Penguins Goalie Arturs Silovs Opens Up About What Really Bothered Him in Vancouver
Photo credit: HU edit
New Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs opened up about his time with the Canucks, where he revealed that the lack of a practice facility was a very big problem for him.
Former Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs is getting a welcome respite in Pittsburgh, as he finally has the simple pleasure of a practice facility.
Silovs, who dressed for the Canucks 19 times in a three-year stint, was dealt to the Penguins for prospect Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in 2027.
Already, things are going well for him in Pittsburgh, as his club recorded a shutout win over the New York Rangers in his first game, prior to him suffering a loss in the rematch.
In addition to the on-ice accomplishment, the 24-year-old prefers having stability in practicing and playing in one facility. In Vancouver, the absence of an independent practice facility has been a chronic thorn.
"I mean, practice rink, we didn't have it back in Vancouver. We didn't have it," Silovs said. "We were skating [at] the university, UBC. "Here it's like, there's your own locker room, you don't have to move your things all the time. You can skate, do your stuff to improve. I think it's a huge bonus for the team."
The Canucks are the Only NHL Team That Has to Occasionally Move to a University to Practice
The Canucks regularly practice at Rogers Arena, but must move to the University of British Columbia when the arena is not available, something none of the other teams in the NHL experience.
For Silovs, the inconsistency is evident, and his remarks remind us of a long-standing problem that still dominates in Vancouver.
"We're open to any area within a half-hour drive of downtown Vancouver," Rutherford said in late September in regards to building a practice facility. "Since I've been here, we've worked on this, and we've come close to a point where we could get one, but there is always political reasons or this and that."
"I've been pushed hard by Francesco [Aquilini], our owner, to figure this out. I do think we have a few options that we actually have a chance of moving forward."
"I've been pushed hard by Francesco [Aquilini], our owner, to figure this out. I do think we have a few options that we actually have a chance of moving forward."
There have been whispers that the Canucks would like to construct a proper arena with an independent practice facility, which is clearly very important to players, but whether that will occur is doubtful.
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