Vancouver Canucks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vancouver Canucks |
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| Conference | Western |
| Division | Pacific |
| Founded | 1945 (PCHL) 1970 (as NHL expansion team) |
| History | Vancouver Canucks 1945–1952 (PCHL) Vancouver Canucks 1952–1970 (WHL) Vancouver Canucks 1970–present (NHL) |
| Home arena | Rogers Arena |
| City | Vancouver, British Columbia |
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| Colours | Blue, green, white |
| Media | Sportsnet Pacific Sportsnet One Sportsnet 650 |
| Owner(s) | Canucks Sports & Entertainment (Francesco Aquilini, chairman) |
| General manager | Patrik Allvin |
| Head coach | Rick Tocchet |
| Captain | Quinn Hughes |
| Minor league affiliates | Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 0 |
| Conference championships | 3 (1981–82, 1993–94, 2010–11) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 2 (2010–11, 2011–12) |
| Division championships | 11 (1974–75, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2023–24) |
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canucks are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. Their home games are played at Rogers Arena.
The team joined the NHL in 1970 as a new expansion team. They have reached the Stanley Cup Finals three times, but have not yet won the Stanley Cup. They lost in 1982, 1994, and 2011. The Canucks have won the Presidents' Trophy twice for having the best regular season record in the league. This happened in the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons.
The Canucks have honored six players by retiring their jersey numbers. These players are Pavel Bure (10), Stan Smyl (12), Trevor Linden (16), Markus Naslund (19), Daniel Sedin (22), and Henrik Sedin (33).
Contents
- Team History: From Past to Present
- Team Information
- Minor League Teams
- Season-by-Season Highlights
- Key Players and Achievements
- Awards and Trophies: Celebrating Success
- Team Records: Top Performances
- See also
Team History: From Past to Present
How the Canucks Started
The first professional hockey team in Vancouver was the Vancouver Millionaires. They were formed in 1911. The Millionaires even won the Stanley Cup in 1915. This was the first time a team from the West Coast won the trophy. After this team, Vancouver had minor league hockey teams for many years. One of these teams was also called the Vancouver Canucks. They played from 1945 to 1970.
Joining the NHL: A Dream Comes True
Vancouver wanted to have an NHL team. So, they built a new arena called the Pacific Coliseum in 1966. A group from Vancouver tried to get an NHL team in 1967, but they were turned down. Later, another NHL team, the Oakland Seals, had money problems. It looked like they might move to Vancouver. However, the NHL stopped this move.
Instead, the NHL promised Vancouver a team in the next expansion. A new group, led by Tom Scallen, paid $6 million to get a team. This new group bought the minor league Canucks team. They brought the team into the NHL along with the Buffalo Sabres for the 1970–71 season.
Early Years: Building the Team (1970–1982)
To create the first NHL Canucks team, the league held a special draft. The Buffalo Sabres won the first pick. The Canucks chose Gary Doak as their first player. They also picked Orland Kurtenbach, who became the team's first captain. Two days later, the Canucks drafted Dale Tallon as their first-ever amateur pick.
The Canucks played their first game on October 9, 1970, losing 3–1 to the Los Angeles Kings. Barry Wilkins scored the first goal in Canucks history. Two days later, they won their first game, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 5–3.
The team struggled in its early years and missed the playoffs for their first four seasons. In 1974, a new owner, Frank Griffiths, bought the team. The Canucks were moved to a new division, the Smythe Division. In the 1974–75 season, they had their first winning record and made the playoffs. They lost to the Montreal Canadiens. This was important because another hockey league, the WHA, had a team in Vancouver. The Canucks proved to be more popular.
The Exciting 1982 Stanley Cup Run
The Canucks made their first big playoff splash in 1982. Even though they had a losing record in the regular season, they played very well in the playoffs. They beat the Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, and Chicago Blackhawks.
During a game in Chicago, the coach, Roger Neilson, was upset with the referees. He put a white towel on a hockey stick to show he was "giving up" in a funny way. The players on the bench did the same. When the series moved to Vancouver, fans started waving white towels to cheer on the team. This became a famous tradition called "Towel Power" and is now seen in many sports.
The Canucks reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time. They played against the New York Islanders, who were champions from the past two years. The Islanders were a much stronger team and won the series, sweeping the Canucks in four games. Even though they lost, this playoff run was a big moment for the team and its fans.
Changes and New Stars (1982–1998)
After 1982, the Canucks had some tough years. They made the playoffs a few times but were usually eliminated early. Key players like Patrik Sundstrom and Tony Tanti joined the team.
