Young stars shine for

the Canucks

Brady Stark
Team Member

A hockey fans already know, the regular
season is only a week and a half away, but
the fun has already started, as the pre-season
is in full swing. The Canucks have dressed
enough players for two squads that are able
to play split-squad games against teams

from around the league. The pre-season is
not only a chance for the veterans to regain
their top form or to have one last crack at
getting a contract for the season, it is also

a golden opportunity for young prospects

to shine on the big stage. The Canucks

have had the luxury over the past couple of
seasons to draft some top tier talent from
leagues such as the CHL. With that luxury
comes a wealth of competition and added
excitement for the fans. Obviously, for those

Expansion on

who follow the Canucks closely, names such
as Horvat, Gaunce, Virtanen, and Corrado are
household names at this point. But, have you
heard of Wilson, Fox, Friesen, or Archibald?
Prince George Cougars fans should know the
name Wilson. Last year Klarc Wilson was an
integral member of the Cougars squad who
got signed to the prospects. Unfortunately,
Wilson ended up getting cut by the team later
on but managed to sign on to the Canucks
ECHL team in the hopes of making the big
club down the road.

Another name on that list is Alex Friesen.
Friesen has been in the farm system for

a couple of years but has really made his
presence felt during the game against the
San Jose Sharks this past week. His speed
and puck-handling skills were among the
best on the ice, even compared to the
veterans on the ice. The only knock on him

#
Alex Friesen ee
canucksarmy.com

is that he is considered rather small by
comparison. Fans would normally not be
able to see young talent within the Canucks
system, but the pre-season gives us that
opportunity. The pre-season is a chance for
prospects to make a name for themselves
and to show the brass what they got. Players
like Horvat, Corrado, and Shinkaruk have

obviously shone bright, but it’s the stars that
you can’t see that might end up being the
brightest. Wilson, Fox, Friesen, and Archibald
are those stars; at least one of them might
end up becoming the best of the bunch.

the way? Rumours of NHL 2017

Brady Stark
Team Member

Ars to Howard Bloom of
sportsbiznews.com, reports have been
flying around the NHL world of a possible
three team expansion in 2017. It gives the
great pleasure to this reporter to analyze all
three cities that might join.

Toronto:

This expansion city seems a little familiar.
Oh wait, there is already a struggling
team in Toronto. Even though there are
2.8 million people in the greater Toronto
area, there is no reason for a city to have
two teams (despite the fact that the new
franchise would probably be in Hamilton).
This just seems like an ill-conceived plan.

Las Vegas:

The second team that is being rumored

to be getting a NHL team is Las Vegas,
Nevada. Obviously, this town is known for
its gambling, shows, and ladies of the night.
Sure, sports sometimes do well in Sin City;
look at the UFC. Why on earth would you
put the fastest game on ice into a desert?

Seattle:

Now this is a city that makes way more
sense than the other two. Having a
rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks in
the Pacific division would boost the fans
of both teams, and create even more
revenue for the owners and the league.