Canucks: 3 takeaways from 6-3 triumph over Avalanche

2000s Era Night paid tribute to Canucks’ alumni

Maybe it was exactly what the Canucks needed to wake up and smell the coffee, but actually, it was a wonderful celebration of the past and a reminder to Canucks now of what it takes to be great in such a difficult hockey market north of American border.

Fans were treated with an early in your seat preview at the West Coast Express, some great memories of the past and some pretty dominant days where the Canucks couldn’t be beaten. Yes, it was a different era for hockey in general, and yes, those original orca jerseys may have turned an eye the other direction, but it was a sight for sore eyes to see some of the old veterans hit the ice for the ceremonial puck drop.

Brad May was the first to be warmly welcomed from the Rogers Arena Crowd. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Brad May is in the building! Yes, he was. The crowd popped as he was remembered for his toughness and hard work in the early 2000s. He was quite the scrapper, but he also knew how to pot the occasional important goal. Hats off to him for coming back to Vancouver for Era Night.

Next in line was Alex Auld. Fully equipped in his old gear, he joined May at center ice with a big ovation from over 18,000 standing Canucks fans.

But finally, with the loudest reaction of the night came for none other than Brendan Morrison himself. The centerman of arguably one of the best Canucks lines of all time. The West Coast Express featured the perfect mix of hockey talent. An absolute league-best sniper with a wooden stick, Markus Naslund. His big stallion of protection and brute force, Todd Bertuzzi, and the small but fast little playmaker in Morrison. And let me tell you, he was a huge piece to the success of this squad in the 2000s decade.