[Hyack]

Once again hockey season is upon us. The young guns tourny in Penticton ends today and the 2011/2012 training camp is set to open on Friday at Rogers arena with on-ice practice open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. With the Winnipeg Jets again playing in the NHL the Canucks affiliation with the Winnipeg Moose has come to an end. The Vancouver Canucks new farm team is now the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League through 2012/13.

Quote:

The Chicago Wolves AHL franchise was established in 2001 when the IHL was abolished. Since joining the AHL, the Wolves have won two Calder Cups as the American Hockey League’s playoff champions (2002 and 2008). The Wolves play their home games at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

The Canucks will play eight pre-season games starting 20 Sept against the Calgary Flames and end on 1 Oct against the Edmonton Oilers, all games being televised.

The Canucks will appear on national television 25 times, and regional television 57 times during the 2011/12 season. The Canucks will start their season versus Pittsburgh, which will be televised on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada on Oct 6th.

Vancouver Canucks 2011/2012 schedule

Vancouver Canucks 2011/2012 team roster

Here's hoping this season has a slightly better ending than last year. all I can ask for is the last game the 'Nucks play is a win...

[Strutz]

Yes... 'tis that time again! Looking forward to having something to watch on TV and justify why I bother with cable at all.

Looking forward to seeing what the new additions to the team have to offer and hope to have a good, entertaining year.

Thanks for starting up the thread as always Hyack but one minor correction... they have a pre-season game on October 1st vs Edmonton to make it 8 games.

[Hyack]

Thanks Strutz, fixed that, missed that one big time....

[sandorski]

This is the year, quote me for posterity!

All the way to the Cup!

[2Cdo]

sandorski wrote:

This is the year, quote me for posterity!

All the way to the Cup!

Now that's funny!

[PENATRATOR]

2Cdo wrote:

sandorski wrote:

This is the year, quote me for posterity!

All the way to the Cup!

Now that's funny!

Roger that Pffffffft

[Canadian_Mind]

How typical of the traitorous infantry to be the ones that route for Boston.

[2Cdo]

Canadian_Mind wrote:

How typical of the traitorous infantry to be the ones that route for Boston.

Ever since I was a young lad before Vancouver even had a team!

After watching their fans reaction everytime they lose in the playoffs I can't see me ever cheering for them.

[Hyack]

Vancouver vs Calgary

Quote:

For the first time since their heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of last season's Stanley Cup Final, the Vancouver Canucks are back on the ice for game action tonight when they begin the 2011 NHL pre-season with a pair of split squad contests against Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary (6 pm PT) and Rogers Arena in Vancouver (7 pm PT). Among the players who will be trying to make a strong impression is 18-year-old Nicklas Jensen, Vancouver's first round pick from this past summer's Entry Draft who will be looking to turn a few heads before his time is up at training camp. The Canucks and Flames will clash six times in the 2011.12 regular season with their first head-to-head meeting coming on November 1 at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Tonight's game in Calgary faces off at 6 pm PT and can be seen on Canucks.com or heard on TEAM 1410 Sports Radio.

Tonight's game in Vancouver faces off at 7 pm PT and can be seen on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and heard on TEAM 1040 Sports Radio.

[Hyack]

3-0 Calgary at the end of the 1st in Calgary, not a great start for the guys....

[Hyack]

3-1 Calgary at the end of the 2nd in Calgary

2-1 Vancouver at the end of the 1st in Vancouver

[Hyack]

Flames win 5-1 in Calgary

Canucks win 4-3 in Vancouver

Next pre-season game is in Edmonton on Thursday

[Hyack]

Vancouver at Edmonton

After splitting their first two games of the pre-season on Tuesday against the Flames, the Vancouver Canucks will head to Rexall Place in search of their second win of the exhibition schedule when they go up against the Edmonton Oilers and potentially the first overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Among those that could get their first taste of pre-season action tonight include the likes of Alex Burrows, Mikael Samuesson, Chris Higgins, Jannik Hansen, Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler and Sami Salo. Number one netminder Roberto Luongo, however, is not expected to appear in a game at least until next week.

While the Canucks are not expected to make any significant cuts at least until the weekend, tonight's game will still be critical for many of those players who are currently on the bubble including the likes of Steven Pinizzotto and Owen Nolan. Both had strong outings at Rogers Arena against the Flames two nights ago and, if yesterday's practice was any indication, will have a chance to impress again tonight this time skating on the same line.

Injured players:

Manny Malhotra (eye)
Prab Rai (undisclosed)
Bill Sweatt (undisclosed)
Mason Raymond (vertebrae compression fracture)
Ryan Kesler (left hip surgery)
Byron Bitz (pulled groin)
Stefan Schneider (broken hand)

6 pm PT and can be seen on TSN.

[Hyack]

The Canucks no names tally a 2-1 victory over the Oilers.

Next game is Saturday vs Anaheim in the Phone Booth.

[Hyack]

Vancouver vs Anaheim

The Vancouver Canucks will reach the midway mark of their exhibition schedule tonight when they play their fourth pre-season game and the first of two games in two nights hosting the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena.

Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault stated earlier in the week that his club expects to make several roster moves following the conclusion of their back-to-back set this weekend. Given Thursday's performance by his squad in Edmonton, despite already making 11 cuts yesterday, it seems Coach V and his crew still have some tough decisions to make.

The Canucks, dressing yet another almost unrecognizable lineup, emerged with gritty 2-1 victory on the road over an Edmonton Oilers team that featured more than half a lineup of players expected to be a part of their opening night roster.

Among the hopeful Canucks that made strong impressions in Thursday's victory included goal-scorers Owen Nolan and Mike Duco, Cody Hodgson, Mark Mancari, and Steven Pinizzotto as well as netminder Eddie Lack who has yet to allow a goal in two pre-season appearances so far. Some of those aforementioned names might factor into the lineup again tonight although, after sitting out nearly all the key contributors from last year's Presidents' Trophy winning team so far in the pre-season, Coach V may finally opt to give his returning veterans some game action facing a Ducks squad that should be dressing a fair number of regulars as well.

Two players that won't appear on tonight's lineup sheet are Nolan and Andrew Ebbett as both are questionable for the games this weekend recovering from groin injuries sustained in the game versus Edmonton. Also not dressing tonight and for the remainder of the pre-season is netminder Manny Legace, who was informed yesterday by the Canucks that he would not be in their plans for the upcoming season and was subsequently released from his tryout contract. Cory Schneider is expected to go the distance tonight in net for the Canucks.

7 pm PT and can be seen on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.