News from May 1998

Canucks to play first two games next season in Japan

We almost forgot to include this bit of information last March. Better late than never..

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (May 26, 1997)-- The NHL's worldwide marketing heads for the land of the rising sun this fall when the regular season begins in Japan.
The NHL will open the 1997-98 schedule outside North America for the first time when the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Vancouver Canucks face off in Tokyo's Yoyogi Arena.
Anaheim and Vancouver play the first two league games Oct. 4-5, eight times zones or 16 hours away from their home arenas.
"We think this is a great way for us to be kicking off our Olympic season," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday.
The 1998 Olympic Games at Nagano in February will feature for the first time NHL players competing for their respective countries.
NHL teams have played preseason and postseason games in Europe and Japan, but never regular-season games.
Anaheim general manager Jack Ferreira managed to inject some humor into the news conference at GM Place.
"The travel shouldn't be too hard because we're told we'll be arriving home before we left," he said.
"But all kidding aside, we're excited about selling the game on a worldwide basis. We have the best game there is, the best spectator sport."
Vancouver and Anaheim will depart for Japan on Sept. 29 and return Oct. 5 following the second game.
Games will be telecast in Japan, Canada and the United States, Bettman said.
Vancouver coach Tom Renney coached Canada to a silver medal in the 1994 Winter Olympics at Lillehammer, Norway and has coached several times in Japan with the Canadian national program.
"The talent that will be on the ice will only be somewhat symbolic of what they will see (at Nagano) in 1998," Renney said. "It's a real good opportunity for the National Hockey League to tap into some unbelievable potential with respect to the interest of the game in the Pacific Rim."
After returning home, the Ducks will have four days before their next league game and the Canucks will have three days off in order to recover from travel.
NHL referees and linesmen will officiate the games in Japan.

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Company offers Gold Pavel Plates at 50% off

Interlink Web Marketing are offering Pavel Bure Collectible plates for this month at 50% off the regular price. Visit their web site soon, and select the monthly special to view the details about the Pavel plates.

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Vote for Pavel

The Sporting News NHL web site has a vote going for the fans 5 most favourite players. Please Vote for Pavel !

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Thursday, May 1, 1997.

Another Jersey ?

Pity the poor true Pavel Bure fan ! When Pavel first appeared on the NHL and Canucks scene, you had to have his #10 home jersey. Then, when you saved up enough money, his dark away game jersey as well.
Soon, he was chosen to play in the All-Star game, so that was another possible aquisition. That was before his trip to Germany during the NHL lock-out to play an exhibition game for Landshut in Germany. That was the memorable #01 (ten backwards) jersey.
Of course, then there was the number change from 10 to 96... which meant two more team jersies to get, as well as another All-Star game jersey with the new number.
Then, there was the third jersey the Canucks released a couple of seasons ago, the orange one that they use on special occasions.
Pretty soon, Pavel was playing for Russia (as opposed for the USSR), so a couple of Russian World Cup jersies are on the wish list.
Now news has leaked out on the design of the Vancouver Canucks brand new complete revamp of the team logo. Now we've really lost track... click on the newspaper thumbnail to read the full story.
Please bear in mind, this is still all speculative news, and the logo has still not yet been confirmed the Vancouver Canucks organization.

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