Moose Jaw Canucks
The Moose Jaw Canucks are a historic hockey team from Saskatchewan, having been a junior hockey team from sometime during the 1930s through to 1984. The team were founding members of both the original WCJHL in 1948 and the newer version in 1966 that is currently the WHL. In between, the team also played in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).Â
During the 1940s, a number of big leaguers played for the Canucks including Metro Prystai, Bert Olmstead and Emilie "The Cat" Francis. The SJHL Canucks of the late 50s and 60s were actually Fred Shero's first foray into head coaching, as he led the 1958-59 team after playing his final games the season prior in Shawinigan Falls. Metro Prystai would also come back to Moose Jaw to coach the Canucks for three seasons in the 1960s.Â
The Canucks can also lay claim to winning the first modern WHL title, as they beat the Regina Pats in five games during the 1966-67 season. Following two years in the WHL, the team dropped back to the SJHL in 1968 where they remained until folding in 1984. Two NHL Hall of Famers actually came through their ranks during this time; Chris Chelios and Bryan Trottier.Â
The Canucks opted to fold in 1984 when the WHL decided to move the Winnipeg Warriors to Moose Jaw.Â
