The Vancouver Canucks opened their 50th training camp in franchise history Friday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre amid a prevailing air of optimism.
There is a sense the Canucks’ ongoing rebuild, combined with off-season additions, makes this a team on the rise in the NHL.
“There’s a feeling of excitement,” said head coach Travis Green. “This feels a little bit different [than past seasons].”
Green worked his troops hard in the opening session on Blanshard Street. “I liked the first day. There was good energy,” he said.
Island Canucks fans gathered behind Memorial Centre looking for autographs from their heroes as they boarded the team bus back to their hotel after training.
Brad Harper of Victoria was happy to list off the players who signed his Canucks jersey.
“Bo Horvat, Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, Brandon Sutter and Chris Tanev,” the home-schooled 15-year-old said proudly. “They have a lot of young guys on this team. They are really coming on,” said Harper.
Fellow-Canucks fan Zach Geddes echoed those sentiments as he collected autographs.
“I’m a diehard who grew up a Canucks fans,” said the 20-year-old University of Victoria student.
Canucks defenceman Jordie Benn of Central Saanich, meanwhile, has become the go-to guy Canucks players are leaning on for restaurant recommendations around town.
“I’ve kinda taken the reins on that,” said Benn.
But he has spent most of the last few summers with fellow Islander and brother Jamie Benn, captain of the Stars, in Dallas. So his local knowledge might be running thinner than usual, he quipped. The former Habs and Stars blueliner recommended some of his old favourite downtown haunts to his new teammates.
“But I had to text a friend as to what are the [most popular spots now],” said Benn, with a chuckle.
Asked about his impressions of Victoria, the Canucks star sophomore Pettersson deadpanned: “I see it rains here as well as Vancouver.”
Canucks training camp continues today from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Memorial Centre. Admission is $5 with proceeds going to charity. The exhibition game Monday evening against the Calgary Flames at Memorial Centre is sold out.
