NHL News
Canucks’ Long-Running Practice Facility Saga Takes a Turn After New Agreement
The Vancouver Canucks and the City of Vancouver recently signed a memorandum of understanding to build a new practice facility.
The Vancouver Canucks and the City of Vancouver recently signed a memorandum of understanding to build a new practice facility at the Britannia Community Centre.
Canucks Social Media Accounts and Website Shared the News.
The practice facility fiasco is an ongoing soap opera in Vancouver. Former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said it was one of the reasons he left Canucks to coach in Philadelphia. The Flyers have their own practice facility in New Jersey.
The Vancouver Canucks website recently shared the news on the Memorandum of Understanding they have reached with the City of Vancouver. The two parties will “explore a new hockey development facility with community amenities at the Britannia Community Services Centre site, adjacent to the existing Britannia Ice Rink.”
Britannia Community Centre itself is a well-known city facility that includes an Ice Rink, Pool, Fitness Centre, Room Rental, Teen Centre, and +55 Centre. It’s an ideal spot, as Trevor Begg mentioned in a Daily Hive article, with a 3.5km drive from Rogers Arena.
The move is significant because Vancouver is the only NHL Team that does not have a permanent practice facility. It would see the Canucks use the existing ice rink, build a new facility, add to community amenities, and make investments in local programming.
The Canucks currently practice out of Rogers Arena or use the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Lack of Proper Practice Facilities Has Been a Factor for Over a Decade
The Canucks used to use the Eight Rinks Ice Facility in Burnaby as well, but that agreement was terminated in 2010.
Since then, they have used the patchwork of rinks we mentioned above. Practice facility chatter was a big part of former President Jim Rutherford and General Manager Patrik Alvin’s tenure with Vancouver but nothing ever materialized. This memorandum should be seen as progress, but we will have to wait and see if it comes to fruition.
Local sports personalities shared their cynical opinions on X, including Donnie and Dhali’s producer Ryan Henderson who said “The dollarama version of a practice facility the #Canucks want to “develop” is nothing like what Vegas, Seattle or Utah have built which is a facility they use but is also available to the public. The #Canucks are doing the reverse, taking ice time from teams in the community.”
The Daily Hive’s Rob Williams said the plan “Seems so simple, and yet…”
Community Groups Raise Concerns about the Facility.
It isn’t all roses and champagne, though, for the Canucks or the City, even if the facility does move forward beyond the Memorandum stage.
A recent Daily Hive article shared that the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey Association released a statement in which they said they are disappointed by the report that the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Canucks are exploring building a practice facility that could leverage an existing community rink at Britannia without creating desperately needed new ice capacity.
The group represents over 2,000 minor hockey players and families and has advocated for increased access to ice while also accommodating minor hockey needs. The group noted that the Seattle Kraken’s facility benefited community groups with three sheets of ice. They also hit on the idea that the “northwest corner of the PNE grounds could potentially accommodate a facility like this here that includes a Canucks practice centre, new ice sheets, and community amenities, all within a relatively modest footprint.”
The never-ending soap opera that is the construction of a new practice facility for the Canucks appears to be finally moving forward. There is still a long way to go, just like the Canucks rebuild, which started just a couple of months ago. Who is up for some betting props to see which gets done first?
Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canadiens & Oilers Surprise Trade Win
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
More News
