The Canuck Way
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Canucks Rewind: Brock Boeser’s NHL debut, and his time in Vancouver so far

By Zaahid Lalani

VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 27: Brock Boeser #6 of the Vancouver Canucks looks to make a pass during NHL hockey action against the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena on January 27, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 27: Brock Boeser #6 of the Vancouver Canucks looks to make a pass during NHL hockey action against the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena on January 27, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

The debut

As it goes for all newcomers, Boeser stepped onto the ice by himself to complete the inaugural warm-up lap, before his teammates emerged from the tunnel to join him on the ice. Boeser, who donned the now-familiar no. 6 on the back of his jersey, was projected to start the game alongside Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and, like all of their previous linemates, was being thrown into the spotlight almost immediately.

Again, for most young players, the opportunity to finally play in the NHL, alongside household superstar names and in front of energetic, sold-out crowds, is more than enough to quench their thirst for professional hockey, and the Canucks rookie was no exception.

For Boeser, however, this game would always have a special place in his heart, no matter his ice time, point totals or impact on the game.

The Burnsville-native was set to make his NHL debut against the team he idolized growing up, in a building that he has frequently visited during his boyhood years, and with a large crowd of close friends and family in attendance to cheer him on.

The grand stage was set for the rookie, and he did not disappoint.

Boeser logged just over 12 minutes of ice time that night, posting four shots on goal and a plus-one rating. He would also record his first-ever NHL tally, pushing a Horvat rebound past Darcy Kuemper to make it 3-0 for the visitors. In storybook fashion, this ended up being the game-winning goal.

Boeser played the remaining eight games of the season with the Canucks, registering four more points to cap off his first, albeit much shorter-than-usual, season in the NHL.

Yes, the team lost all of those contests, finishing the campaign at the bottom of the Pacific Division with a 30-43-9 record, while sporting a point total of 69 that landed them second last in the league.

But Boeser was one of the few bright spots in that final losing streak, sparking much-needed, long-awaited hope throughout a fanbase that was ready for a new core of superstars to emerge.

Cue the 2017-2018 season.

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