In 1987, Pat Quinn became the general manager. He started to rebuild the team by trading older players for younger ones. Two important young players drafted were Trevor Linden in 1988 and Pavel Bure in 1989. Bure was a Russian player and became the team's first true superstar.
The 1994 Stanley Cup Run: A Thrilling Journey
In 1994, the Canucks made another exciting run to the Stanley Cup Finals. They were the seventh seed in their conference, meaning they weren't expected to go far.
In the first round, they faced the Calgary Flames. The Canucks were down 3–1 in the series but came back to win in seven games. The last three games were all won in overtime! In the deciding Game 7, goaltender Kirk McLean made an amazing save, known as "The Save." Then, Pavel Bure scored a breakaway goal to win the series.
After beating the Flames, the Canucks surprised everyone by defeating the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs. They reached the Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Rangers. The series went to a seventh game. Despite a great effort from Trevor Linden, who scored two goals, the Canucks lost 3–2. This loss was followed by a riot in downtown Vancouver. However, two days later, 45,000 fans gathered to celebrate the team's amazing effort.
After 1994, the team moved to a new arena, General Motors Place. They also acquired talented players like Alexander Mogilny and Markus Naslund. In 1997, Mark Messier, a famous player from the Rangers, joined the team and became captain. This caused some tension within the team.
New Leadership and the West Coast Express (1998–2006)
In 1998, Brian Burke became the new general manager. The team struggled for a couple of years. Pavel Bure was traded to the Florida Panthers. In 1999, Burke made a very important move. He drafted twin brothers, Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin, who would become future stars for the team.
The Canucks started to improve in the 1999–2000 season. Markus Naslund became the new captain. He, along with Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison, formed a powerful scoring line known as the "West Coast Express." This line was very exciting to watch.
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In the early 2000s, the Canucks became a strong playoff team. Naslund was one of the top scorers in the league. In 2003, the team had a 10-game winning streak. They won their first playoff series in eight years, beating the St. Louis Blues. However, they lost in the next round.
In 2004, there was a serious incident involving Todd Bertuzzi and an opposing player, Steve Moore. Bertuzzi was suspended for his actions. The Canucks still won their first division title that season but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
After the 2004–05 NHL season was cancelled due to a lockout, the team made big changes. They traded Bertuzzi and acquired star goaltender Roberto Luongo.
The Luongo Era and Another Finals Appearance (2006–2014)
With Roberto Luongo in goal, the Canucks won the Northwest Division title in 2006–07. Luongo was one of the best goalies in the league. In the 2007 playoffs, they played the longest game in team history, a quadruple-overtime win against the Dallas Stars. They won that series but lost to the Anaheim Ducks in the next round.
In 2008, Mike Gillis became the new general manager. Luongo was named team captain, which was unusual for a goalie. The team also retired Trevor Linden's jersey number.
The 2009–10 season was special because Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Canucks' home arena was used for Olympic hockey. After the Olympics, Henrik Sedin had an amazing season, becoming the first Canucks player to win the Art Ross Trophy (for most points) and the Hart Memorial Trophy (for most valuable player).
The 2011 Stanley Cup Run: Close to the Cup
The 2010–11 season was one of the best in Canucks history. They celebrated their 40th anniversary. Henrik Sedin became the new captain. The team won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time, having the best record in the league. Daniel Sedin won the Art Ross Trophy, making it the first time two brothers won the award in back-to-back years.
In the 2011 playoffs, the Canucks faced the Chicago Blackhawks, who had eliminated them in the previous two years. Vancouver took a 3–0 lead in the series, but Chicago came back to tie it. In Game 7, Alexandre Burrows scored in overtime to win the series. The Canucks then beat the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks to reach the Stanley Cup Finals again.
They played the Boston Bruins. The Canucks won the first two games, but Boston fought back. The series went to Game 7, which Boston won. After the game, there were again riots in downtown Vancouver.
The Canucks continued to be a strong team in the 2011–12 season, winning the Presidents' Trophy again. However, they were eliminated early in the playoffs. In 2013, they won their fifth straight division title but were swept in the first round of the playoffs.
In 2014, Roberto Luongo was traded back to the Florida Panthers. The team missed the playoffs for the first time in six years. Mike Gillis was fired, and Trevor Linden became the new president of hockey operations.
New Management and Future Hopes (2014–Present)
Jim Benning became the general manager in 2014. The team made some changes, trading veteran players and signing new ones like Ryan Miller. In the 2014–15 season, the Canucks reached 100 points but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
The team then went through a rebuilding phase, trading more veteran players. Young stars like Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson began to emerge. Pettersson won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie in 2018–19.
