Vancouver Canucks ( WHL ) " This article is about the minor league team that played in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Hockey League from 1945 to 1970 . For the National Hockey League team of the same name , please see Vancouver Canucks . " The Vancouver Canucks were a minor league professional team in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Hockey League . Inaugurated in 1945 with the PCHL , they became a WHL team with the merger of the PCHL with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League in 1951 . The Canucks played their final season in the WHL after 25 years in 1969 - 70 before joining the National Hockey League along with fellow expansion team , the Buffalo Sabres . The Vancouver Canucks won 6 President ' s / Lester Patrick Cups ( the trophy was renamed in 1960 after the death of Lester Patrick ) – 2 PCHL titles ( 1946 and 1948 ) and 4 WHL titles ( 1958 , 1960 , 1969 and 1970 ) . They were also regular season champions 4 times . They played home games in the PNE Forum arena at the Pacific National Exhibition in east Vancouver , before moving for their last two seasons into the Pacific Coliseum just to the north . They won the 1945 - 46 United States National Senior Championship . The Canucks , although in Canada , were eligible for this title because the PCHL was registered in the United States . Personnel . Players . Five Canucks players have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame . Andy Bathgate ( inducted in 1978 ) played with Vancouver for four years ( 1952 - 54 and 1968 - 70 ) and was on the team for their final two championships . In 1969 - 70 , he recorded 108 points in 72 games , earning the George Leader Cup as league MVP . Johnny Bower , Tony Esposito , Allan Stanley and Gump Worsley – all Hall of Fame inductees – have all played one season with the Canucks . Coaches . 1948 – 49 : Bill Cowley < br > 1949 – 50 : Bill Carse < br > 1950 – 51 : Bill Carse replaced by Murph Chamberlain < br > 1951 – 52 : Murph Chamberlain ; replaced by Hugh Currie ; replaced by Joe Carveth < br > 1959 – 61 : Art Chapman < br > 1961 – 62 : Phil Maloney ( 11 – 35 – 3 ) ; replaced by Hugh Currie ( 7 – 13 – 1 ) ( February 7 , 1962 ) < br > 1962 – 63 : Max McNab < br > 1966 – 67 : Bert Olmstead < br > 1967 – 68 : Jim Gregory < br > 1968 – 69 : Joe Crozier < br > 1969 – 70 : Joe Crozier ; replaced by Hal Laycoe General Managers . 1948 – 49 : Bill Cowley < br > 1949 – 50 : Coleman E . Hall < br > 1950 – 51 : - - < br > 1960 – 61 : Coley Hall < br > 1961 – 62 : Art Chapman ( temp ) ; replaced by Dave Dauphine ( after Nov . ) < br > 1962 – 63 : Max McNab < br > 1967 – 68 : Annis Stukus < br > 1968 – 69 : Joe Crozier < br > 1969 – 70 : Joe Crozier ; replaced by Bud Poile Presidents . 1948 – 61 : Coleman E . Hall < br > 1962 – 63 : Fred J . Hume ( owner ) < br > 1968 – 69 : Cyrus McLean < br > 1969 – 70 : Cyrus McLean ; replaced by Thomas K . Scallen George Leader Cup - MVP Honoured members . WHL League Award Winners . WHL Leading Rookie Fred J . Hume Cup - Most Gentlemanly Player Hal Laycoe Cup - Outstanding Defenseman WHL Leading Scorer WHL Leading Goaltender Year by year standings ( WHL ) . End of season standings . GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Finish / # teams League playoff champion . 1957 - 58 - Vancouver Canucks , President ' s Cup Year by year statistical leaders . Total Points ( Team , season ) . Year Player GP Goals Assists Pts PIM Leading scorer Total Points ( Team , playoffs ) . Year Player GP Goals Assists Pts PIM Goaltender stats , season . Year Player GP GA EN SO GAA W L T SVS . PC