way Ryan Kesler
used the ‘beaver tail’ – short taps of the stick on the ice in an effort to
signal his desire for the puck. Kesler generally used the tactic as a defensive
ploy hoping to fool opponents into an ill-advised drop pass.
When Stecher smacks his stick on
the ice, though, he’s not trying to mess with anyone. He simply wants to alert
teammates he’s open and ready to be an option. He’ll often use the beaver tail
while manning the point on the power play – the speed and frequency of the taps
seemingly increasing the nearer the puck gets to him. You’ll see and hear the
22-year-old slapping his stick on the ice when the puck is down low in the
offensive zone. As the puck works its way back to the point, Stecher puts the
arena on notice that he’s open and looking for a pass.
the ice, though, he’s not trying to mess with anyone. He simply wants to alert
teammates he’s open and ready to be an option. He’ll often use the beaver tail
while manning the point on the power play – the speed and frequency of the taps
seemingly increasing the nearer the puck gets to him. You’ll see and hear the
22-year-old slapping his stick on the ice when the puck is down low in the
offensive zone. As the puck works its way back to the point, Stecher puts the
arena on notice that he’s open and looking for a pass.
Thwack-thwack-thwack.
“I’ve used it (the beaver tail) going
back to junior and at North Dakota” he says with a laugh. “I don’t really think
about. It just kind of happens. It’s always a situation when the crowd is
getting loud and I want the puck. You can’t really talk over the fans when
there are thousands of them screaming, so banging my stick on the ice is the
next resort.”
back to junior and at North Dakota” he says with a laugh. “I don’t really think
about. It just kind of happens. It’s always a situation when the crowd is
getting loud and I want the puck. You can’t really talk over the fans when
there are thousands of them screaming, so banging my stick on the ice is the
next resort.”
In a recent home game against
Colorado, Stecher wore a microphone for a Canucks website feature. Among the
most-notable moments in the segment is when the young defenseman jumps into the
play to join Brendan Gaunce and Jack Skille on an odd-man rush in the third
period. As Gaunce moves in with the puck on left wing and Skille heads for the
Avalanche net, Stecher can be seen – and heard – feverishly tapping his stick
on the ice.
Colorado, Stecher wore a microphone for a Canucks website feature. Among the
most-notable moments in the segment is when the young defenseman jumps into the
play to join Brendan Gaunce and Jack Skille on an odd-man rush in the third
period. As Gaunce moves in with the puck on left wing and Skille heads for the
Avalanche net, Stecher can be seen – and heard – feverishly tapping his stick
on the ice.
Thwack-thwack-thwack.
Unfortunately for Stecher, it was
all for naught. Gaunce moved the puck across to Skille instead. While the
Canucks didn’t score on the play, Stecher later learned Gaunce considered a
drop pass after hearing his repeated stick taps on the rush up ice.
all for naught. Gaunce moved the puck across to Skille instead. While the
Canucks didn’t score on the play, Stecher later learned Gaunce considered a
drop pass after hearing his repeated stick taps on the rush up ice.
“I was actually calling for it,
but the fans got excited and no one could hear,” Stecher recalls. “Gaunce told
me he couldn’t hear my voice, but he could hear my clap. Good try, I guess.”
but the fans got excited and no one could hear,” Stecher recalls. “Gaunce told
me he couldn’t hear my voice, but he could hear my clap. Good try, I guess.”
The fact Stecher so demonstrably
indicates his desire for the puck speaks to the confidence the young blueliner has
as he navigates his way through his rookie National Hockey League season. However,
he admits the stick tap was born out of a reluctance to speak at all as he worked
his way through training camp, the preseason and ultimately onto the Canucks
roster.
indicates his desire for the puck speaks to the confidence the young blueliner has
as he navigates his way through his rookie National Hockey League season. However,
he admits the stick tap was born out of a reluctance to speak at all as he worked
his way through training camp, the preseason and ultimately onto the Canucks
roster.
As he’s quickly made a name for
himself, Stecher has gained the trust of teammates. But in the early going this
season, he found it easier to tap than to talk out on the ice.
himself, Stecher has gained the trust of teammates. But in the early going this
season, he found it easier to tap than to talk out on the ice.
Thwack-thwack-thwack.
“As the season has gone on, I’ve
definitely become more vocal,” he says. “I think at first I was kind of timid,
just being up here and surrounded by the guys. I think that’s maybe where it (beaver
tailing) started. I guess I could be more vocal, but this is just a habit. As
the season goes on, maybe I’ll get rid of it. But if people like it, then maybe
I’ll keep it.”
definitely become more vocal,” he says. “I think at first I was kind of timid,
just being up here and surrounded by the guys. I think that’s maybe where it (beaver
tailing) started. I guess I could be more vocal, but this is just a habit. As
the season goes on, maybe I’ll get rid of it. But if people like it, then maybe
I’ll keep it.”
It’s hardly the kind of thing
that will be put to a popular vote, but it’s hard to imagine Stecher dropping
what is becoming a signature move. As for fan approval, that is unlikely to be
an issue for Stecher either. On a team in need of a next wave of dynamic young
players, he’s quickly worked his way up the depth chart in that regard.
that will be put to a popular vote, but it’s hard to imagine Stecher dropping
what is becoming a signature move. As for fan approval, that is unlikely to be
an issue for Stecher either. On a team in need of a next wave of dynamic young
players, he’s quickly worked his way up the depth chart in that regard.
In time, perhaps Stecher can help
the Vancouver power play reach the heights it did when the last guy to use the
beaver tail was wearing Canucks colours.
the Vancouver power play reach the heights it did when the last guy to use the
beaver tail was wearing Canucks colours.
“I guess I’m taking over from
him,” Stecher says with a big grin.
him,” Stecher says with a big grin.
Thwack-thwack-thwack.
