Vancouver Canucks News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Top 50 Canucks players of all time: #42 – Orland Kurtenbach

Originally posted on Canucksarmy | By Cory McQuhae | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 12:00 PM ET

Join us this summer as we count down the top 50 Vancouver Canucks players of all time! #42: Orland Kurtenbach

The list of accolades that Orland Kurtenbach managed to accomplish for the Vancouver Canucks is staggering. There’s a legend around the man that persists to this day.

He was the Canucks’ second selection in the 1970 expansion draft (fourth overall) and was quickly named the franchise’s first captain. Before donning the stick-in-rink logo, he had a lengthy career as a tough, middle-six centre who was willing to protect his teammates and make life miserable for anyone who came near him. A former Canucks teammate said of Kurtenbach’s playing style, “He didn’t clutch and grab. He just dropped you when you came in.”

Before making the NHL, he had three separate stints playing for the minor league WHL Vancouver Canucks. In two of those seasons (1957-58 and 1959-60), the Canucks won the Lester Patrick Cup. Kurtenbach has said that he saw returning to Vancouver as something of a homecoming for him.

Despite injuries that limited him to 52 games in the organization’s inaugural season, it was a very successful year of hockey for #25. He was receiving more ice time in Vancouver than he had at his previous NHL stops and was making the most of the opportunity. He was the Canucks’ first point-per-game player with 53 points in 52 games. In a December 1970 game against the California Golden Seals, he scored his only career hat trick.

The 6-foot-2 centre managed to stay healthy in the team’s second season, recording 61 points in 78 games, tying him with Andres Boudrias for the team lead. Kurtenbach set career highs in goals (24), assists (37), points (61), and had his lowest PIMs over a full season. Remarkably, he managed to finish as a minus-one on a team with a 20-50-8 record and a minus-94 goal differential.

Off the ice, he was highly respected by his teammates. One former teammate said of their captain, “Sometimes he didn’t have to say anything. Just by his look, you knew what he meant, and you knew that you had to wake up and get out there and play.”

Unfortunately for the franchise, there was a major talent drain after its second season as the World Hockey Association (WHA) hit the ice in 1972-73. Kurtenbach was offered a lucrative contract to jump ship and join the Los Angeles Sharks, but chose to remain in Vancouver.

His last two seasons with the franchise were marred by age and knee injuries. He only played one full season as a Canuck but left a massive mark. However, his contributions to the franchise didn’t end when he hung up the skates.

From December 20, 1970, until the end of the 1977-78 season, Kurtenbach was the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. He compiled a 36-62-27 record over 125 games before stepping aside and enjoying retirement.

Since fully stepping away from hockey, the franchise’s first captain has remained an active participant in the Alumni Association. Frequently appearing at various events and interacting with fans. Although this has become infrequent as he’s aged, fans still see him enjoying a Canucks game from time to time.

It should come as no surprise that he was the first ever inductee into the Canucks’ Ring of Honour when it was established as part of the team’s 40th Anniversary in the 2010-11 season. There was no one more deserving of that honour.