1970–71 Vancouver Canucks season

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1970–71 Vancouver Canucks
Division6th East
1970–71 record24–46–8
Home record17–18–4
Road record7–28–4
Goals for229
Goals against296
Team information
General managerBud Poile
CoachHal Laycoe
CaptainOrland Kurtenbach
Alternate captainsRay Cullen
Gary Doak
Garth Rizzuto
ArenaPacific Coliseum
Average attendance15,577
Team leaders
GoalsRosaire Paiement (34)
AssistsDale Tallon (42)
PointsAndre Boudrias (66)
Penalty minutesPat Quinn (149)
WinsCharlie Hodge (15)
Goals against averageGeorge Gardner (3.38)

The 1970–71 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' first in the National Hockey League (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]

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]

Season summary[edit]

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[edit]

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

Record vs. opponents[edit]


Schedule and results[edit]

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[edit]

Skaters[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Trophies and awards[edit]

Records achieved in the season[edit]

Note: Only records that stand as of 2020–21 are listed

Canucks team records[edit]

  • 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[edit]

Transactions[edit]

The Canucks were involved in the following transactions during the 1970–71 season.[7]

Trades[edit]

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[edit]

Expansion draft[edit]

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, 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[edit]

Vancouver's picks at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft.[8] The draft was held on June 11, 1970, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, 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[edit]

  • 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. ^ a b c d e Rud, Jeff (2006). Canucks Legends: Vancouver's Hockey Heroes. Vancouver: Raincoast Books. p. 256.
  3. ^ a b c d e 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 October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
  5. ^ "1970–1971 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  6. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  7. ^ Vancouver Canucks (2006). 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide. Vancouver: Hemlock Printers Ltd. p. 264.
  8. ^ Slate, Ralph (2007). "1970 NHL Amateur Draft". HockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 1, 2007.


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