The End of Vancouver Canucks Op Ed
No, you didn’t read that wrong — Vancouver Canucks Op Ed will be closing down very soon, probably in the next week or two. I’ve been putting off posting this, but it’s time to explain what’s already happened and what’s coming up.
I’m afraid it’s a bit long-winded, but I’m sort of sentimental about this blog, so cut me some slack…;-)
I’m Gonna Miss this Place
I’ve done this blog for over three years (with that notable one-year break during the lockout — I was ridiculously depressed about the whole thing) and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Originally I wrote this thing on Blogger, then it ultimately moved here to its own domain, January 2006.
I recently saw that VCOE is the #5 linked hockey blog out there (courtesy of James Mirtle’s “Top Hockey Blogs” spreadsheet). A bit of a shock, but maybe it shouldn’t have been. Not because VCOE is so great, but because I think hockey fans have a great sense of humour, always ready to laugh at ourselves as quickly as we can spew statistics about the game.
As someone who’s never been much good at the statistics, I’ve mostly settled for laughs and a few ranting opinions. (And I will forever take credit for the idiot genre of “drunken liveblogging”. That, and stupid bets, might be the best-remembered legacy of VCOE…)
Thank you to everyone for the support, the fun, the comments, the emails, the friendship, the entertainment, the madness… it’s all been a blast. But after 1,321 posts and 3,471 comments from readers (since January 2006 — I lost all the comments of previous years when I transferred the website) it’s time to say goodbye to VCOE and try something new.
The archives of this site will stay online indefinitely.
Something New
VCOE is ending, but I’m sticking with hockey blogging. As many of you know, I’ve been contributing part-time on Kukla’s Korner for the past few months, and I’m going to keep doing that BUT I will also now have my own separate blog on his server as well.
I’ll post the new web address and blog name as soon as it’s ready to go.
The new blog will be similar to this one in many ways — I’m not changing my style, and I’ll suffer as a Canucks fan till I die. But Paul Kukla made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and working for his site will give me the opportunity to develop some different, interesting content. Stuff I never would have been able to do here at VCOE.
Seeing last week’s game in Vancouver with press credentials was part of that (and I have a long feature piece on that trip coming out tomorrow, btw; update: now available on Kukla’s) and there are some other plans as well. I really think that it will be fun, for both me and readers. Hopefully you’ll agree.
VCOE will continue being updated through this week and I’ll provide the new web address a.s.a.p. And the kids at The Crazy Canucks podcast are stuck with me this season as well — it’s too much fun to give up! In fact, I’m pretty sure those guys will be quizzing me ad nauseum about the blog change later in this week’s episode, so check it out.
And now… back to hockey.
Sincerely,
Alanah Downie McGinley
December 11th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
So, in short, you sold out and are going “official”?
Hmph! I saw the writing on the wall when you got those press credentials.
J/K and you know it! Best of luck on the new endeavors!
However, just because you’re shutting down VCOE, there are still outstanding debts under consideration… *cough* tattoo *cough*. (No, seriously, I have a cough today!)
December 11th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
D’oh! Totally forgot the most important comment….
Let’s all take a moment of silence for the passing a great blog…
….
….
Okay, moment over.
December 11th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
I would hope the wit and wisdom of VCOE continues at her new home. That should never go away.
But believe me, I am looking forward to some great times together.
December 11th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
December 11th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Sorry to see this blog go, but I look forward to your contributions to Kukla’s Korner,Alanah.
December 11th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Going “official”? Me? Ha! For your information (and for Paul’s) there will be more drunken liveblogs in my future! (And yes, that tattoo bet will be honored, if need be. But I still have a very good chance of winning that bet…)
I hope you’ll check out the new blog, Cathy. Thanks for all your nice comments in the past — and I’ll look forward to future smartassed remarks.
And thanks, Lyle. Much appreciated.
December 11th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
Jes did the requisite Darth Vader NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO so I have to follow up with a Luke Skywalker NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
This doesn’t mean you’re dropping out of the Crappy Player Pick ‘Em, does it? Dan Hinote will be so disappointed!
Look forward to seeing your wit and wisdom on KK!
December 11th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
Thanks, Darth Vader and Luke. It’s especially sad to disappoint Star Wars characters.
And no, I’m not dropping out of your contest, Mike. Although I probably should. But then, that’s what I get for putting my money on an ex-Avalanche player… what the hell was I thinking?
