Moose Jaw Canucks

Moose Jaw Canucks
City	Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
League	Western Hockey League
Operated	1935 (1935) to 1984
Home arena	Moose Jaw Civic Centre

The Moose Jaw Canucks were a junior ice hockey team based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. They were one of the founding members of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League (known today as the Western Hockey League) in 1966 following a rebellion within the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The franchise itself was founded in 1935 and ceased operations in 1984.

Franchise history

The Canucks played in the following leagues in their history:

• 1935–48: Southern Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
• 1948–56: Western Canada Junior Hockey League
• 1956–66: Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
• 1966–68: Western Canada Junior Hockey League
• 1968–84: Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

In 1984, the Canucks folded to make room for the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors when the franchise transferred from Winnipeg. Another team, also known as the Moose Jaw Canucks played in the South Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League (now known as the Prairie Junior Hockey League) from 1992–94. The Canucks legacy is survived by the Jr. C Canucks, who have played in the Saskatchewan Junior C Hockey League since 2006.

WCJHL history

In the summer of 1966, the Canucks were one of five SJHL clubs that left the provincial league to join franchises in Calgary and Edmonton in the new Western Canada Junior Hockey League. The league was considered a "rebel league" by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and thus denied the right to compete for Canadian junior hockey's top prize, the Memorial Cup.

In the WCJHL's inaugural season, the Canucks won the league championship despite finishing 4th in the overall standings. The following year, the Canucks would lose out in the league semi-finals after another 4th place finish.

Concerned about the WCJHL's poor reputation with the CAHA and hoping to once again compete for the Memorial Cup, the Canucks, along with the Regina Pats and Weyburn Red Wings, would leave the WCJHL to return to the reborn SJHL. Following the reorganization of junior hockey in 1970, which saw the Western Canada Hockey League gain Tier-I status, the Canucks attempted to rejoin the WCHL but were denied. The Canucks would remain in the Tier-II SJHL until the arrival of the Warriors.

Season-by-Season Standings

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	P	Results	Playoffs
1948–49	26	17	8	1	-	139	94	35	2nd WCJHL
1949–50	40	22	18	0	-	162	180	44	2nd WCJHL
1950–51	40	16	22	2	-	147	160	34	5th WCJHL
1951–52	44	21	23	0	-	178	171	42	5th WCJHL
1952–53	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3rd WCJHL
1953–54	36	17	19	0	-	166	191	29	4th WCJHL
1954–55	40	5	35	0	-	100	264	10	5th WCJHL
1966–67	56	25	19	12	-	215	190	62	4th WCJHL	Won championship
1967–68	60	31	24	5	-	263	243	67	4th WCJHL	Lost Semi-final
1968–69	44	19	24	1	-	223	245	39	3rd SJHL
1969–70	36	16	18	2	-	143	152	34	3rd SJHL
1970–71	Did Not Participate
1971–72	50	7	43	0	-	174	345	13	9th SJHL
1972–73	48	23	25	0	-	239	242	46	4th SJHL South
1973–74	50	23	27	0	-	253	251	46	4th SJHL South
1974–75	58	16	42	0	-	278	333	32	6th SJHL South
1975–76	58	22	33	3	-	264	299	47	6th SJHL North
1976–77	60	42	18	0	-	362	208	84	2nd SJHL South
1977–78	60	41	19	0	-	351	262	82	1st SJHL South
1978–79	60	34	24	2	-	322	263	70	2nd SJHL South
1979–80	60	44	15	1	-	343	245	89	1st SJHL South	Lost Final
1980–81	60	40	14	0	-	406	268	92	1st SJHL South
1981–82	60	29	29	2	-	262	248	60	2nd SJHL South	Lost Quarter-final
1982–83	64	27	34	3	-	299	345	57	6th SJHL	Lost Quarter-final
1983–84	64	35	28	1	-	344	314	71	4th SJHL	Lost 1st Round

Playoffs

• 1969 Lost Semi-final

Regina Pats defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-none

• 1970 Lost Semi-final

Weyburn Red Wings defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-none

• 1971 Did Not Participate
• 1972 DNQ
• 1973 Lost Quarter-final

Weyburn Red Wings defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-1

• 1974 Lost Quarter-final

Estevan Bruins defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-none

• 1975 DNQ
• 1976 DNQ
• 1977 Lost Quarter-final

Melville Millionaires defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-2

• 1978 Lost Final

Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-1

Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Regina Blues 4-games-to-1

Prince Albert Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-1

• 1979 Lost Final

Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Regina Blues 4-games-to-1

Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none

Prince Albert Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-2

• 1980 Lost Final

Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1

Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Estevan Bruins 4-games-to-2

Prince Albert Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-2

• 1981 Lost Final

Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-1

Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Estevan Bruins 4-games-to-none

Prince Albert Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-3

• 1982 Lost Quarter-final

Weyburn Red Wings defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-2

• 1983 Lost Semi-final

Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Humboldt Broncos 4-games-to-none

Weyburn Red Wings defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-3

• 1984 Lost Quarter-final

Lloydminster Lancers defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-1

Notable alumni

• Chris Chelios

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan

References

• www.officialgamepuck.com
• whl.ca
• 2005–06 WHL Guide