1970–71 Vancouver Canucks season

The 1970–71 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' first in the NHL. They joined the league on May 22, 1970, along with the Buffalo Sabres. After not being awarded an expansion team in 1967 when the league added six teams, Vancouver finally joined the NHL in 1970 for a price of $6 million (compared to $2 million in 1967[1]). The Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League were promoted to the NHL, though the ownership group of the WHL Canucks, not willing to pay the $6 million to join the NHL, sold the team to Medicor, a group controlled by Thomas Scallen.[2]

1970–71 Vancouver Canucks
Division	6th East
1970–71 record	24–46–8
Home record	17–18–4
Road record	7–28–4
Goals for	229
Goals against	296
Team information
General Manager	Bud Poile
Coach	Hal Laycoe
Captain	Orland Kurtenbach
Alternate captains	Ray Cullen Gary Doak Garth Rizzuto
Arena	Pacific Coliseum
Average attendance	15,577
Team leaders
Goals	Rosaire Paiement (34)
Assists	Dale Tallon (42)
Points	Andre Boudrias (66)
Penalty minutes	Pat Quinn (149)
Wins	Charlie Hodge (15)
Goals against average	George Gardner (3.38)

The Canucks logo was a stylized C designed as a hockey stick inside a rink incorporating the colours of blue, green and white to represent the water, forests and snow surrounding Vancouver.[3] It was designed by a local creative designer, Joe Borovich, and bought for $500.[4]

During the Amateur draft, held on June 11 in Montreal, there was debate over what expansion team would draft first. In order to reach a compromise, a numbered spinning wheel was brought in to determine the draft: the Sabres were odd numbers, the Canucks even. When the wheel landed on 11, the Canucks and NHL President Clarence Campbell thought it was II (two) in Roman numerals. However it turned out to be 11 (eleven) in Arabic numerals, leading the Sabres to select first overall future superstar Gilbert Perreault.[2]

On October 9, 1970, the Canucks played their first game in the NHL, a 3–1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. There was a grand opening ceremony attended by British Columbia Premier W. A. C. Bennett, Mayor of Vancouver Tom Campbell (who was booed by fans), Chief Dan George[3] and former Vancouver Millionaires player Cyclone Taylor, who received a standing ovation upon being introduced.[2] Barry Wilkins scored the first goal for the Canucks in the third period.[2]

Inexplicably, the Canucks were placed in the East Division, which was not only the tougher division but featured opponents over 2,000 miles away from Vancouver. (The Canucks were nearly a .500 team at home, but could only win seven of 39 road games.) Throughout the first three months of the season, though, the expansion club managed to stay within contention of a playoff spot, until captain Orland Kurtenbach injured his knee in late December. The Canucks would finish their inaugural season with six 20-goal scorers, and Tallon would break Bobby Orr's rookie record for defenseman assists,[3] but 11-30-5 mark to end the season placed them only one point out of last place.[2]

Regular season

East Division[5]

		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Boston Bruins	78	57	14	7	399	207	+192	121
2	New York Rangers	78	49	18	11	259	177	+82	109
3	Montreal Canadiens	78	42	23	13	291	216	+75	97
4	Toronto Maple Leafs	78	37	33	8	248	211	+37	82
5	Buffalo Sabres	78	24	39	15	217	291	−74	63
6	Vancouver Canucks	78	24	46	8	229	296	−67	56
7	Detroit Red Wings	78	22	45	11	209	308	−99	55

