Canucks: Presenting the all-time lineup from smaller hockey nations
For smaller hockey nations, who would make up the Vancouver Canucks’ all-time roster?
NHL Ice hockey has experienced immense international growth through the reign of commissioner Gary Bettman, but that hasn’t always translated into widespread international talent from non-traditional hockey countries. The Vancouver Canucks however, have had their share of players from smaller hockey nations.
The Canuck Way has created All-Time lineups for different countries, such as Canada and the United States of America. This time, we take a look at a team of players from countries where hockey is far from the forefront of people sporting affections.
For the purposes of this article, teams who have not competed at least three times in the last 10 years of the IIHF World Ice hockey Championships qualify as non-traditional hockey countries. While the game is growing in many of these nations, few have had international success.
With that qualification method for countries, it leaves a void in a regular lineup — no goaltender. The Canucks have not had a goalie from one of these countries, so therefore this lineup plays with the net pulled.
Defence: Andrey Pedan – Lithuania
The only tried and true defender on this list is a player Canucks fans are infamously familiar with, Lithuania’s Andrey Pedan. His time with the Canucks came under the tutelage of Willie Desjardins, who became known for his use of players from smaller hockey nations throughout his time in Vancouver.
Although Pedan only played 13 games in Vancouver (zero points) the native of Kaunas, Lithuania was a regular contributor to the AHL’s Utica Comets, where he played 97 games over two seasons. He is certainly not the most successful player on the list, but is the most familiar to modern fans. Pedan is now playing with Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL.
Defence: Richard Park – South Korea/ USA
Richard Park is a centreman, but this lineup doesn’t have a second defenceman, so for the purpose of this exercise, he goes on the blue line. Through his time in the NHL, Richard Park was never known as an offensive powerhouse, rather he made his name as a hardworking bottom-six forward who could win battles defensively.
Born in Seoul South Korea, Park played only a single season on the west coast in 2005-06, where he scored 18 points through 60 regular season games. While he was born in South Korea, Park never played internationally for the Koreans, rather he played for Team USA as a dual citizen. Park retired in 2014, after two years in the Swiss first division.
Left Wing: Borna Rendulic – Croatia
Borna Rendulic spent the briefest amount of time in Vancouver — one game. The Zagreb, Croatia native appeared briefly for the Canucks in 2016, the same season that he spent 69 games with the Utica Comets, where he scored 23 points.
The 6-foot-2 winger has become known for using his physical presence to drive to the net but wasn’t been able to find regular NHL job after 11 games in Colorado. His presence in international play overshadows most on the list, as Rendulic has captained the Croatian senior team numerous times. Through 50 games in 2019-20, Renduilc scored 49 points with Germany’s historic Adler Mannheim.
Centre: Ivan Boldirev – Yugoslavia (Serbia)
Yugoslavia’s (now Serbia) Ivan Boldirev is by far the most successful player on this list, and therefore he is centering the offensive line ahead of the aforementioned Park, who has slotted in on defence.
The veteran of over 1,000 NHL games played four seasons with the Canucks (184 points in 216 games), leaving the team in 1983, a year after helping the Canucks to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance. Although he didn’t win a championship in Vancouver, Boldirev did win a title with the 1972 Boston Bruins, despite spending most of that season with the now-defunct California Golden Seals. Boldirev, now 70 years old, retired in 1985 after three years with the Detroit Red Wings.
Right Wing: Ed Hatoum – Lebanon
Ed Hatoum played for multiple premier-level hockey teams in Vancouver, the NHL’s Canucks and the WHA’s Blazers. Born in Beruit, Lebanon, Hatoum was never expected to make a professional hockey career, but when he did, he became the first player from Lebanon to do so. He scored a mere single goal during his 26 games as a Canuck in 1970-71, but potted 15 points through 37 games with the Blazers in the twilight of his career. He never played international hockey, as Lebanon did not have a national federation during his playing days, but his career was groundbreaking for the Lebanese hockey community.
Extra Skater: Claude Vilgrain
Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Claude Vilgrain didn’t have an astounding career with the Canucks, however, his journey through hockey was forged through a unique path. To this day, Vilgrain is one of the few players to jump from Canadian university hockey right to the NHL.
The Haitian Canadian spent three years playing for U SPORTS’ University of Moncton, before being named to Team Canada. He joined the Canucks and played six games in 1987-88, before moving on to become an AHL and European hockey journeyman.
While his NHL career may not have flourished, Vilgrain continues to be tied to university sports. His daughter, Cassandra played two seasons for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. The story of Vilgraine and his family is exceptional on many levels, not only managing a career from Haiti but making the top-level through U SPORTS hockey.
Next. Canucks Draft Picks in U SPORTS. dark
That concludes the all-time Vancouver startling lineup from smaller hockey nations. The fact that the Canucks have attracted so many worldwide talents is impressive, considering the competition with other major cities such as New York and Los Angeles.