Radim Vrbata on Team Foligno

The 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Game took place at Nationwide Arena on Sunday, January 25, with Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata playing for Team Foligno in his first NHL All-Star Game. There were 42 players selected, including Jonathan Toews as the captain of the white team and Nick Foligno as the captain of the black team. Team Toews defeated Team Foligno 17-12, and the 29 goals in total set an All-Star Game record. Among the 12 goals scored by Team Foligno, Vrbata scored the first goal of the game, on Roberto Luongo. Johansen (2), Shattenkirk, Giroux, Stamkos, Ryan, Burns, and Kane (2), scored the remaining 11 goals. 8 goals were scored in the first period (4 for each team),  11 were scored in the second period (7 for white and 4 for black), and 10 goals were scored in the third period (6 for white and 4 for black). 

     See the game's highlights here

Seahawks to Super Bowl XLIX

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Green Bay Packers in overtime, 28-22, after a miraculous comeback. The Seahawks forced the game to go into overtime after scoring 21 more points in the fourth quarter in approximately 5 minutes, after trailing 19-7, to tie up the game. The game ended in overtime, after the Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson threw the winning 35 yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse. The Seattle Seahawks will now face the New England Patriots, who won their game, 45-7, against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The 49th Super Bowl will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2015 at 3:30 pm PT. 

Back-to-Back Shutouts on the Road

For the first time in franchise history, Ryan Miller became the first goalie to win back-to-back road games with a shutout for the Canucks. On Thursday, January 15, the Canucks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0, with goals from Nick Bonino, Henrik Sedin, Radim Vrbata, and Jannik Hansen. In their next game against the Carolina Hurricanes, on Friday, January 16, Vancouver won 3-0, with goals from Dereck Dorsett, Shawn Matthais, and Alexandre Burrows. The Canucks are now 7th in the western conference, with 53 points, and a record of 25-15-3 (25 wins, 15 losses, and 3 overtime/shootout losses).
  

Luongo Returns to Rogers Arena

On Thursday, January 8th, Roberto Luongo finally returned to Vancouver for the first time this season, but this time playing with the Florida Panthers. During the first period, a heartfelt video tribute was dedicated to him, to which the crowd gave a standing ovation, and everyone continued to cheer for Luongo throughout the game, despite the 3-1 loss to the Panthers. Daniel Sedin scored the only goal for Vancouver, about 3 minutes into the game. Ryan Miller was the 3rd star of the game with 27 saves, and  Roberto Luongo, the 1st star, with 32 saves against his former team.

2015 IIHF World Junior Championship

The IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) World Junior Championship began on December 26, 2014, with 10 countries participating, including Canada, USA, Slovakia, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic, Russia, Denmark, and Switzerland. The 10 countries were split into Group A and Group B, with Canada, USA, Slovakia, Finland and Germany in Group A, and Sweden, Czech Republic, Russia, Denmark, and Switzerland in Group B. Canada has won all 6 of the games they have played so far, against Germany, Finland, USA, Denmark, and twice against Slovakia. Canada leads Group A, with 15 points, and they will play in the final round on January 5, 2015, against Russia for the gold medal.