Go Canuck, Go Canada!

The Vancouver Canucks professional hockey team.

Team 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 PCHL championships in their first (1946) and third (1948) years of existence. In 1952, the PCHL merged with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League to form the professional Western Hockey League.

The Canucks would go on to win the Presidents/Lester Patrick Cup in 1958, 1960, 1969, and 1970. The team played at the Vancouver Forum, an arena that holds 5,050 people and which is still part of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE).

In 1965, when the NHL announced plans to expand to six additional markets, the owner of the WHLs Canucks (and former Vancouver mayor), Fred Hume, announced that the city of Vancouver would apply. However, the presentation to the NHLs Board of Governors was sloppily prepared. Because of this, and the fact that the Vancouver ownership group was disliked by Detroit Red Wings owner Bruce Norris and Toronto Maple Leafs majority-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).

The Vancouver Canucks joined the league in 1970 as an expansion team, and were placed in the strong East Division for their first four seasons. The 1974–75 season saw the Canucks move to the new Smythe Division where they finished first in the division.

Since joining the NHL the team has advanced twice to the Stanley Cup Finals but lost both times, first to the New York Islanders in 1982, and then to the New York Rangers in 1994.

Explore the roots of hockey in British Columbia by visiting "Our Game," a collection of videos, vintage footage, interviews, and photos dating back to 1915.

Learn about the Vancouver Millionaires, the Penticton Vees, and the Trail Smoke Eaters, and how each team forged their own hockey legacy.
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Johnny Canuck was a Canadian cartoon superhero who was created as a political cartoon in 1869 and was later re-invented, first in 1942, then in 1975.

Johnny Canuck was created as a lumberjack national personification of Canada. He first appeared in early political cartoons where he was portrayed as a younger cousin of the United States Uncle Sam and Britains John Bull. Depicted as a wholesome, if simple-minded, fellow in the garb of a habitant, farmer, logger, rancher or soldier, he often resisted the bullying of John Bull or Uncle Sam. For thirty years, he was a staple of editorial cartoonists. Then, in the early twentieth century, he faded from view.

The character re-emerged during World War II in the February 1942 issue of Bells Dime Comics No.1. Cartoonist Leo Bachle created the character as a teenager, apparently on a challenge from a Bell executive.

Johnny Canuck has been adopted, unofficially, by the Vancouver Canucks as a second team mascot and alternate logo.

 

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