Calgary Canucks

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 its 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 former NHL star Dany Heatley and two time Stanley Cup winner Mike Vernon. Hundreds more have earned scholarships to American and Canadian universities.

The Calgary Canucks broadcast their home games by webcast.

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

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.

Playoffs

1972 Lost Final

Calgary Canucks defeated Edmonton Maple Leafs 4-games-to-3Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

1973 Won League, Lost Alta/BC Championship

Calgary Canucks defeated Drumheller Falcons 4-games-to-1 with 1 tieCalgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-3 AJHL CHAMPIONSPenticton Broncos (BCJHL) defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

1974 Lost Semi-final

The Pass Red Devils defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

1975 Lost Semi-final

Spruce Grove Mets defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

1976 Lost Semi-final

Taber Golden Suns defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3

1977 Won League, Won Alta/BC Championship, Lost Abbott Cup

Calgary Canucks defeated Pincher Creek Panthers 4-games-to-1First in semi-final round robin (3-1) vs. Taber Golden Suns and Red Deer RustlersCalgary Canucks defeated Taber Golden Suns 4-games-to-1 AJHL CHAMPIONSCalgary Canucks defeated Richmond Sockeyes (PJHL) 4-games-to-1 ALTA/BC CHAMPIONSPrince Albert Raiders (SJHL) defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

1978 Won League, Lost Alta/BC Championship

Calgary Canucks defeated Pincher Creek Chinooks 4-games-to-2Second in semi-final round robin (2-2) vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders and St. Albert SaintsCalgary Canucks defeated Fort Saskatchewan Traders 4-games-to-none AJHL CHAMPIONSMerritt Centennials (BCJHL) defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-2

1979 Lost Final

Calgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-noneFirst in semi-final round robin (2-2) vs. Fort Saskatchewan Traders and St. Albert SaintsFort Saskatchewan Traders defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3

1980 Lost Final

Calgary Canucks defeated Drumheller Falcons 3-games-to-noneCalgary Canucks defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-noneRed Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

1981 Lost Quarter-final

Taber Golden Suns defeated Calgary Canucks 3-games-to-2

1982 Lost Quarter-final

Red Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-none

1983 Won League, Lost Alta/BC Championship

Calgary Canucks defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-noneCalgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-2Calgary Canucks defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-games-to-2 AJHL CHAMPIONSAbbotsford Flyers (BCJHL) defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-none

1984 Did Not Participate

1985 Lost Quarter-final

Calgary Spurs defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-2

1986 Won League, Lost Doyle Cup

Calgary Canucks defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-noneCalgary Canucks defeated Hobbema Hawks 4-games-to-noneCalgary Canucks defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-3 AJHL CHAMPIONSPenticton Knights (BCJHL) defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

1987 Lost Semi-final

Calgary Canucks defeated Hobbema Hawks 4-games-to-noneRed Deer Rustlers defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3

1988 Won League, Won Doyle Cup, Lost Abbott Cup

Calgary Canucks defeated Calgary Spurs 4-games-to-1Calgary Canucks defeated Red Deer Rustlers 4-games-to-noneCalgary Canucks defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-1 AJHL CHAMPIONSCalgary Canucks defeated Vernon Lakers (BCJHL) 4-games-to-none DOYLE CUP CHAMPIONSNotre Dame Hounds (SJHL) defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3

1989 Lost Quarter-final

Olds Grizzlys defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

1990 Won League, Lost Doyle Cup

Calgary Canucks defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-3Calgary Canucks defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-1Calgary Canucks defeated Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-games-to-2 AJHL CHAMPIONSNew Westminster Royals (BCJHL) defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-none

1991 Lost Quarter-final

Calgary Royals defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-none

1992 Lost Quarter-final

Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3

1993 Lost Quarter-final

St. Albert Saints defeated Calgary Canucks 5-games-to-2

1994 Lost Quarter-final

Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3

1995 Won League, Won Doyle Cup, Won 1995 Centennial Cup

Calgary Canucks defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-1Calgary Canucks defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-games-to-3Calgary Canucks defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-1 AJHL CHAMPIONSCalgary Canucks defeated Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) 4-games-to-3 DOYLE CUP CHAMPIONSFirst in 1995 Centennial Cup round robin (3-1)Calgary Canucks defeated Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL) 5-3 in semi-finalCalgary Canucks defeated Gloucester Rangers (CJHL) 5-4 OT in final CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS

1996 Lost Semi-final

Calgary Canucks defeated Calgary Royals 4-games-to-1Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

1997 Lost Final

Calgary Canucks defeated Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-games-to-2Calgary Canucks defeated Grande Prairie Storm 4-games-to-1Fort McMurray Oil Barons defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3

1998 Lost Semi-final

Calgary Canucks defeated Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-games-to-noneSt. Albert Saints defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3

1999 Won League, Lost Doyle Cup

Calgary Canucks defeated Camrose Kodiaks 4-games-to-noneCalgary Canucks defeated Olds Grizzlys 4-games-to-1Calgary Canucks defeated St. Albert Saints 4-games-to-none AJHL CHAMPIONSVernon Vipers (BCHL) defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

2000 Lost Preliminary

Olds Grizzlys defeated Calgary Canucks 3-games-to-1

2001 Lost Preliminary

Calgary Royals defeated Calgary Canucks 3-games-to-1

2002 Lost Preliminary

Calgary Royals defeated Calgary Canucks 3-games-to-2

2003 Lost Preliminary

Camrose Kodiaks defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-none

2004 Lost Quarter-final

Calgary Canucks defeated Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves 3-games-to-1Olds Grizzlys defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-1

2005 Lost Quarter-final

Calgary Canucks defeated Drumheller Dragons 3-games-to-noneBrooks Bandits defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-3

2006 Lost Quarter-final

Calgary Canucks defeated Olds Grizzlys 3-games-to-1Camrose Kodiaks defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-none

2007 DNQ

2008 Lost Preliminary

Okotoks Oilers defeated Calgary Canucks 3-games-to-1

2009 Lost Preliminary

Camrose Kodiaks defeated Calgary Canucks 3-games-to-1

2010 Lost Preliminary

Brooks Bandits defeated Calgary Canucks 3-games-to-1

2011 DNQ

2012 Lost Quarter-final

Calgary Canucks defeated Camrose Kodiaks 3-games-to-1Brooks Bandits defeated Calgary Canucks 4-games-to-none

2013 DNQ

2014 DNQ

2015 DNQ

2016 Lost Quarter-final

Okotoks Oilers defeated Calgary Canucks 3-games-to-none

NHL alumni

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