VANCOUVER, BC – Hockey and beer are favorites for fans on both sides of the border. But which is more beloved? As the Vancouver Canucks begin to celebrate their 40th anniversary a look back in team history proves that in Vancouver at least, hockey is king! Before the Canucks ever played their first game their fans had a hand in bringing NHL hockey to the Canadian West.
It all started back in 1966 as the NHL Board of Governors was considering the league’s first expansion plans. Both the Montreal owners and especially Leafs majority owner Stafford Smythe had a hand striking down the bid from Vancouver. Ownership groups in both cities did not want to divide revenue from CBC Broadcasts with a third Canadian franchise.
Smythe was also upset with the city of Vancouver over failure to secure a new arena plan. Hockey fans in Vancouver did not take the move lying down and organized a boycott of beer produced by the principal ownership groups in Toronto in Montreal.
The boycott was short lived but Vancouver fans threatened similar retaliation in 1969 if the city was not awarded 1 of 2 new proposed franchises. Remembering, the lesson from 1966-67 David Moulson of the Canadians convinced the Leafs not to block Vancouver once again. The move not only gave birth to a new NHL franchise it also ushered in a new rivalry that’s still thrives. While Canucks fans were eager to drop the beer boycott, they were not as willing to forgive the Leafs for their role in the 1967 bid.
Well before the Canucks ever played their 1st NHL game their fans hated the Leafs. Ask a Canucks fan born since 1980 why he hates the Leafs and most could not tell you. It is hard to have a rival you only play twice a year but on December 18th when Toronto makes it only visit to the Rogers Arena the Canucks fans will be there to show their disregard. “Truth be told, many Vancouver natives are not very fond of anything to do with the city of Toronto” Hfboards.com. When you think about it there is really no surprise that the city has held a grudge for 4 decades. After all if they were willing to give up beer to see the puck drop you know they are serious.
Milwaukee baseball fans did not boycott Coca Cola when the Braves moved to Atlanta. Americans say they love football but the people of L.A. kept drinking Budweiser when the Rams moved to Saint Louis. But the fans in Vancouver refused to take another winter without the NHL lightly. So here we are 40 years later, the names on the back of the sweaters have changed several times. Vancouver is now the city harboring dreams of drinking from the Stanley Cup next June while Leafs fans would be happy to still have hockey through the end of April. In December the Maple Leafs will take the ice at Rogers Arena and the Canuck faithful will be there in force. Most of them won’t really know why and it will not matter. This is hockey in Canada.
This is passion! Big enough to sustain a feud separated by nearly 3000 miles for 40 years. Bigger than beer! You love hockey. What would you sacrifice for the game you love? Most fans can boast and speculate. Canucks fans can point to a line in the snow that was drawn to bring the team they love to town.
Enjoy your 40th anniversary Vancouver, you have earned it!
Contact Joe.Malta@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.