December 11th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Yes, I suppose if I have to follow you to KK to make blueline-socks age comparisons…..I will.
We smartasses do what we must to succeed!
December 11th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
You should like… package up VCOE by season and sell it with special bonus features - an instant classic and perfect holiday gift!
Very happy to see you moving on to bigger and better things and I couldn’t be more honoured (and giddy) that we’re a part of the same podcast.
Your new blog will kick just as much ass, we all know it. We’ll just have to adjust our feed aggregators to get our daily dose of Alanah’s hockey wisdom from somewhere else :p
December 11th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
wow…well I guess I’ll get more done at work now
Thanks for all the great posts in the past, and I’m glad to hear that this isn’t just some way to get out of getting a tattoo
All the best in your new pursuit, looking forward to it.
December 11th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Wow…very cool. I am sure the new venture will be every bit as fun and exciting…if it isn’t, I’ll let you know!
Change is what we are all about…and change is a good thing. Can’t wait to see what you are working on…and try and remember the ‘little’ people, will ya?
December 11th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
Rebecca – that phrase of yours… “alanah’s hockey wisdom”… It almost makes me wonder: Have you ever even read the idiocy I write?!
Dev – I plan on doing everything possible to ensure you are as unproductive at work, as ever before.
All these comments about the tattoo… makes me wonder if I should consider this blog change some kind of small print to get out of the bet? Perhaps I should see a lawyer?
GZ Expat – Thanks for your kind words. Yep, I figure change is good, but sort of sad, too. However, as long as a bunch of my favourite readers follow me to the new online real estate, I’m sure I’ll get settled at KK in no time.
Thank you to everyone for being so supportive — I guess I knew you would be, but it’s nice to get the feedback.
(P.S. Sorry about all this sentimental crap of mine — I’m such a “girl” sometimes. But don’t get used to it. I promise it’s temporary…)
December 11th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
Good luck at KK. Hopefully you are moving online only because I am going to come up to Vancouver for a game soon.
Sorry about bashing Cloutier, but that image made me laugh so hard I had to post it.
December 11th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Congrats!
December 11th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Well you know, posting animated monkeys named Maltby in little pink dresses seems pretty wise to me :p
December 11th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
>>VCOE Shutting Down…
>>A sad, but exciting day…Vancouver Canucks Op Ed will be closing down very soon, probably in the next week or two. I’ve been putting off posting this, but it’s time to explain what’s already happened and what’s coming up.On the one hand, I am …
December 11th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Good luck with everything! You certainly deserve to move on to greater things, and I’ve certainly learned alot from you, haha.
Looking forward to the new stuff you’ll have going on!
December 11th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
Maltby in little pink dresses? No, I would never do such a thing!
(I believe it was Patrick Roy in a tutu and Kirk Maltby in drag…
Update:
Oh, yeah, I forgot about the monkey!
____________
And thanks, Sherry! Although learning from me, judging from the above links, might not be such a good idea.
And thanks Ninja, for your support. And PJ? You’re forgiven for the Cloutier-bashing. Hell, if I held grudges against people for Cloutier-bashing I wouldn’t have any friends in the hockey world…;-)
December 11th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
…As long as drunk bloggin’ lives on!
Seriously though, congrats on the move. This site really is second to none when it comes to the tragic effort of following the Canucks on a daily basis so it’s great you’ll have a new home to keep it going.
And now that you’ve got full on credientials, please give my best to Bulis if you see him.
December 11th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
[…] I’m afraid it’s a bit long-winded, but I’m sort of sentimental about this blog, so cut me some slack…;-) [vancouvercanucksoped] […]
December 11th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
[…] The Vancouver Canucks Op Ed blog will be shutting down this week. Thank you to everyone for the support, the fun, the comments, the emails, the friendship, the entertainment, the madness… it’s all been a blast. But after 1,321 posts and 3,471 comments from readers (since January 2006 — I lost all the comments of previous years when I transferred the website) it’s time to say goodbye to VCOE and try something new. [VCOE] […]
December 11th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
WOW. A shocking announcement.
This new KK project better fill the new void in my internet.
Best o’ luck!
December 11th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
WAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!
As long as I can still find you at Kukla’s…but I hope there wasn’t anything, um, OMINOUS in his making you an offer you can’t refuse?
Good luck and looking forward to the new stuff!
December 11th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
Baroque, we made a bet, she lost, AGAIN.
December 11th, 2006 at 8:56 pm
Thanks, Mike. Thanks, Baroque.
