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The Vancouver Canucks are a professional National Hockey League (NHL) ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Founded: 1945

Joined the NHL: 1970-1971

Arena: General Motors Place

Uniform colours: Home: Royal blue, dark red, and silver on dark blue. Away: Royal blue, dark red, and silver on white. Alternate (3rd): Dark red, dark blue, and silver.

Logo design: A stylized "C", consisting of an orca breaking out of water.

Vintage Jersey: A stylized "C", consisting of a hockey rink and hockey stick. Home: Green and white on royal blue. Away: Royal blue and green on white.

Stanley Cup final appearances: 2 (0 won, 2 lost: 1981-82 (lost), 1993-94 (lost))

Franchise History

In 1945 the Pacific Coast Hockey League established an ice hockey franchise in the city of Vancouver. Known as the Canucks, they immediately enjoyed success by winning the PCHL championship in only their second year of existence. In 1952, the PCHL merged with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League to form the professional Western Hockey League. With numerous star players coming through the ranks like Johnny Bower, Andy Bathgate, Tony Esposito, and Phil Maloney, the Canucks won the Lester Patrick Cup in 1958, 1960, 1969, and 1970.

In 1965, when the NHL announced plans to expand to six additional markets , the WHL's Canucks owner and former Vancouver mayor Fred Hume announced that the city of Vancouver would apply. However, the presentation to the NHL's Board of Governors was sloppily prepared. Because of this, and the fact that the Vancouver ownership group was disliked by Chicago Blackhawks' owner James Norris and Toronto Maple Leafs' owner Stafford Smythe (who hated Vancouver in general because of a failed arena plan), the application did not succeed. Nevertheless, the Pacific Coliseum, which was to be the first home for a prospective Vancouver NHL team, was built on the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE).

In 1970, another Vancouver ownership group bought the minor-league Canucks and, after much negotiating, the Canucks joined the NHL for the price of $6 million ($4 million more than it would have cost in 1967). Interestingly, the Canucks were placed in the East Division to maintain parity between the two divisions (more interesting was the fact that the Blackhawks moved from the East Division to the West Division the same year).

First Captain: Orland Kurtenbach

First Game: 9 October, 1970 vs. Los Angeles Kings

First Victory: 11 October, 1970 5 - 3 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

First Goal Scored: Barry Wilkins vs. Los Angeles Kings

The Canucks have been to the Stanley Cup Finals twice in their franchise history. Their first trip was in 1982, when they were swept 4 games to none by the New York Islanders. In 1994, the Canucks made another trip to the finals, entering that year's playoffs as the seventh seed in the Western Conference. The club had what could be characterized as an off year during the regular season, but resumed their form during the playoffs, beating Calgary in the first round in an incredible seven game series. They won game 7 in overtime on a Pavel Bure breakaway. They went on to defeat the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs before meeting the New York Rangers in the Finals. The Canucks lost 4 games to 3 in what many hockey analysts consider one of the closest and most exciting Stanley Cup finals in NHL history.

Logo and jersey history

The team has gone through several different logo and jersey changes in its history. One of their first jerseys is now worn on the occassional "vintage night"; a blue rink-shaped rectangle with a hockey stick in it designed by Joe Borovich of North Vancouver. A version of this logo is still in use, as a shoulder patch on the team's current jerseys. One of the more controversial jerseys worn consisted of a huge yellow, orange, and black striped "V" coming down from the shoulders which, depending on whom you ask, is usually considered to be either their best or (more commonly) worst jersey. The logo used before the current one was the word "Canucks" in a diagonal slant and is part of the blade of a skate. The current jersey is an orca, in the shape of a "C".

The name "Canuck" has nothing to do with the current logo of the Canucks. Canuck is slang for a Canadian person in the way "Yankee" is for an American. However, the team name is actually derived from Johnny Canuck, a 19th century Canadian Cartoon that has had several reincarnations during the 20th century. Johnny Canuck was also on the very first Vancouver Canucks logo, back in their Pacific Coast Hockey League days.

Ownership

Francesco Aquilini, head of the Aquilini Investment Group in Vancouver, purchased a 50% share in the franchise and General Motors Place sports arena on the 17th of November, 2004. Aquilini purchased his share of the franchise and General Motors Place from American billionaire John McCaw, who still owns the remaining 50%. However, in January 2005, Aquilini's former business partners, Tom Gagliardi and Ryan Beedie, have filed a lawsuit against Aquilini and OrcaBay, the group that currently owns the Canucks. Gagliardi and Beedie claimed that Aquilini and OrcaBay had acted in bad faith and went behind their backs when Aquilini and OrcaBay brokered their deal, despite Aquilini having had to pull out of his partnership with Gagliardi and Beedie to purchase the team due to financial concerns.

Notable Players

Hall of Famers

• Andrew James "Andy" Bathgate
• Frank A. Griffiths (Owner)
• John Calverley "Jake" Milford (General Manager)
• Roger Paul Neilson (Coach)
• Norman "Bud" Poile (General Manager)

Current Squad

Team captains

• 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 (1990 - 1991)
• Doug Lidster (1990 - 1991)
• Trevor Linden (1990 - 1997)
• Mark Messier (1997 - 2000)
• Markus Näslund (2000 - present)

Not to be forgotten

• Greg "Gus" Adams
• Richard Brodeur
• Pavel Bure
• Thomas Gradin
• Dennis Kearns
• Jyrki Lumme
• Kirk McLean
• Alexander Mogilny
• Cliff Ronning
• Harold Snepsts
• Petri Skriko
• Tony Tanti
• Dennis Ververgaert
• Dave "Tiger" Williams

Retired Numbers

• 12 Stan Smyl
• 99 Wayne Gretzky (retired league-wide by the NHL)

Note: Wayne Maki's number 11 was unofficially retired by the Canucks organization following his untimely death in May 1974. Although this is the case, it has been worn by one other Canucks player since then, Mark Messier.

Minor League Affiliates

• The Vancouver Canucks are affiliated with two minor league teams. The Manitoba Moose of the AHL and Columbia Inferno of the ECHL.

See also

• Canuck
• List of NHL seasons
• List of NHL players
• List of Vancouver Canucks players
• Head Coaches of the Vancouver Canucks

External links

• Vancouver Canucks' Official Website
• Vancouver Canucks Forum
• Vancouver Canucks Hockey Blog

• Vancouver Canucks