Moose Jaw Canucks
# Moose Jaw Canucks

The Moose Jaw Canucks were a junior ice hockey team based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. They were one of the founding members of the original Western Canada Junior Hockey League (1948–1956), and in 1966 were founding members of a new Western Canada Junior Hockey League (known since 1978 as the Western Hockey League) following a rebellion within the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The franchise evolved from the Moose Jaw Cubs in the early 1930s.

The Canucks won the Abbott Cup in 1945 and 1947, making them the Junior "A" Champion for Western Canada and earning a playoff against the George Richardson Memorial Trophy- winning Eastern Champion for the Memorial Cup. The Canucks lost their Memorial Cup competition against the Toronto St. Michael's Majors in both years.

## Franchise history

The Canucks played in the following leagues in their history:

* Prior to 1936: Independent schedule
* 1936–1946: Southern Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
* 1946–1948: Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
* 1948–1955: Western Canada Junior Hockey League
* 1955–1958: dormant
* 1958–1966: Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
* 1966–1968: Western Canada Junior Hockey League
* 1968–1984: Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

In 1984, the Canucks folded to make room for the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors, when that franchise transferred from Winnipeg. Another team, also known as the Moose Jaw Canucks, played in the South Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League (now known as the Prairie Junior Hockey League) from 1992–94.

The Canucks legacy is survived by the Jr. C Canucks, who have played in the Saskatchewan Junior C Hockey League since 2006.

## WCJHL history

In the summer of 1966, the Canucks were one of five SJHL clubs that left the provincial league to join franchises in Calgary and Edmonton in the new Western Canada Junior Hockey League. The league was considered a "rebel league" by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and thus denied the right to compete for Canadian junior hockey's top prize, the Memorial Cup.

In the WCJHL's inaugural season, the Canucks won the playoff championships despite finishing 4th in the overall standings. The following year, the Canucks would lose out in the playoff semi-finals after another 4th-place finish.

Concerned about the WCJHL's poor reputation with the CAHA and hoping to once again compete for the Memorial Cup, the Canucks, along with the Regina Pats and Weyburn Red Wings, would leave the WCJHL to return to the reborn SJHL. Following the reorganization of junior hockey in 1970, which saw the Western Canada Hockey League gain Tier-I status, and the SJHL being deemed Tier-II (not Memorial Cup eligible), the Canucks attempted to rejoin the WCHL but were denied. The Canucks would remain in the SJHL until the arrival of the Warriors.

