'Nucks IceMan

Written by: Larry “The Nucks IceMan” Johnson

With the passing of Rick Rypien yesterday, speculation is that Rypien had been battling with depression for a long time. Through the many battles that Rypien dealt with as a professional hockey player, this was one battle that got the best of him.

Known around the NHL as the best “pound for pound” fighter, this mental illness has a way of taking its toll on those that have to fight it continuously. I bet you that most people in the world know someone who has suffered at the hands of depression.

I to am acquainted with it, as it has run through my family like an epidemic at times, and claimed my mother who passed away several years ago. So I empathize with what Rick was dealing with.

I’m not going to rehash about where Rypien was born, played hockey etc. since you can read that by following this link. No, this is the story of David and Goliath and of every border-line player that persevered to make it to the big leagues.

I remember the first time that I saw Rypien play. It was the season of 2006-07 when he was brought up from Manitoba to play with the Canucks for a couple of games.

He didn’t score, but his only fight that night sure caught my attention. I made note of who he was and looked forward to seeing him next season. This smallish kid could not only fight but could play also.

This is when Rypien established himself as an NHL, hard-nosed physical player that would stand up for his team-mates. The rest of the league was put on notice that they would have to deal with him if they took liberties with the Canucks.

Rypien could skate like the wind and would explode on his hits like a rocket, and when the opposition dropped their gloves, he was up to the challenge with everyone - regardless of their size.

At 5’11’ and about 190 lbs. he was often over matched with the heavyweights that were three to five inches taller and 20-40 lbs. heavier. It didn’t matter, because “The Ripper” would get inside their long reach, block their punches with either arm and could throw his punches with either hand.

Just ask a few like former Edmonton Oilers Zack Stortini, Canadiens Hal Gill or Sharks Douglas Murray about that.

You see Rick had a bit of an advantage. He came by his proficient fighting technique through his father Wes, who at one time was a Golden Gloves Canadian Champion at around the age of 19 or 20.

Rick had learned to fight with both hands, which is typical of a boxer who switches between a jab, punch and counter punch. This was very effective because most enforcers only used one hand to punch, whether it was the left or right.

For Rypien though this time of fighting was nothing compared to the continuous bout with his depression.

He only played in nine NHL games in 2010/11, having to take an extended time off for personal reasons, and didn’t return until near the end of the season. Rick played 11 regular season games with Manitoba and then another seven in the play-offs.

One thing about the Canucks organization, they stuck with Rypien throughout all his physical injuries and his emotional issues. They could have cut him loose at any time during his seven seasons but like all, they could see that he had a heart of a lion and was a great team player.

It looked like Rypien had turned his career and personal life around, and had mentioned that this was the best he had felt in years. During the off-season, Rypien was heading back to Winnipeg where he had played his most inspiring hockey of late -but this time with a new contract to play for the NHL Winnipeg Jets.

At 27 – Rick left us far too soon.

Footnotes: The outpouring of affection from around the NHL, AHL, via the social media and fans all over, has really been something to behold.

R.I.P. Rick Rypien,

Photo Credits – AP, Getty Images, Google Images and Yahoo Sports!

Video Credits - YouTube

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