Schedule and results

1970–71 Game log
October: 3–6–2 (home: 3–2–2; road: 0–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 1 October 9 Los Angeles 3–1 Vancouver 0–1–0 0 2 October 11 Toronto 3–5 Vancouver 1–1–0 2 3 October 12 Vancouver 1–4 St. Louis 1–2–0 2 4 October 14 Vancouver 2–8 Chicago 1–3–0 2 5 October 15 Vancouver 4–5 Philadelphia 1–4–0 2 6 October 18 Boston 5–3 Vancouver 1–5–0 2 7 October 20 California 1–2 Vancouver 2–5–0 4 8 October 23 St. Louis 1–1 Vancouver 2–5–1 5 9 October 25 Pittsburgh 1–1 Vancouver 2–5–2 6 10 October 27 Buffalo 2–7 Vancouver 3–5–2 8 11 October 31 Vancouver 3–6 Montreal 3–6–2 8
November: 6–7–1 (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–6–1) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 12 November 4 Vancouver 3–8 Pittsburgh 3–7–2 8 13 November 5 Vancouver 4–1 Buffalo 4–7–2 10 14 November 7 Toronto 2–3 Vancouver 5–7–2 12 15 November 10 Vancouver 3–6 Boston 5–8–2 12 16 November 11 Vancouver 4–2 Toronto 6–8–2 14 17 November 14 Vancouver 3 -3 Minnesota 6–8–3 15 18 November 15 Vancouver 2–4 Chicago 6–9–3 15 19 November 17 Detroit 5–2 Vancouver 6–10–3 15 20 November 20 Los Angeles 1–7 Vancouver 7–10–3 17 21 November 21 Vancouver 3–1 Los Angeles 8–10–3 19 22 November 24 Minnesota 2–3 Vancouver 9–10–3 21 23 November 26 Vancouver 2–4 Detroit 9–11–3 21 24 November 28 Vancouver 1–5 St. Louis 9–12–3 21 25 November 29 Vancouver 2–4 Philadelphia 9–13–3 21
December: 5–7–0 (home: 4–2–0; road: 1–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 26 December 1 Philadelphia 4–5 Vancouver 10–13–3 23 27 December 5 Vancouver 1–3 Pittsburgh 10–14–3 23 28 December 6 Vancouver 1–4 New York 10–15–3 23 29 December 8 New York 1–4 Vancouver 11–15–3 25 30 December 9 Vancouver 1–6 California 11–16–3 25 31 December 12 California 2–5 Vancouver 12–16–3 27 32 December 15 Philadelphia 2–3 Vancouver 13–16–3 29 33 December 18 Montreal 4–3 Vancouver 13–17–3 29 34 December 20 Vancouver 1–5 New York 13–18–3 29 35 December 23 Vancouver 2–7 Toronto 13–19–3 29 36 December 26 Chicago 4–2 Vancouver 13–20–3 29 37 December 30 Vancouver 4–1 Los Angeles 14–20–3 31
January: 1–10–2 (home: 0–6–1; road: 1–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 38 January 2 St. Louis 3–1 Vancouver 14–21–3 31 39 January 6 Vancouver 3–7 Montreal 14–22–3 31 40 January 7 Vancouver 4–6 Boston 14–23–3 31 41 January 9 Vancouver 2–2 St. Louis 14–23–4 32 42 January 12 New York 4–2 Vancouver 14–24–4 32 43 January 16 Pittsburgh 4–3 Vancouver 14–25–4 32 44 January 17 Vancouver 3–1 California 15–25–4 34 45 January 20 Toronto 5–1 Vancouver 15–26–4 34 46 January 23 Vancouver 1–4 Pittsburgh 15–27–4 34 47 January 24 Vancouver 3–7 Detroit 15–28–4 34 48 January 26 Chicago 3–3 Vancouver 15–28–5 35 49 January 29 Minnesota 2–1 Vancouver 15–29–5 35 50 January 31 Buffalo 6–1 Vancouver 15–30–5 35
February: 3–7–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 0–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 51 February 2 Montreal 5–2 Vancouver 15–31–5 35 52 February 6 New York 5–4 Vancouver 15–32–5 35 53 February 9 Buffalo 3–6 Vancouver 16–32–5 37 54 February 12 Detroit 3–5 Vancouver 17–32–5 39 55 February 14 Vancouver 1–3 Chicago 17–33–5 39 56 February 16 Boston 4–5 Vancouver 18–33–5 41 57 February 19 Philadelphia 3–2 Vancouver 18–34–5 41 58 February 22 Montreal 3–3 Vancouver 18–34–6 42 59 February 25 Vancouver 3–8 Boston 18–35–6 42 60 February 27 Vancouver 1–8 Philadelphia 18–36–6 42 61 February 28 Vancouver 2–4 New York 18–37–6 42
March: 5–8–2 (home: 4–3–0; road: 1–5–2) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 62 March 3 Vancouver 1–3 Toronto 18–38–6 42 63 March 6 Vancouver 1–3 Minnesota 18–39–6 42 64 March 7 Vancouver 3–6 Buffalo 18–40–6 42 65 March 9 Vancouver 3–3 Montreal 18–40–7 43 66 March 11 Detroit 3–7 Vancouver 19–40–7 45 67 March 13 Boston 6–3 Vancouver 19–41–7 45 68 March 16 Chicago 7–4 Vancouver 19–42–7 45 69 March 19 Pittsburgh 4–6 Vancouver 20–42–7 47 70 March 21 Minnesota 6–3 Vancouver 20–43–7 47 71 March 23 St. Louis 1–4 Vancouver 21–43–7 49 72 March 25 Vancouver 3–4 Detroit 21–44–7 49 73 March 26 Vancouver 1–3 Buffalo 21–45–7 49 74 March 28 California 5–11 Vancouver 22–45–7 51 75 March 30 Vancouver 2–1 Minnesota 23–45–7 53 76 March 31 Vancouver 2–2 Los Angeles 23–45–8 54
April: 1–1–0 (home: 0–1–0; road: 1–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 77 April 2 Vancouver 7–2 California 24–45–8 56 78 April 4 Los Angeles 4–2 Vancouver 24–46–8 56

