I smiled this week when I saw the success of Vladimir Tarasenko of the St Louis Blues.
First, Tarasenko scored a highlight reel goal in regulation against the New York Rangers and then finished that game with the deciding goal in the shootout as the Blues won their 5th in a row.
Then, in a game against New Jersey, Tarasenko was the only goal scorer in a 1-0 win for the Blues over New Jersey.
I’m not really a St Louis Blues fan.
And I’m not really a Tarasenko fan.
But every time I see or hear of him, I immediately flash back to the World Junior Hockey Championships at Buffalo.
In the Championship game, Canada grabbed a 3-0 lead and looked like they were golden & that assumption was heightened moments later when Tarasenko was hit along the boards.
I say ” hit ” as in bodychecked.
Tarasenko reacted to the hit as if he’d been hit by a flurry of cannon balls and two teammates dragged his limp and lifeless body back to the Russian bench
‘ You’re not hurt that bad ‘, I thought….and I was right.
In the third period, the valiant Tarasenko returned, scored the tying goal in a dramatic ( & stunning ) come-from-behind win over Canada.
Now, almost 4 years later, no matter what he’s doing for St Louis, every time I see his name, I flash back to early January of 2011, the limp body & the dramatic Russian comeback fuelled by Vladimir Tarasenko
I’m Fred Wallace