Video Essay: The year Vancouver fell in love with the Canucks

Long before the “Towel Power” of ’82 or the heartbreak of 2011, the Vancouver Canucks made their first real statement in 1975.

In just their fifth NHL season, a scrappy, captain-less group of journeymen, young scorers, and a workhorse goaltender delivered Vancouver its first playoff appearance – and in dramatic fashion. The 1974-75 Canucks didn’t sneak into the postseason, they won their division.

Our latest CanucksArmy video essay tells the full story of this underdog squad that turned a struggling expansion franchise into a team the city could rally behind. From a midseason nine-game losing streak to division champions, this team wasn’t supposed to succeed. But they did – and they captured the hearts of Vancouver in the process.

Starring Andre Boudrias’ playmaking, Don Lever’s 38-goal season, and the unforgettable Gary “Suitcase” Smith in net, the team defied expectations. Smith played 72 games and finished with 32 wins, backstopping the Canucks into a quarterfinal matchup against one of the greatest hockey lineups of all time: the 74-75 Montreal Canadiens. Due to a new playoff format that season, Division winners had a bye past the preliminary round and were then re-seeded in the quarterfinals. The Canucks, unfortunately, drew the Canadiens, who would later lose to Buffalo in the Semifinals. 

Despite being outgunned by the likes of Ken Dryden, Guy Lafleur, and Jacques Lemaire, the Canucks stunned Montreal in Game 2 at the Forum – their first playoff win in franchise history – before eventually falling in a hard-fought five-game series.

This wasn’t a team of stars. This was a team of stories. And it laid the foundation for decades of Canucks fandom.

 Watch the full video below for rare highlights, pictures, and a look at how a team with no business winning gave life to the sport of hockey in Vancouver.