Moose Jaw Canucks

The Moose Jaw Canucks were a junior ice hockey team based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. They were one of the founding members of the original Western Canada Junior Hockey League (1948–1956), and in 1966 were founding members of a new Western Canada Junior Hockey League (known since 1978 as the Western Hockey League) following a rebellion within the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The franchise evolved from the Moose Jaw Cubs in the early 1930s.

Moose Jaw Canucks
CityMoose Jaw, Saskatchewan
LeagueWestern Hockey League
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Operatedc. 1930–1984
(dormant 1955–1958)
Home arenaMoose Jaw Arena
(c. 1930–1955)
Moose Jaw Civic Centre
(1959–1984)

The Canucks won the Abbott Cup in 1945 and 1947, making them the Junior "A" Champion for Western Canada and earning a playoff against the George Richardson Memorial Trophy- winning Eastern Champion for the Memorial Cup. The Canucks lost their Memorial Cup competition against the Toronto St. Michael's Majors in both years.

Franchise history

The Canucks played in the following leagues in their history:

In 1984, the Canucks folded to make room for the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors, when that 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 playoff championships despite finishing 4th in the overall standings. The following year, the Canucks would lose out in the playoff 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, and the SJHL being deemed Tier-II (not Memorial Cup eligible), the Canucks attempted to rejoin the WCHL but were denied. The Canucks would remain in the SJHL until the arrival of the Warriors.

Season-by-season standings
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
1936–376330-255863rd SSJHLLost final
1937–386600-4611121st SSJHLWon league
1938–3910721-3520151st SSJHLWon league, won SAHA
1939–4012651-5750132nd SSJHLLost final
1940–41184131-7096104th SSJHLDNQ
1941–42111100-244223rd SSJHLDNQ
1942–4315672-5451163rd SSJHLLost semi-final
1943–44221093-9185264th SSJHLLost semi-final
1944–45161420-11241281st SSJHLWon league, won SAHA, won Abbott Cup
1945–46181800-15755361st SSJHLWon league, won SAHA
1946–47302190-190111412nd SJHLWon league, won Abbott Cup
1947–48282161-17794431st SJHLWon league
1948–49261781-13994352nd WCJHLLost final, won SAHA
1949–504022180-162180442nd WCJHLLost semi-final
1950–514016222-147160345th WCJHLDNQ
1951–524421230-178171425th WCJHLDNQ
1952–533613230-164209265th WCJHLLost semi-final
1953–543617190-166191294th WCJHLLost quarter-final
1954–55405350-100264105th WCJHLDNQ
1955–58Franchise Dormant
1958–594811361-166328237th SJHLDNQ
1959–60596521-161378137th SJHLDNQ
1960–6160242610-181212584th SJHLLost semi-final
1961–625622259-199225535th SJHLWon league
1962–635425227-212188574th SJHLLost quarter-final
1963–646226306-290352585th SJHLLost semi-final
1964–655619343-211286417th SJHLDNQ
1965–666033234-295229704th SJHLLost semi-final
1966–6756251912-215190624th WCJHLWon league
1967–686031245-263243674th WCJHLLost semi-final
1968–694419241-223245393rd SJHLLost semi-final
1969–703616182-143152343rd SJHLLost semi-final
1970–71Did not participate
1971–72507430-174345139th SJHLDNQ
1972–734823250-239242464th SJHL SouthLost quarter-final
1973–745023270-253251464th SJHL SouthLost quarter-final
1974–755816420-278333326th SJHL SouthDNQ
1975–765822333-264299476th SJHL NorthDNQ
1976–776042180-362208842nd SJHL SouthLost quarter-final
1977–786041190-351262821st SJHL SouthLost final
1978–796034242-322263702nd SJHL SouthLost final
1979–806044151-343245891st SJHL SouthLost final
1980–816040140-406268921st SJHL SouthLost final
1981–826029292-262248602nd SJHL SouthLost quarter-final
1982–836427343-299345576th SJHLLost semi-final
1983–846435281-344314714th SJHLLost quarter-final

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

See also

References
  1. "Fred Sasakamoose, Indigenous NHL pioneer, dead at 86 – Can Press".
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