This city has worn its Canucks colours on its sleeve for years - decades - but on Friday it became official as the Canucks flag was raised at city hall. City and team officials celebrated in the rain with fans who didn't let some wet autumn weather get in the way of their 'Nucks.
The Canucks are in town to get their annual training camp underway. Hosting B.C.'s NHL team for training camp has been a dream of many local hockey fans and amateur organizers for years. It was a concerted effort between the new owners of the Prince George Cougars, the City of Prince George and the Canucks organization that finally brought it to life.
"We wanted everyone in our organization to experience and understand that this is British Columbia's team and they will see that here for sure," said team president of hockey operations (and few would argue the most popular player in team history) Trevor Linden, standing on the front steps of City Hall. "Our older players already know that, but our younger players and our newer players don't understand the passion all across the province for this team."
Mayor Lyn Hall said the weekend of Canucks festivities were important for the legions of hockey fans in the city, but also had its practical side. He was pleased about the higher community profile and the economic spinoff this three-day event represents. It also builds on the year-round local work done by the WHL Cougars, co-owned by Canucks player Dan Hamhuis, and then down to the midget-level Cariboo Cougars and on through the ranks of minor hockey and the many recreation and junior hockey played throughout this region.
"The (WHL) Cougars organization has bent over backwards," to accommodate the Canucks at their home rink," said Hall. "It's been a real partnership between the Canucks and the Cougars."
Cougars vice president of business Andy Beesley agreed that "it was about something bigger than a hockey game." He pointed out that Cougars player Tate Olson was getting extra attention during this NHL visit since he was one of the Canucks prospects and was officially involved in preseason preparation with both his teams simultaneously.
"Today we are all Canucks for sure," said Beesley, with the crowd on hand applauding in agreement.
Linden and team mascot Fin then met the fans for photos and autographs before departing for CN Centre where the players with the orca-C jerseys set up shop in the home of the players in the cougar-C jerseys.