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes

			Regular season						Playoffs
Player	#		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Andre Boudrias	7		77	25	41	66	16		--	–	–	–	–
Wayne Maki	11		78	25	38	63	99		–	–	–	–	–
Rosaire Paiement	15		78	34	28	62	152		–	–	–	–	–
Murray Hall	23		77	21	38	59	22		–	–	–	–	–
Dale Tallon	19		78	14	42	56	58		–	–	–	–	–
Orland Kurtenbach	25		52	21	32	53	84		–	–	–	–	–
Mike Corrigan	12		76	21	32	53	103		–	–	–	–	–
Ray Cullen	10		70	12	21	33	42		–	–	–	–	–
Poul Popiel	18		78	10	22	32	61		–	–	–	–	–
Ted Taylor	16		56	11	16	27	53		–	–	–	–	–
Dan Johnson	8		66	15	11	26	16		–	–	–	–	–
Barry Wilkins	4		50	5	18	23	131		–	–	–	–	–
Pat Quinn	3		76	2	11	13	149		–	–	–	–	–
Gary Doak	2		77	2	10	12	112		–	–	–	–	–
Bobby Schmautz	9		26	5	5	10	14		–	–	–	–	–
Garth Rizzuto	22		37	3	4	7	16		–	–	–	–	–
Danny Seguin^†	17		25	0	5	5	46		–	–	–	–	–
John Schella	5		38	0	5	5	58		–	–	–	–	–
Len Lunde	–		20	1	3	4	2		–	–	–	–	–
Ed Hatoum	–		26	1	3	4	21		–	–	–	–	–
Jim Wiste	–		23	1	2	3	0		–	–	–	–	–
Howie Young	–		11	0	2	2	25		–	–	–	–	–
Marc Reaume	–		27	0	2	2	4		–	–	–	–	–
Darryl Sly	–		31	0	2	2	10		–	–	–	–	–
Ralph Stewart	–		3	0	1	1	0		–	–	–	–	–
Jim Hargreaves	–		7	0	1	1	33		–	–	–	–	–
Ken Block	–		1	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–
Bob Cook	–		2	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–
John Arbour*	–		13	0	0	0	12		–	–	–	–	–
George Gardner	30		18	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–
Charlie Hodge	1		0	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–
Dunc Wilson	30		35	0	0	0	18		–	–	–	–	–

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Vancouver. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.

*Denotes player traded by Vancouver midway through the season. Stats reflect time with Canucks only.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average

			Regular season									Playoffs
Player	#		GP	Min	W	L	T	GA	SO	GAA		GP	Min	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
George Gardner	30		18	922	6	8	1	52	0	3.38		–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Charlie Hodge	1		35	1967	15	13	5	112	0	3.41		–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Dunc Wilson	30		35	1793	3	25	2	128	0	4.28		–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Awards and records

Trophies and awards

• Cyclone Taylor Award (Canucks MVP): Orland Kurtenbach
• Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (Canucks Leading Scorer): Andre Boudrias
• Fred J. Hume Award (Canucks Unsung Hero): Barry Wilkins
• Most Exciting Player: Andre Boudrias

Records achieved in the season

Note: Only records that stand as of 2007–08 are listed

Canucks team records

• Fewest ties in one season: (8) – repeated in 1971–72, 1986–87, 1988–89
• Fewest shutouts in one season: (0) – repeated in 1984–85, 2005–06
• Fewest shutouts against in one season: (0) – repeated in 1984–85
• Longest home winless streak: 11 games, December 18, 1970 – February 6, 1971 (0–10–1)
• Most goals in one game: 11, March 28, 1971 (California 5 at Vancouver 11) – repeated in 1986–87, 1991–92
• Most shots against Vancouver goal, one game: 60, February 25, 1971, versus Boston Bruins
• Most shots against Vancouver goal, one period: 28, February 25, 1971, versus Boston Bruins (3rd period)
• Most shots both teams, one period: 43, February 25, 1971, versus Boston Bruins (3rd period)
• Fastest three goals against Vancouver: :20, February 25, 1971, versus Boston Bruins (3rd period: John Bucyk, 4:50; Ed Westfall, 5:02; Ted Green, 5:10)