## Season-by-season standings

| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1936–37 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | 25 | 58 | 6 | 3rd SSJHL | Lost final |
| 1937–38 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - | 46 | 11 | 12 | 1st SSJHL | Won league |
| 1938–39 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | - | 35 | 20 | 15 | 1st SSJHL | Won league, won SAHA |
| 1939–40 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | 57 | 50 | 13 | 2nd SSJHL | Lost final |
| 1940–41 | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | - | 70 | 96 | 10 | 4th SSJHL | DNQ |
| 1941–42 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 0 | - | 24 | 42 | 2 | 3rd SSJHL | DNQ |
| 1942–43 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | - | 54 | 51 | 16 | 3rd SSJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1943–44 | 22 | 10 | 9 | 3 | - | 91 | 85 | 26 | 4th SSJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1944–45 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | - | 112 | 41 | 28 | 1st SSJHL | Won league, won SAHA, won Abbott Cup |
| 1945–46 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | - | 157 | 55 | 36 | 1st SSJHL | Won league, won SAHA |
| 1946–47 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 0 | - | 190 | 111 | 41 | 2nd SJHL | Won league, won Abbott Cup |
| 1947–48 | 28 | 21 | 6 | 1 | - | 177 | 94 | 43 | 1st SJHL | Won league |
| 1948–49 | 26 | 17 | 8 | 1 | - | 139 | 94 | 35 | 2nd WCJHL | Lost final, won SAHA |
| 1949–50 | 40 | 22 | 18 | 0 | - | 162 | 180 | 44 | 2nd WCJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1950–51 | 40 | 16 | 22 | 2 | - | 147 | 160 | 34 | 5th WCJHL | DNQ |
| 1951–52 | 44 | 21 | 23 | 0 | - | 178 | 171 | 42 | 5th WCJHL | DNQ |
| 1952–53 | 36 | 13 | 23 | 0 | - | 164 | 209 | 26 | 5th WCJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1953–54 | 36 | 17 | 19 | 0 | - | 166 | 191 | 29 | 4th WCJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 1954–55 | 40 | 5 | 35 | 0 | - | 100 | 264 | 10 | 5th WCJHL | DNQ |
| 1955–58 | Franchise Dormant | Franchise Dormant | Franchise Dormant | Franchise Dormant | Franchise Dormant | Franchise Dormant | Franchise Dormant | Franchise Dormant | Franchise Dormant | Franchise Dormant |
| 1958–59 | 48 | 11 | 36 | 1 | - | 166 | 328 | 23 | 7th SJHL | DNQ |
| 1959–60 | 59 | 6 | 52 | 1 | - | 161 | 378 | 13 | 7th SJHL | DNQ |
| 1960–61 | 60 | 24 | 26 | 10 | - | 181 | 212 | 58 | 4th SJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1961–62 | 56 | 22 | 25 | 9 | - | 199 | 225 | 53 | 5th SJHL | Won league |
| 1962–63 | 54 | 25 | 22 | 7 | - | 212 | 188 | 57 | 4th SJHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 1963–64 | 62 | 26 | 30 | 6 | - | 290 | 352 | 58 | 5th SJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1964–65 | 56 | 19 | 34 | 3 | - | 211 | 286 | 41 | 7th SJHL | DNQ |
| 1965–66 | 60 | 33 | 23 | 4 | - | 295 | 229 | 70 | 4th SJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1966–67 | 56 | 25 | 19 | 12 | - | 215 | 190 | 62 | 4th WCJHL | Won league |
| 1967–68 | 60 | 31 | 24 | 5 | - | 263 | 243 | 67 | 4th WCJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1968–69 | 44 | 19 | 24 | 1 | - | 223 | 245 | 39 | 3rd SJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1969–70 | 36 | 16 | 18 | 2 | - | 143 | 152 | 34 | 3rd SJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1970–71 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 1971–72 | 50 | 7 | 43 | 0 | - | 174 | 345 | 13 | 9th SJHL | DNQ |
| 1972–73 | 48 | 23 | 25 | 0 | - | 239 | 242 | 46 | 4th SJHL South | Lost quarter-final |
| 1973–74 | 50 | 23 | 27 | 0 | - | 253 | 251 | 46 | 4th SJHL South | Lost quarter-final |
| 1974–75 | 58 | 16 | 42 | 0 | - | 278 | 333 | 32 | 6th SJHL South | DNQ |
| 1975–76 | 58 | 22 | 33 | 3 | - | 264 | 299 | 47 | 6th SJHL North | DNQ |
| 1976–77 | 60 | 42 | 18 | 0 | - | 362 | 208 | 84 | 2nd SJHL South | Lost quarter-final |
| 1977–78 | 60 | 41 | 19 | 0 | - | 351 | 262 | 82 | 1st SJHL South | Lost final |
| 1978–79 | 60 | 34 | 24 | 2 | - | 322 | 263 | 70 | 2nd SJHL South | Lost final |
| 1979–80 | 60 | 44 | 15 | 1 | - | 343 | 245 | 89 | 1st SJHL South | Lost final |
| 1980–81 | 60 | 40 | 14 | 0 | - | 406 | 268 | 92 | 1st SJHL South | Lost final |
| 1981–82 | 60 | 29 | 29 | 2 | - | 262 | 248 | 60 | 2nd SJHL South | Lost quarter-final |
| 1982–83 | 64 | 27 | 34 | 3 | - | 299 | 345 | 57 | 6th SJHL | Lost semi-final |
| 1983–84 | 64 | 35 | 28 | 1 | - | 344 | 314 | 71 | 4th SJHL | Lost quarter-final |

### Playoffs

* 1969 Lost semi-final

    Regina Pats defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-none
* 1970 Lost semi-final

    Weyburn Red Wings defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-none
* 1971 Did not participate
* 1972 DNQ
* 1973 Lost quarter-final

    Weyburn Red Wings defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-1
* 1974 Lost quarter-final

    Estevan Bruins defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-none
* 1975 DNQ
* 1976 DNQ
* 1977 Lost quarter-final

    Melville Millionaires defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-2
* 1978 Lost final

    Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-1
    Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Regina Blues 4-games-to-1
    Prince Albert Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-1
* 1979 Lost final

    Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Regina Blues 4-games-to-1
    Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-none
    Prince Albert Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-2
* 1980 Lost final

    Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Melville Millionaires 4-games-to-1
    Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Estevan Bruins 4-games-to-2
    Prince Albert Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-2
* 1981 Lost final

    Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-1
    Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Estevan Bruins 4-games-to-none
    Prince Albert Raiders defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-3
* 1982 Lost quarter-final

    Weyburn Red Wings defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-2
* 1983 Lost semi-final

    Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Humboldt Broncos 4-games-to-none
    Weyburn Red Wings defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-3
* 1984 Lost quarter-final

    Lloydminster Lancers defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4-games-to-1

## Notable alumni

* Chris Chelios
* Willie Desjardins
* Al Rollins
* Larry Popein
* Fred Sasakamoose
