Calgary Canucks

Hockey team
team = Calgary Canucks

city = Calgary, Alberta
league = Alberta Junior Hockey League
division = South
founded = 1971
arena = Max Bell Centre
colours = Blue and white
|The Calgary Canucks are a junior ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Max Bell Centre, capacity 3500.

:Founded: 1971-1972:Division titles won: 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1989-90, 1998-99:Regular season titles won: 1972-73, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1989-90, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99:League Championships won: 1973, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1999:Doyle Cup Titles: 1988, 1995:Centennial Trophy Titles: 1995

History

Founded in 1971, the Calgary Canucks are one of the most storied franchises in Canadian Junior A hockey, and are the 2nd oldest franchise still operating in the AJHL, preceded only by the Spruce Grove Saints. The Canucks franchise has the longest tenure of any in the AJHL in one city, as the 2005-06 season represented it's 35th in the Stampede City.

The Canucks were born as the brainchild of a group led by Doug Eastcott who were concerned about the demands made on young boys who were forced to leave home to play seasons of up to 80 games in other cities and towns at a time when education often took a back seat to hockey. The Canucks entered the AJHL with the stated goal of giving Calgary area kids a place to play competitive hockey without sacrificing their education. The team considered itself an extension of the Calgary minor hockey system, and even set a personal cap of three "imports" (non Calgary area players) per season.

While the import cap has long since been dropped, the Canucks remain true to their ideal of "Education through Hockey" and being a place for Calgary area kids to play to this day. However, extremely competitive scouting throughout the league, and the addition of two more teams in the Metro Calgary region - the Calgary Royals and Okotoks Oilers - have created an uncertain future on the ice.

The Canucks qualified for the playoffs 34 consecutive seasons, a streak finally broken in 2006-07, and with 11 regular season titles, nine AJHL championships, two Doyle Cup titles, and one Centennial Cup national championship, the Canucks are perhaps the most successful team in league history. The team has seen 42 former Canucks reach the NHL, including current NHL superstar Dany Heatley and two time Stanley Cup winner Mike Vernon. Hundreds more have earned scholarships to American and Canadian universities.

eason-by-season Record

"Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T/OTL = Ties/Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against"

¹Canucks took one year leave of absence in 1983-84 after attempt to relocate to High River failed. Franchise returned in 1984-85 under new ownership.

NHL alumni

The following former Canucks have gone on to play in the NHL:

ee also

*List of ice hockey teams in Alberta
*Ice hockey in Calgary
*Calgary Buffaloes (AJHL)
*Calgary Cowboys (AJHL)
*Calgary Spurs

References

* [http://www.ajhl.ca Alberta Junior Hockey League website]
* [http://www.calgarycanucks.com Calgary Canucks website]
*2005-06 Calgary Canucks Official Program
*2006-07 AJHL Media Guide and Record Book