How Early Teams Eventually Became The Vancouvewr Canucks
Back in the early part of the 1900’s, ice hockey teams were being formed in western Canada and the sport was booming. These early teams were the beginnings of the modern era Vancouvewr Canucks. These roots provide an interesting heritage for today’s current league and team.
A professional team called the Vancouver Millionaires was formed in 1911. They were one of three initial teams to make up the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA). This league was formed independently of the National Hockey Association (NHA). At first, PCHA teams tried to lure players from the NHA and from this effort, Vancouver acquired one of its earliest stars, Cyclone Taylor.
The curious way the franchise got its name has to do with salaries paid to these first players. An earlier team called the Creamery Kings competed in the NHA. Once this group formed into the new franchise, extremely high salaries for that era ranging between $3500 and $5200 for star players led to the nickname Millionaires.
The two leagues later entered into an arrangement where their respective champions each year would play for the Stanley Cup. Within the first year of this agreement, the Millionaires won their league and went on to defeat the Ottawa Senators in the final Cup series.
Two stars of this championship team were Cyclone Taylor and PCHA entrepreneur Frank Patrick who led their team to a rout. They swept the Senators in three games and the games were hardly close. At the time, the Cup had never traveled that far west. To date, this is the only Cup residing in Vancouver even considering the current Canucks franchise.
In subsequent years, the Millionaires continued their winning tradition by competing for the Stanley Cup three more times although they never made it to the ultimate winner’s circle again. By 1921, a new league was formed called the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) and the Millionaires became the Maroons the following year. They would win two more PCHA titles, but new agreements matched these two western league winners at the end of the season to get to the Cup final. The Maroons lost to the WCHL winners each of these last two seasons.
Once the PCHA folded, Vancouver joined the WCHL but never achieved the same success enjoyed in earlier years. Both the WCHL and the Maroons eventually disbanded. The city still remembers its only Stanley Cup champion, however. The original Millionaires jerseys were maroon colored with a large white V and the word Vancouver spelled up and down the V. Although no original jerseys remain, the logo has been revived in a line of sportswear and sometimes as one of the current NHL Canucks’ team jerseys.
The tradition of hockey surrounding the Vancouvewr Canucks has produced many great players and exciting moments, especially with the early championship teams. What an exciting atmosphere it must have been back when the early teams were competing and winning. This strong heritage continues today as fans cheer for their team and look to the future for another Stanley Cup.
Mayhar Manninghansburger is a fitness trainer She likes SportsFanTreasures.com and recommends you check out their info on Calgary Flames Watch and Vancover Canuks Merchandise
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