Stories from our pages over the last 150 years.
It was a mixed bag, and not very good pickings for the home team at the Pacific Coliseum Friday night. But I suppose we will hear from the loser again.
This was the opening game of the 1970-71 National Hockey League season, but more important, the debut of the Vancouver Canucks into honoured society, and the first-ever NHL-type game here since March 22, 1926.
Vancouver didn't play in that one, Victoria did, and by some it might be said with malice that the Canucks shouldn't have played in this one either. But there are poor losers and have no rightful place in the discussion.
The 1926 game was transferred from Edmonton because of warm weather. The natural ice had melted, and Victoria, which has won the first series game, tied Edmonton here and went on to the Stanley Cup final only to lose to Montreal Maroons.
Friday night, Los Angeles Kings were the spoilers, bringing a sad ending to what Vancouver mayor Tom Campbell had proclaimed as "Hockey Week."
The Kings were full measure for their 3-1 victory, too, the management of which rather insolently didn't even bother to show up for the post-game reception for the Canucks. Or perhaps they weren't invited.