Canucks individual records

• Most assists in one season, rookie: Dale Tallon (42)
• Most goals, one game: Rosaire Paiement (4) – repeated eleven times

Transactions

The Canucks were involved in the following transactions during the 1970–71 season.[6]

Trades

June 10, 1970	To Vancouver Canucks John Arbour	To Pittsburgh Penguins Cash
December 3, 1970	To Vancouver Canucks Cash	To St. Louis Blues John Arbour
May 25, 1971	To Vancouver Canucks Gregg Boddy	To Montreal Canadiens Cash 3rd round pick (Jim Cahoon) in 1971 NHL Amateur Draft

Draft picks

Expansion draft

Vancouver's picks at the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft. In order to fill out the rosters of both the Canucks and Buffalo Sabres, they were given the opportunity to select eighteen skaters and two goaltenders from the unprotected lists of existing NHL team's rosters.[3] Teams were allowed to protect several players from being drafted, and as such kept many of their star players, leaving the Canucks and Sabres with lesser quality players to choose from. The draft was held on June 9, 1970, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Using a spinning wheel to determine the order of the expansion draft, Buffalo had the first choice.[3]

#	Player	Drafted from
1.	Gary Doak (D)	Boston Bruins
2.	Orland Kurtenbach (C)	New York Rangers
3.	Ray Cullen (C)	Minnesota North Stars
4.	Pat Quinn (D)	Toronto Maple Leafs
5.	Rosaire Paiement (C)	Philadelphia Flyers
6.	Wayne Maki (LW)	St. Louis Blues
7.	Barry Wilkins (D)	Boston Bruins
8.	Andre Boudrias (C)	St. Louis Blues
9.	Mike Corrigan (LW)	Los Angeles Kings
10.	Poul Popiel (D)	Detroit Red Wings
11.	Dan Johnson (C)	Toronto Maple Leafs
12.	Garth Rizzuto (C)	Chicago Black Hawks
13.	Ed Hatoum (RW)	Detroit Red Wings
14.	Jim Wiste (C)	Chicago Black Hawks
15.	Howie Young (D)	Chicago Black Hawks
16.	Darryl Sly (D)	Minnesota North Stars
17.	Ralph Stewart (C)	St. Louis Blues
18.	John Arbour (D)	Pittsburgh Penguins
19.	Charlie Hodge G	Oakland Seals
20.	Dunc Wilson (G)	Philadelphia Flyers

Amateur draft

Vancouver's picks at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft.[7] The draft was held on June 11, 1970, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1	2	Dale Tallon (D)	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
2	16	Jim Hargreaves (D)	Canada	Winnipeg Jets (WCHL)
3	30	Ed Dyck (G)	Canada	Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
4	44	Brent Taylor (RW)	Canada	Estevan Bruins (WCHL)
5	58	Bill McFadden	Canada	Swift Current Broncos (WCHL)
6	72	Dave Gilmour (LW)	Canada	London Knights (OHA)

References

• Player stats: 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide – 1970–71 stats, p. 150.
• Game log: 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide – 1970–71 stats, p. 150.
• Team standings: 2007–08 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, p. 150.
• Team records: 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide – Canucks all time team & individual records, pp. 225–237

1. MacKinnon, John (1996). NHL Hockey: The Official Fans' Guide. Vancouver: Raincoast Book Distribution Ltd. p. 128.
2. Rud, Jeff (2006). Canucks Legends: Vancouver's Hockey Heroes. Vancouver: Raincoast Books. p. 256.
3. Beddall, Justin (2004). Vancouver Canucks: Heart-Stopping Stories from Canada's Most Exciting Hockey Team. Canmore, Alberta: Altitude Publishing Canada Ltd. p. 137.
4. Vancouver Canucks (2007). "Canucks History". Canucks.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
5. "1970–1971 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
6. Vancouver Canucks (2006). 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide. Vancouver: Hemlock Printers Ltd. p. 264.
7. Slate, Ralph (2007). "1970 NHL Amateur Draft". HockeyDB.com. Retrieved 2007-11-01.

See also

• 1970–71 NHL season