And it’s true that I really must stop gambling. Time to join a 12-step program - or perhaps an online poker community? Anything would be smarter than me taking bets off of hockey people…
December 11th, 2006 at 10:14 pm
I’m holding you to that Yo Luongo tattoo. You can run, but you cannot hide!
Good luck with your future endeavors. It’s been a slice.
December 12th, 2006 at 1:01 am
Wow, Alanah, good on ya! Best of luck, even though you don’t need it!
December 12th, 2006 at 5:18 am
Are they going to make you be nice to Avs fans at the new site?
Good luck, Canucks fan.
December 12th, 2006 at 8:29 am
Temujin – I know, I know… NOBODY will let me forget the tattoo! If I lose that bet, I promise to post the horrifying results on my new blog.
Zanstorm – Thanks! And I can always use wishes of best luck.
Greg – Actually, I have a signed contract where it says in large, bold print: ALANAH CAN SAY ANY RANDOM, INSANE CRAP ABOUT THE AVS & WINGS THAT SHE EVER WANTS. (I wanted to make sure there was no confusion…!)
December 12th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Geez you had me worried.
This is good news. Congratulations.
As long as you bring the Cheli-Cart with you.
December 12th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
We’ll need to break in your site with a combo drunk liveblog of a Canucks game some time. When do the Wings/Canucks play next? and not on PPV
December 12th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Of course, CY. The Cheli-Cart goes everywhere I go.
Darth Vader: Sounds good. Shall we bring our lightsabres?
December 12th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
Oh, you can always count on my bringing my big, long lightsabre
December 12th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
I always suspected Darth Vader was a pervert. Thanks for the confirmation.
(Freakin’ hockey fans… buncha wiseasses.)
December 12th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Sad that you’re leaving this place behind, but after reading your piece on KK- I’m excited to see what’s in store for you in the future!
Good luck!
December 13th, 2006 at 9:08 am
Wow, I missed your site during the lockout and now I’ll miss it when you close up shop for good. Good luck on the KK site - I can’t wait to see what you’ve got up your sleeve!
December 13th, 2006 at 11:36 am
Thanks Christy and Trini. Your best wishes mean a lot ot me — and I’m sure it’ll work out great!
December 13th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
I don’t give a rats @ss what site you post on as long as i still get to read what you write.
December 14th, 2006 at 4:48 am
Thanks, Van Expat.
And might I also add, it’s not often I hear the phrase “I don’t give a rat’s ass” and it’s actually a compliment!
December 14th, 2006 at 6:53 am
I love your site, you have a great outlook and perspective. Glad your going to still be involved and KK is a great place to be. Thanks for all the great reads here Alanah. Tony
December 14th, 2006 at 8:11 am
[…] It was fun having Dave over last night for Episode 11. It changed things up a little and certainly added to the discussions and we’re all super excited about Alanah’s news - that was officially announced this week. Dave joins John and Rebecca in “the studio” while we have Alanah and J.J. on the line for this slightly longer edition of the podcast. We tackle the latest news regarding the end of Alanah’s blog, Vancouver Canucks Op Ed, and look ahead to what we can expect from her new role with Kukla’s Korner. You can read her first feature article on her new home, “Bringing Hockey to the People“. So yes, the hockey blogging will continue. […]
December 14th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Thank you, Tony. Much appreciated!
December 17th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
Domain for sale?
December 18th, 2006 at 1:34 am
Hey Terry. And no, not for sale. I’ll be keeping the site up and the archives, so it’s more useful for me to keep it.
December 18th, 2006 at 1:55 am
[…] The End of Vancouver Canucks Op Ed […]
December 18th, 2006 at 6:38 am
I totally missed your “farewell speech” until now. Well, good luck with your new surroundings!
This makes the 5th or 6th blog from my sidebar over the past 2 months or so that has either shut down or moved to a new URL… I guess if I like a blog, it’s bad luck for them!
December 18th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Thanks, Brushback. So are you going to continue to doom blogs with your seal of approval? Use your power wisely. (Although I hope you like the new place, too!)
January 24th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
[…] The rumors are true — Vancouver Canucks Op Ed is hanging up the skates. Well, that sucks just a little more than Mark Bell and his DUI do for the Sharks. […]
January 24th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
[…] The rumors are true — Vancouver Canucks Op Ed is hanging up the skates. Well, that sucks just a little more than Mark Bell and his DUI do for the Sharks. […]