The 2013-2014 NHL season officially hit the half way mark at the beginning of January and the Vancouver Canucks have steadily held their position in the middle of the pack heading into the second half. While last year’s shortened season seemed to be all about which goaltender held the number one spot, the Canucks have managed to escape any drama in that department this year.
Roberto Luongo has been stopping shots as the starting netminder but he now has someone new to back him up. Eddie Lack has been a welcomed addition to the Canucks roster and he recently had the chance to prove it. The holiday stretch saw an injured Luongo sitting on the sidelines while Lack temporarily took his place as starting goaltender for the Canucks. While it may have only been three games without Luongo, it was enough to confirm the confidence the Canucks have in their backup goalie and give Lack the opportunity to play back-to- back games.
DARPAN had the chance to speak with the backup goaltender shortly after his stint as a starter came to an end and a healthy Roberto Luongo returned to the crease. Lack’s silly smile and goofy personality would win over anyone lucky enough to spend some time with him, but his commitment to hockey and his team can’t be overlooked.
Lack is a young 26 years old. Born in Norrtälje, Sweden, he spent most of his minor hockey career playing for his hometown team. After playing professional hockey in Sweden for several years, he spent his first three professional seasons in North America playing in the minor leagues.
While injuries are never something to be celebrated, Luongo’s absence suddenly meant that Lack had the chance to step up and start several games in a row. While not a newcomer to starting hockey games – Lack was the starting goalie for the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League during the 2010-2011 season – the opportunity to prove himself at the NHL level is one he’ll humbly take advantage of.
“It's been nice to get a couple back-to-backs, get some games in...but I’m so happy that Louie’s back now,” Lack says breaking into a big grin. “It’s us two again.” He’s quick to deny he’s only saying it just because Luongo is sitting next to him but the two can’t help but chuckle.
Having the chance to play with a star like Luongo is not lost on Lack. “We’re working on stuff everyday,” he says, referring to what he’s been able to learn from the starting goalie. “It’s a lot of stuff around the net and behind the net. It feels like I’m picking up stuff everyday.” Luongo’s advice to the rookie goaltender? “He told me to go out there and play my game. Have fun and just go with it.”
And go with it he has. Lack was lucky enough to have his family in attendance when he replaced Roberto – the first time they had been to a Vancouver game that he had played in – but, despite being exciting and a nice surprise, he wasn’t affected by the special audience. “When I’m in the game, I only think about the puck and the next save,” he says.
Athletes in general are often known by nickname and Lack is no exception. While commonly referred to as Lacker, Eddie has also been nicknamed “The Stork” and it’s not hard to see why. Standing 6’4” tall with long legs, Lack’s slim but towering stature has provided him with a less-than-intimidating nickname that he seems more than happy to embrace. His size caught the attention of scouts back in Sweden and he’s known for using it to his advantage on the ice.
Off the ice, Lack is attracting attention as well. He is quick to laugh when asked if there’s anything fans would be surprised to find out about him – he’s active on Twitter and it appears he’s not hiding anything. The social networking site has allowed fans to see a side of Eddie that he doesn’t show come game time.
“It’s nice getting to interact with the fans,” he says in praise of the site. “I think they really appreciate it, too. It gives me a chance to let the goofy side of me come out instead of being all serious when I’m on the ice. They get to see a different side of me.”
Funny tweets such as “I miss 2013...” on the first day of the new year and photos of him piggybacking other players or out to dinner with his “idol” Luongo show off just a small part of a lighthearted Lack, who clearly doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Being silly off the ice but serious about hockey seems to have won over many fans as well as the Canucks organization. Vancouver made it clear they have confidence in their backup goaltender as they signed Lack to a two-year contract extension that will see him as a part of the club through the 2015- 2016 season.
While the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics means a break from playing hockey for a couple weeks, it’s still the sport that Lack is most looking forward to watching. “Of course I’m looking forward to watching the hockey,” Lack tells us. And while he may be rooting for his hometown, he’s also a team player. “That’s going to be the highlight for sure – watching Sweden play, of course, but also there’s a couple guys playing on other teams from this team so I’ll be cheering for them, too.”
His sense of humour and wit has captivated many and his on-ice abilities have been more than impressive. For a club that can’t escape talk about goaltending, Eddie Lack has made the conversation a positive one.
Photo: The Vancouver Canucks/Jeff Vinnick