Former NHLer Dave Babych shed light on his hockey history during the , held Tuesday, Nov. 28, at the Sheraton hotel in Guildford.

The retired defenseman talked about his 20 seasons as a pro player, including the coaches he liked and also disliked.

Most of his years in the NHL were spent playing for Vancouver Canucks, from 1991 to 1998.

The team含羞草研究社檚 1994 run to the Stanley Cup Final was with Pat Quinn as head coach.

含羞草研究社淭errific guy,含羞草研究社� Babych told the awards luncheon crowd. 含羞草研究社淚 mean, this guy was a player含羞草研究社檚 coach, you know, probably the best overall coach I含羞草研究社檝e seen in any sport. I含羞草研究社檓 sure there含羞草研究社檚 some that rival him but I don含羞草研究社檛 know of any.含羞草研究社� It was amazing how prepared he was, and a very, very smart guy.含羞草研究社�

Later with the Canucks, Babych played for Mike Keenan, who is definitely not his favourite coach of all-time.

含羞草研究社淲onderful guy 含羞草研究社� I含羞草研究社檓 kidding,含羞草研究社� Babych said with a laugh. 含羞草研究社淗e wasn含羞草研究社檛 a very nice person, first of all, that含羞草研究社檚 just the way it was. He coached through threatening players and so on, but technically he was the worst coach I含羞草研究社檝e ever seen, even from minor hockey to the NHL, and how he got jobs I don含羞草研究社檛 know.含羞草研究社�

Keenan enjoyed some success at every level of hockey, Babych noted, 含羞草研究社渂ut it was very short-term, so for leadership like that, nobody needs it. I think I含羞草研究社檝e learned a lot from all my coaches and probably the most from him of what not to do, you know, if that makes sense, because you含羞草研究社檝e got to weed out a few things and then you can define what the right path might be. But yeah, I could say more but I better not. I did not enjoy being coached by that fella.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社� RELATED: .

Babs!!

含羞草研究社� Vancouver Canucks Alumni (@canucksalumni)

Babych played in Winnipeg, Hartford, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, and in 2000 ended his pro career in Switzerland with the Ambri-Piotta club.

The Canucks含羞草研究社� 1994 Cup run was a highlight with heartbreak, ultimately, in a loss to the Keenan-coached Rangers.

含羞草研究社淥f course New York, you know, they they kind of broke our hearts,含羞草研究社� Babych said. 含羞草研究社淲e should have won that, we could have easily won it, but it was not to be. We went to Game 7, and lost, I think it was 3-2 the final game.

含羞草研究社淚t still stings,含羞草研究社� he added. 含羞草研究社淚 haven含羞草研究社檛 really watched any of that series just because I know the outcome, doesn含羞草研究社檛 change anything, I know. It含羞草研究社檚 funny, before the series they made us give a ring size just in case, you know, you win the championship. I含羞草研究社檓 thinking, 含羞草研究社極h, here we go, here we go, this could be good.含羞草研究社� Of course, it didn含羞草研究社檛 happen. We lost.含羞草研究社�

Today, Babych is vice-president of the , the members of which play hockey at North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex.

含羞草研究社淚n the wintertime, we含羞草研究社檙e older but we still enjoy going out for skates with our teammates and people we含羞草研究社檝e played with before,含羞草研究社� said Babych, who lives in North Vancouver.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been great because we have our own dressing room, which we share with the Knights (Surrey含羞草研究社檚 junior team). Added to that is we含羞草研究社檝e been connected with Wickfest, which is Hayley Wickenheiser含羞草研究社檚 hockey festival for young ladies, and there含羞草研究社檚 like 2,000 participants there.

含羞草研究社淚 participated in sledge hockey for the first time ever,含羞草研究社� Babych added. 含羞草研究社淭he building is set up to be able to handle these kind of games and where everyone is included, and it was a lot harder than I expected, not going to lie. I was a little sore the next day in different ways than normally playing hockey, but it was terrific. Like I said, we含羞草研究社檙e just so happy that we含羞草研究社檙e included within the city, because most of us are from different places.含羞草研究社�

at the 2023 Surrey Arts & Business Awards is posted on Surrey Board of Trade含羞草研究社檚 Youtube channel, starting at the 23-minute mark.