from Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun,

Meredith Stevenson wanted a voice in the National Hockey League lockout and to get it the lifelong fan made what she described as a gut-wrenching decision.

She and her husband Dean cancelled the pair of Vancouver Canucks season tickets they had held for 14 years.

"The last lockout (in 200405) didn't seem to bother me as much," the North Vancouver resident said Thursday. "Now that this is kind of the second time around and we are faced with the same old argument, I just found myself feeling increasingly frustrated.

"My husband and I have been evaluating how we can be heard in all this because we are just a little bit fed up with it. Even though we are huge fans - we never miss a game - it just got to be the only way we felt we could have a voice."

So late last week, Stevenson called her account representative with the Canucks and told him they were giving up their cherished lower-bowl seats at Rogers Arena. And as difficult a decision as that was, Stevenson said she found it almost liberating.

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