Ian Cole: Canucks Had ‘Tears in Their Eyes’ in Warmups

The Vancouver Canucks enjoyed a playoff win at home for the first time, and Canucks fans weren’t the only ones enjoying the occasion. Defenseman Ian Cole shared postgame that some of his teammates were on the verge of tears during warmups.

“I can’t understate how amazing the atmosphere was,” Cole said on Sportsnet 650 after the game. “Guys were saying they had goosebumps; tears in their eyes in warmups.”

Ian Cole on @Sportsnet650 post-game show: I can't understate how amazing the atmosphere was. Guys were saying they had goose bumps, tears in their eyes in warmups.

— Bik Nizzar (@BikNizzar) April 22, 2024

Cole has played for a lot of winning teams over the years, so his observation certainly holds some weight. Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet vouched for that.

“There’s been times this year that I felt our team got a little antsy, and Ian Cole’s demeanor after a game has helped us,” Tocchet said of Cole via Sportsnet’s Brendan Batchelor. “We lost four in a row one time, and Coler talked to the guys, and the next night, we had a good night.”

Rick Tocchet: There's been times this year that I felt our team got a little antsy, and Ian Cole's demeanor after a game has helped us. We lost four in a row one time, and Coler talked to the guys, and the next night, we had a good night. #Canucks @Sportsnet650

— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) April 22, 2024

Cole, 35, had the third-highest ice time amongst Canucks defensemen against Nashville on Sunday night. His 19:21 was tied with Nikita Zadorov, as only Filip Hronek (19:31) and Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (22:20) played more in the 4-2 win over the Predators.

The star of the contest, Dakota Joshua, finished the game with two goals and an assist. Joshua’s first of two goals gave the Canucks their first lead of the evening, sending the Rogers Arena crowd into a raucous frenzy.

Hughes echoed Cole’s sentiment about the home ice atmosphere, drawing back on some of his own experiences from last year watching younger brothers Jack and Luke.

“I couldn’t really believe how loud the fans were,” Hughes remarked. “I’ve seen some playoff games I went to New Jersey and The Garden last year and watched, but it wasn’t anything like we just witnessed.”

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