Let’s head back to 1975, when the Vancouver Canucks team created a lot of excitement for local hockey fans.
Pictured is star goalie Gary Smith signing an autograph for CP Air ground hostess Bev Spencer when the NHL team arrived in Vancouver April 23 after an exciting playoff series with the Montreal Canadiens. The team was met by hundreds of fans at the airport.
The Canucks made the playoffs for the first time, as well as finished first in the regular season in newly formed Smythe Division with 86 points. The Vancouver squad found themselves having to play the Guy Lafleur and the Canadiens, a team 27 points clear of the Canucks in the regular season standings. The Canucks lost the playoff series four games to one.
The Canucks managed to finish with 81 points the following season, losing its next playoff series to the New York Islanders. Following that season was a miserable streak of 15 straight finishing below the .500 level, although they had a magical run to the final in 1982.
