Calgary Canucks
CityCalgary, Alberta
LeagueAlberta Junior Hockey League
DivisionSouth
Founded1971 (1971)
Home arenaKen Bracko Arena
ColoursRed, Yellow, White
PresidentSandy Edmonstone
General managerBrad Moran
Head coachBrad Moran

The Calgary Canucks are a junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with home games at the Ken Bracko Arena. They have won the AJHL championship nine times and one national championship.

History

Cole Svenson with the Calgary Canucks vs Drumheller Dragons on Heritage Night (1-18-20)

Founded in 1971, the Calgary Canucks are the second-oldest franchise still operating in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), preceded only by the Spruce Grove Saints. The Canucks franchise has the longest tenure of any in the AJHL in one city.

The Canucks organization was formed of a group led by Doug Eastcott in order to create a junior team so that local players did not have to live away from where they attended school. As the team considered itself a Calgary-based development system, it set an internal limit of three "imports" (non-Calgary area players) per season. The import cap was eventually dropped as the AJHL has added more teams in the Calgary region such as the Calgary Royals and Okotoks Oilers, causing the team to recruit from a larger region.

The Canucks qualified for the playoffs 34 consecutive seasons, a streak finally broken in 2006–07, The team has 11 regular season titles, nine AJHL championships, two Doyle Cup titles, and one Centennial Cup National Junior A Championship. The team has developed multiple players that have reached the National Hockey League, including Dany Heatley and two-time Stanley Cup winner Mike Vernon. Many more have earned scholarships to American and Canadian universities.

During the 2021–22 season, while renovations made their home Ken Bracko Arena unavailable,[1] the Canucks played their home games at Henry Viney Arena.

Season-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

SeasonGPWLT/OTLSOLPtsGFGAFinishPlayoffs
1971–724828182582501953rd OverallWon Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Edmonton Maple Leafs
Lost AJHL Finals, 1–4 vs. Red Deer Rustlers
1972–736044160884392221st OverallWon Semifinals, 4–1–1 vs. Drumheller Falcons
Won AJHL Championship, 4–3 vs. Red Deer Rustlers
Lost Alta/BC Championship, 1–4 vs. Penticton Broncos (BCJHL)
1973–746036240723082612nd OverallLost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. The Pass Red Devils
1974–756034251693602903rd OverallLost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Spruce Grove Mets
1975–766048111973802511st OverallLost Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Taber Golden Suns
1976–776044160883682321st OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Pincher Creek Panthers
First in round-robin (3–1)
Won AJHL Championship, 4–1 vs. Taber Golden Suns
Won Alta/BC Championship, 4–1 vs. Richmond Sockeyes (PJHL)
Lost Abbott Cup, 1–4 vs. Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL)
1977–786039210783362651st OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Pincher Creek Chinooks
Second in round-robin (2–2)
Won AJHL Championship, 4–0 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
Lost Alta/BC Championship, 2–4 vs. Merritt Centennials (BCJHL)
1978–796044160883622531st OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Red Deer Rustlers
First in round-robin (2–2)
Lost AJHL Finals, 3–4 vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders
1979–806043170862811802nd OverallWon Quarterfinals, 3–0 vs. Drumheller Falcons
Won Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Calgary Spurs
Lost AJHL Finals, 1–4 vs. Red Deer Rustlers
1980–816033252683052372nd SouthLost Quarterfinals, 2–3 vs. Taber Golden Suns
1981–826024333512672653rd SouthLost Quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Red Deer Rustlers
1982–836035232723362562nd SouthWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Calgary Spurs
Won Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Red Deer Rustlers
Won AJHL Championship, 4–2 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Lost Alta/BC Championship, 0–4 vs. Abbotsford Flyers (BCJHL)
1983–84Did not participate[lower-alpha 1]
1984–856030291612932853rd SouthLost Quarterfinals, 2–4 vs. Calgary Spurs
1985–865233190662482081st SouthWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Olds Grizzlys
Won Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Hobbema Hawks
Won AJHL Championship, 4–3 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
Lost Doyle Cup. 1–4 vs. Penticton Knights (BCJHL)
1986–876039183813152171st SouthWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Hobbema Hawks
Lost Semifinals, 3–4 vs. Red Deer Rustlers
1987–886051901024021961st SouthWon Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Calgary Spurs
Won Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Red Deer Rustlers
Won AJHL Championship, 4–1 vs. St. Albert Saints
Won Doyle Cup, 4–0 vs. Vernon Lakers (BCJHL)
Lost Abbott Cup, 3–4 vs. Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)
1988–896034224722852173rd SouthLost Quarterfinals, 1–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys
1989–906047112963732381st SouthWon Quarterfinals, 4–3 vs. St. Albert Saints
Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Olds Grizzlys
Won AJHL Championship, 4–2 vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders
Lost Doyle Cup, 0–4 vs. New Westminster Royals (BCJHL)
1990–915623321472292496th OverallLost Quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Calgary Royals
1991–926031281632662295th OverallLost Quarterfinals, 3–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
1992–935631232642232145th OverallLost Quarterfinals, 2–5 vs. St. Albert Saints
1993–945628217632422275th OverallLost Quarterfinals, 3–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
1994–955636200723072222nd OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Won Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Won AJHL Championship, 4–1 vs. Olds Grizzlys
Won Doyle Cup, 4–3 vs. Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)

