Awesome x 30

It seems like it’s been forever since the Canucks played and it feels as if it will be an eternity before they return to the ice again, but we’d run short on time trying to point out every reason the 2009-10 season was awesome. It ruled, it truly did.

From Rick Rypien feeding Hal Gill knuckle sandwiches and Roberto Luongo becoming the franchise shutout leader to beating Toronto in Toronto and Vancouver's Olympic glory, the moments were vast, numerous and wonderful.

Here is part one of the top 30 moments of the season. Bon appétit.

30. RJ TICKLES THE TWINE

March 18, 2010 vs. San Jose



Ryan Johnson went 82 games between scoring regular season goals, so his game-winner against the Sharks was a big one. Off a give-and-go with Rick Rypien in tight on Evgeni Nabokov, Johnson backhanded a puck past the keeper for his first red light of the year. One and done

29. THE EVERYMAN, SEASON 2

January 21, 2010 vs. Dallas



Kyle Wellwood is rarely spectacular, instead opting for a consistent approach to every shift. Despite having only four multi-point games, the everyman made the most of single points plenty of times, including this sensational game-winner to sink the Stars. Shooting stars

28. GETTIN' JIGGY WIT IT

April 26, 2010 vs. Los Angeles



Going inside the Canucks locker room just seconds after they eliminated the LA Kings was priceless thanks to Ryan Kesler. Following a walk through a fist-pound tunnel, Kesler channeled his inner Napolean Dynamite and got down with his bad self. Gosh! Hammer Time

27. LUKO'S DREAM GOAL

January 25, 2010 vs. Buffalo



BC boy Brad Lukowich always dreamed of playing for the Canucks and this year he finally got his chance. Luko made the most of it against the Sabres scoring his only goal of the year, and first since November 5, 2007, when he played third Sedin for the game-winner. Tic-tac-toe

26. GOING GREEN

December 22, 2009 vs. Nashville



It started as a salute to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and snowballed into more than Force and Sully ever imagined. The Green Guys were a staple beside the opposing sin bin at GMP all season; while Patrick Kane admitted to being a fan, Dave Scatchard isn’t. Christmas tree?

25. TAKING DOWN GOLIATH

October 7, 2009 vs. Montreal



Vancouver’s first win of the season was a shellacking of the Canadiens, punctuated by Rick Rypien knocking the snot out of Hal Gill. Big Gill’s reach advantage was no match for the tenacity of Rypien, who used a stream of rights, lefts and blocks for the decision. The pitbull

24. HOFF, BOBBY HOFF

November 20, 2009 vs. Colorado



It was a career year for Christian Ehrhoff, Vancouver’s Babe Pratt Trophy winner. He set new highs with 14 goals, 44 points and a +36 rating; his coming out party was a two-goal outing against the Avalanche that earned him the nickname Bobby Hoff. Textbook goal

23. UNSUNG HERO

December 27, 2009 vs. Calgary



No one was more unsung this year than Mason Raymond, the third year junior proved he was worth the wait as his skills blossomed thrusting him into the top six. He’s a fan favourite for many reasons, one of them being a natural hat trick against the Flames in Calgary. Filling the hat

22. THE GREAT DANE

March 7, 2010 vs. Nashville & March 9, 2010 vs. Colorado



Of Jannik Hansen’s 15 career scores, four have counted as golden goals and a pair came in back-to-back games against the Predators and Avalanche. Normally quiet and reserved, the dangling Dane showed some real emotion following the second game-winner. That's a goal

21. HOMECOMING KING

March 3, 2010 vs. Detroit



A game after picking up a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Ryan Kesler was back in his hometown receiving a boisterous cheer from the American faithful in Detroit. How did he respond? With a pair of goals in his only two-score outing of the year. Monster in Michigan