The 2019–20 season was the team's 50th NHL season. Bo Horvat was named the new captain. Quinn Hughes had a great rookie season. The Sedin brothers, Daniel and Henrik, had their jersey numbers retired. The season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When it resumed, the Canucks won their first playoff series in nine years, beating the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues. They were then eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights.
In 2021, Jim Benning and the coaching staff were fired after a tough start to the season. Jim Rutherford became the president of hockey operations, and Patrik Allvin was hired as general manager. In 2023, Rick Tocchet became the new head coach. Quinn Hughes was named the team's captain, becoming the youngest captain in the NHL and the first American captain for the Canucks.
Team Information
Home Arenas: Where the Canucks Play
The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena in downtown Vancouver. This arena opened in 1995 and can hold almost 19,000 fans for hockey games. Rogers Arena was also used for ice hockey during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Before moving to Rogers Arena, the Canucks played at the Pacific Coliseum for 25 years, from 1970 to 1995.
Logos and Jerseys: A Look Through Time
The Canucks have had several different logos and jersey designs over the years.
- 1970–1978: The "Stick-in-Rink"
The first NHL jerseys featured a hockey stick inside a blue rink shape, forming a "C." This logo is still used today as a shoulder patch on some jerseys.
- 1978–1985: The "Flying V"
The team changed to a more aggressive look with a large yellow, red-orange, and black "V" on the front. This design was very bold and unique.
- 1985–1997: The "Flying Skate"
This logo showed the word "Canucks" as part of a skate blade. It was sometimes called the "Star Wars" logo or the "Flying Skate." The colors changed from yellow to white jerseys over time.
- 1997–2007: The Orca
In 1997, the Canucks introduced a new logo: a Haida-style orca (killer whale) breaking out of ice, forming a "C." The colors were blue, red, and silver.
- 2007–Present: Return to Classic Colors
The current jerseys still feature the orca logo, but the colors changed to the classic royal blue and kelly green. The word "Vancouver" was added above the orca.
The Canucks also have alternate jerseys. One uses a modernized "Stick-in-Rink" logo. Another features Johnny Canuck, a cartoon character who has been a symbol for Canadian identity.
For their 50th season in 2019–20, the Canucks updated their main uniforms. They also brought back the 1990s "Flying Skate" jerseys for some games. More recently, they introduced new "Reverse Retro" jerseys and a modernized black "Flying Skate" alternate uniform.
Mascot: Fin the Orca
The official mascot of the Vancouver Canucks is an anthropomorphic killer whale named Fin the Orca. You can often see him banging a drum or shooting t-shirts into the crowd during games. He's also known for playfully "chomping" on fans' heads.
Two fans, known as The Green Men, became unofficial mascots. They wear full-body green suits and are famous for their funny antics at games. They even traveled with the team to the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.
Media: Watching and Listening to the Games
Canucks games are broadcast on TV by Sportsnet Pacific. You can also listen to the games on the radio on Sportsnet 650. John Shorthouse is the main TV play-by-play announcer.
Ownership: Who Owns the Team?
The Vancouver Canucks team and Rogers Arena are owned by Canucks Sports & Entertainment. This company is led by Francesco Aquilini and his brothers. They bought the team in parts, becoming full owners in 2006.
Minor League Teams
The Canucks have minor league teams where younger players develop their skills. Their main minor league team is the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL. They also have a secondary affiliate, the Kalamazoo Wings, in the ECHL.
Season-by-Season Highlights
Here's a look at the Canucks' performance in recent seasons:
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2019–20 | 69 | 36 | 27 | 6 | 78 | 228 | 217 | 3rd, Pacific | Lost in second round, 3–4 (Golden Knights) |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 23 | 29 | 4 | 50 | 151 | 188 | 7th, North | Did not qualify |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | 249 | 236 | 5th, Pacific | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 38 | 37 | 7 | 83 | 276 | 298 | 6th, Pacific | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | 279 | 223 | 1st, Pacific | Lost in second round, 3–4 (Oilers) |
Key Players and Achievements
Retired Jersey Numbers: Honoring Legends
The Canucks have retired the jersey numbers of six special players. This means no other player on the team will ever wear that number again.
| No. | Player | Position | Career | No. retirement |
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| 10 | Pavel Bure | RW | 1991–1998 | November 2, 2013 |
| 12 | Stan Smyl | RW | 1978–1991 | November 3, 1991 |
| 16 | Trevor Linden | C/RW | 1988–1998 2001–2008 |
December 17, 2008 |
| 19 | Markus Naslund | LW | 1996–2008 | December 11, 2010 |
| 22 | Daniel Sedin | LW | 2000–2018 | February 12, 2020 |
| 33 | Henrik Sedin | C | 2000–2018 | February 12, 2020 |
The numbers 11 (for Wayne Maki) and 28 (for Luc Bourdon) have also been taken out of circulation to honor these players who passed away.
