Jim Rutherford Gives Eye-Opening Update on the Desperate Search For a Vancouver Canucks Practice Facility
Photo credit: Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford gave an update on Wednesday afternoon in regards to the team's search for a practice facility.
One of the biggest topics of discussion in Vancouver over the last decade has been the lack of a practice facility, despite the organization's search for one entering its 15th year.
Jim Rutherford gave an update on the matter at the team's season-ending media availability back in April, which was followed by a tour of a potential location about a month and a half later.
"I assure you, we're going to get this done, maybe long after I'm here, maybe long after I'm even on this earth but it'll get done," Rutherford said.
He added, "We need 20,000 square feet where we can build a dressing room onto a rink somewhere and just use the ice. We've tried three or four [rinks] and for different reasons it didn't work out."
He added, "We need 20,000 square feet where we can build a dressing room onto a rink somewhere and just use the ice. We've tried three or four [rinks] and for different reasons it didn't work out."
Vancouver Canucks' Jim Rutherford gives update on practice facility search
On the same day that the Utah Mammoth officially opened their brand-new, state-of-the-art practice/training facility, Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford, General Manager Patrik Allvin and Head Coach Adam Foote met with the media where the topic of getting their own was brought up.
According to Jim Rutherford, the Canucks are getting closer to finding one, with the organization having a few options to consider right now and remain in discussions with the locations they are eyeing up.
"The answer is yes. We are closer. We do have a few legitimate options now. We are in conversations with those options. If I say anything beyond that you're going to laugh at me, other than the fact that we should be able to get this done at this point." Rutherford said.
As it stands now, the Vancouver Canucks are the only team in the National Hockey League without either their own dedicated practice facility or one being built currently, with the Calgary Flames' set to open ahead of the 2027-28 season.
Not having one certainly doesn't help the Vancouver Canucks when trying to recruit players through free agency and even hurt them back in the spring when Rick Tocchet admitted it played a role in his decision to leave the organization to join the Philadelphia Flyers.
Hopefully for the sake of the players and coaching staff, they'll be able to find one relatively quickly, even if it's just an existing rink they can call their own, rather than using Rogers Arena or even UBC when the former isn't available.
Previously on CanucksDaily
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SEPTEMBRE 18 | 1137 ANSWERS Jim Rutherford Gives Eye-Opening Update on the Desperate Search For a Vancouver Canucks Practice Facility Do you think the Vancouver Canucks will have a practice facility (either building a new one or one already existing) in the next three years? | ||
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