Canucks planning re-entry into NPHL

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The Dawson Creek Canucks are trying to reorganize and re-enter the North Peace Hockey League for the coming season. However, even the men in charge of trying to revive the once proud franchise are not so sure they will be successful. “We’re still in limbo,” says Ted Shields, one of about six Canucks directors involved. “We’re trying to make it go.” The Canucks met in April, May and June and will be meeting again in early September. Shields says they are financially sound and they have enough people on their executive to get started. Players, however, are a problem. “We’ve got to get some guys to make it competitive,” says Shields. “It’s not fair to the fans to pay money and see the team get beaten badly.” Therein lies the problem. The NPHL’s West Division is loaded with strong teams including the Fort St. John Flyers, Horse Lake Thunder, Grande Prairie Athletics and Spirit River Rangers. The Canucks are trying to ice a team with local players because they don’t have the finances to compete with the other clubs by enticing players into their fold. Shields says losing players like Kip Noble and Dustin Kersey to the Thunder in recent years has not helped. “And word is it (the Thunder) are out to make them an even stronger team for the Allan Cup,” says Shields. Matt Molloy, sports editor at the Alaska Highway News in Fort St. John, says he’s heard rumblings that the Thunder are even trying to recruit Flyers’ players for the coming season. NPHL president Jack McAvoy says the Flyers are considering an Allan Cup run and likely to enter. That leaves the Canucks and other clubs far behind. “Being competitive is a big concern,” says Shields. On a positive note, the City of Dawson Creek has been more than accommodating to the franchise as it tries to get its house in order. The city rents the Dawson Creek Memorial Arena to the Canucks. “They’ve given us until September but they need to know to book ice,” says Shields. “City (council) is working with us really well.” The Canucks will be calling a executive, player’s meeting in early September. If enough players don’t express an interest or attend the meeting, hopes of a revival will be shelved. The Canucks joined the NPHL in 1998-99 but took a leave of absence after the 2005-06 season. The Canucks put together a 135-73-6-4 record over eight seasons after playing 218 regular season games. They won back-to-back championships in 2001-02 and 2002-03 and were runners-up in 2000-01. They also won Lawrence Cup titles in 1998-99 and 2001-02 for placing first in the regular season standings.

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