Hockey Hall of Famers
Many former Canucks players and team builders have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. This is a special place that honors the greatest people in hockey.
- Players: Pavel Bure, Igor Larionov, Roberto Luongo, Mark Messier, Cam Neely, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Mats Sundin.
- Builders: Frank Griffiths, Jake Milford, Roger Neilson, Bud Poile, Pat Quinn, Jim Rutherford.
Ring of Honour: Celebrating Team Impact
The Vancouver Canucks Ring of Honour celebrates people who made a big impact on the team.
- Orland Kurtenbach (2010)
- Kirk McLean (2010)
- Thomas Gradin (2011)
- Harold Snepsts (2011)
- Pat Quinn (2014)
- Mattias Ohlund (2016)
- Alex Burrows (2019)
- Roberto Luongo (2023)
Team Captains: Leading the Way
The Canucks have had 15 different captains. The first captain was Orland Kurtenbach. Stan Smyl and Henrik Sedin were captains for the longest time, each for eight seasons.
- Orland Kurtenbach, 1970–1974
- Andre Boudrias, 1975–1976
- Chris Oddleifson, 1976–1977
- Don Lever, 1977–1979
- Kevin McCarthy, 1979–1982
- Stan Smyl, 1982–1990
- Dan Quinn, Doug Lidster and Trevor Linden, 1990–1991 (tri-captains)
- Trevor Linden, 1991–1997
- Mark Messier, 1997–2000
- Markus Naslund, 2000–2008
- Roberto Luongo, 2008–2010 (as a goalie, he couldn't wear the "C" on his jersey during games)
- Henrik Sedin, 2010–2018
- Bo Horvat, 2019–2023
- Quinn Hughes, 2023–present
Top Scorers: All-Time Points Leaders
These are the players who have scored the most points for the Canucks in their history.
- * – current Canucks player
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Awards and Trophies: Celebrating Success
The Canucks and their players have won many awards over the years.
NHL Awards
- Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: 1982, 1994, 2011 (Awarded to the Western Conference playoff champions)
- Presidents' Trophy: 2011, 2012 (Awarded to the team with the best regular season record)
- Calder Memorial Trophy (Best Rookie): Pavel Bure (1992), Elias Pettersson (2019)
- Jack Adams Award (Best Coach): Pat Quinn (1992), Alain Vigneault (2007), Rick Tocchet (2024)
- James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenceman): Quinn Hughes (2024)
- King Clancy Memorial Trophy (Leadership and Community Service): Trevor Linden (1997), Henrik Sedin (2016), Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin (2018)
- Lester B. Pearson Award / Ted Lindsay Award (Most Outstanding Player, voted by players): Markus Naslund (2003), Daniel Sedin (2011)
- Art Ross Trophy (Leading Scorer): Henrik Sedin (2010), Daniel Sedin (2011)
- Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player): Henrik Sedin (2010)
- William M. Jennings Trophy (Fewest Goals Allowed): Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider (2011)
- Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward): Ryan Kesler (2011)
- NHL General Manager of the Year Award: Mike Gillis (2011)
All-Star Teams
Many Canucks players have been named to the NHL All-Star teams, recognizing them as the best players in the league.
- First All-Star Team: Pavel Bure, Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi, Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Quinn Hughes.
- Second All-Star Team: Kirk McLean, Alexander Mogilny, Roberto Luongo, Daniel Sedin, Thatcher Demko.
- NHL All-Rookie Team: Jim Sandlak, Trevor Linden, Corey Hirsch, Mattias Ohlund, Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes.
Team Records: Top Performances
As of the 2023–24 season
- Skaters
- Most games played in a career: Henrik Sedin, 1,330 games
- Most goals in a career: Daniel Sedin, 393 goals
- Most assists in a career: Henrik Sedin, 830 assists
- Most points in a career: Henrik Sedin, 1,070 points
- Most goals in one season: Pavel Bure, 60 goals (twice)
- Most assists in one season: Henrik Sedin, 83 assists
- Most points in one season: Henrik Sedin, 112 points
- Most points in a season by a defenceman: Quinn Hughes, 92 points
- Most points in a season by a rookie: Elias Pettersson, 66 points
- Goaltenders
- Most games played in a career: Kirk McLean, 516 games
- Most wins in a career: Roberto Luongo, 252 wins
- Most shutouts in a career: Roberto Luongo, 38 shutouts
- Most wins in one season: Roberto Luongo, 47 wins
- Most shutouts in one season: Roberto Luongo, 9 shutouts
See also
In Spanish: Vancouver Canucks para niños
