from Carl Gunnarsson at the Blues website,

She is a thing of beauty, isn't she?

The game of hockey swept me off my feet the first time I saw her. It was love at first sight when my dad introduced me to her about 30 years ago. Looking back at how it all started and the long road it's been, I still can't believe that I was one of the few lucky ones to make it to the NHL.

Countless hours at the rink - and countless memories - it's all been about having fun with friends at practice and games, falling in love with the game each time we step on the ice.

I've never been a star or the best player on any of the teams I've been on, not even as a kid. And if you ask anyone who saw me play growing up if they thought I'd one day play in the NHL, I don't think anyone could honestly say yes. Me included. It just seemed so far away.

conitnued