Won 1995 Centennial Cup National Championship
1995–966042144882812131st OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–1 vs. Calgary Royals
Lost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
1996–976037185792572011st OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–2 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs
Won Semifinals. 4–1 vs. Grande Prairie Storm
Lost AJHL Finals, 3–4 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
1997–986036195772432024th OverallWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Lost Semifinals, 3–4 vs. St. Albert Saints
1998–996250841043501591st SouthWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Olds Grizzlys
Won AJHL Championship, 4–0 vs. St. Albert Saints
Lost Doyle Cup, 1–4 vs. Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
1999–006428315612392426th SouthLost Preliminary series, 1–3 vs. Olds Grizzlys
2000–016434264722692693rd SouthLost Preliminary series, 1–3 vs. Calgary Royals
2001–026429287652562865th SouthLost Preliminary series, 2–3 vs. Calgary Royals
2002–036431267692292255th SouthLost Preliminary series, 0–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2003–046034179772091773rd SouthWon Preliminary series, 3–1 vs. Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves
Lost Quarterfinals, 1–4 vs. Olds Grizzlys
2004–056432257712052023rd SouthWon Preliminary series, 3–0 vs. Drumheller Dragons
Lost Quarterfinals, 3–4 vs. Brooks Bandits
2005–066020346461542057th SouthWon Preliminary series, 3–1 vs. Olds Grizzlys
Lost Quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2006–076018366421742398th SouthDid not qualify
2007–086219385431622257th SouthLost Preliminary series, 1–3 vs. Okotoks Oilers
2008–0962312110721731674th SouthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
2009–106029274622142254th SouthLost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Brooks Bandits
2010–116018375411782808th SouthDid not qualify
2011–126019365431692136th SouthWon Div. Quarterfinals, 3–1 vs. Camrose Kodiaks
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Brooks Bandits
2012–136016395371372438th SouthDid not qualify
2013–146015423331562328th SouthDid not qualify
2014–1560173310441602348th SouthDid not qualify
2015–166024333511562186th of 8, South
11th of 16, AJHL
Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Okotoks Oilers
2016–176037194782191573rd of 8, South
7th of 16, AJHL
Won Div. Quarterfinals, 3–2 vs. Drumheller Dragons
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Okotoks Oilers
2017–186026322541992566th of 8, South
11th of 16, AJHL
Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–3 vs. Drumheller Dragons
2018–19609492201273327th of 8, South
15th of 16, AJHL
Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–3 vs. Okotoks Oilers
2019–20589463211182997th of 7, South
15th of 15, AJHL
Did not qualify
  1. Canucks 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.

Junior A National Championship

The National Junior A Championship, known as the Centennial Cup and formerly as Royal Bank Cup or RBC Cup, is the postseason tournament for the Canadian national championship for Junior A hockey teams that are members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League since 1971. Since 1986, the tournament has consisted of the regional Junior A champions and a previously selected host team. Since 1990, the national championship has used a five-team tournament format when the regional qualifiers were designated as the ANAVET Cup (Western), Doyle Cup (Pacific), Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central), and Fred Page Cup (Eastern). From 2013 to 2017, the qualifiers were the Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central), Fred Page Cup (Eastern), and the Western Canada Cup champions and runners-up (Western #1 and #2).

The tournament begins with round-robin play between the five teams followed by the top four teams playing a semifinal game, with the top seed facing the fourth seed and the second facing the third. The winners of the semifinals then face each other in final game for the national championship. In some years, the losers of the semifinal games face each other for a third place game.

YearRound-robinRecordStandingSemifinalChampionship game
1995W, 1–0[lower-alpha 1] vs. Le National de Joliette (Eastern)
W, 6–0 vs. Thunder Bay Flyers (Central)
W, 5–4 vs. Gloucester Rangers (Host)
L, 3–6 vs. Winnipeg South Blues (Western)
3–1
(W–L)
1st of 5W, 5–3 vs. Thunder Bay FlyersW, 5–4 vs. Gloucester Rangers
Centennial Cup National Junior A Champions
  1. Due to a challenge by the Canucks on a Joliette rules violation, the 5–1 loss was overturned.

NHL alumni

The following former Canucks have gone on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL):

See also

References

  1. Gilligan, Melissa (2022-01-07). "'A better and more accessible experience': Max Bell Centre's $14M renovation complete". CTV News Calgary. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
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