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 teamsa国际传媒檚 1994 run to the Stanley Cup Final was with Pat Quinn as head coach.

sa国际传媒淭errific guy,sa国际传媒� Babych told the awards luncheon crowd. sa国际传媒淚 mean, this guy was a playersa国际传媒檚 coach, you know, probably the best overall coach Isa国际传媒檝e seen in any sport. Isa国际传媒檓 sure theresa国际传媒檚 some that rival him but I donsa国际传媒檛 know of any.sa国际传媒� It was amazing how prepared he was, and a very, very smart guy.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淲onderful guy sa国际传媒� Isa国际传媒檓 kidding,sa国际传媒� Babych said with a laugh. sa国际传媒淗e wasnsa国际传媒檛 a very nice person, first of all, thatsa国际传媒檚 just the way it was. He coached through threatening players and so on, but technically he was the worst coach Isa国际传媒檝e ever seen, even from minor hockey to the NHL, and how he got jobs I donsa国际传媒檛 know.sa国际传媒�

Keenan enjoyed some success at every level of hockey, Babych noted, sa国际传媒渂ut it was very short-term, so for leadership like that, nobody needs it. I think Isa国际传媒檝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 yousa国际传媒檝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.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒� RELATED: .

Babs!!

sa国际传媒� 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 Canuckssa国际传媒� 1994 Cup run was a highlight with heartbreak, ultimately, in a loss to the Keenan-coached Rangers.

sa国际传媒淥f course New York, you know, they they kind of broke our hearts,sa国际传媒� Babych said. sa国际传媒淲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.

sa国际传媒淚t still stings,sa国际传媒� he added. sa国际传媒淚 havensa国际传媒檛 really watched any of that series just because I know the outcome, doesnsa国际传媒檛 change anything, I know. Itsa国际传媒檚 funny, before the series they made us give a ring size just in case, you know, you win the championship. Isa国际传媒檓 thinking, sa国际传媒極h, here we go, here we go, this could be good.sa国际传媒� Of course, it didnsa国际传媒檛 happen. We lost.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淚n the wintertime, wesa国际传媒檙e older but we still enjoy going out for skates with our teammates and people wesa国际传媒檝e played with before,sa国际传媒� said Babych, who lives in North Vancouver.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been great because we have our own dressing room, which we share with the Knights (Surreysa国际传媒檚 junior team). Added to that is wesa国际传媒檝e been connected with Wickfest, which is Hayley Wickenheisersa国际传媒檚 hockey festival for young ladies, and theresa国际传媒檚 like 2,000 participants there.

sa国际传媒淚 participated in sledge hockey for the first time ever,sa国际传媒� Babych added. sa国际传媒淭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, wesa国际传媒檙e just so happy that wesa国际传媒檙e included within the city, because most of us are from different places.sa国际传媒�

at the 2023 Surrey Arts & Business Awards is posted on Surrey Board of Tradesa国际传媒檚 Youtube channel, starting at the 23-minute mark.