The Canucks are very pleased to announce this year’s leadership group!
Leading things off is our new captain, defenceman Adam Thurlbeck. Thurlbeck has been a leader both on and off the ice since he became a full time player three seasons ago. He has also seen his points per game average rise, going from 0.39 in his first season to 0.53 in 2017-2018.
In 128 career MMJHL games, Thurlbeck has 15 goals and 40 points. He had 11 points in 19 playoff games during last year’s run to the championship series and has 13 points in 28 career playoff games.
Eric Wankling, Chris Sass, and Cole Chicoine round out the leadership group and will be wearing the A’s this season.
Wankling is entering his final year and has been an on and off ice leader for the Canucks since joining the team three seasons ago. In 111 career MMJHL games, Wankling has 10 goals and 27 points. In his playoff career, he has four goals and seven points in 29 games.
Sass is entering his fourth and final season with the Canucks and has become one of the team’s top leaders. In 130 career MMJHL games, he has 28 goals and 25 assists. In his playoff career, he has 10 points in 24 games.
Chicoine rounds out the leadership group. He is entering his third year in the MMJHL and will be counted on as one of the Canucks top offensive players this season. After a 12 goal, 18 point performance 43 games during his rookie year, he jumped up to 16 goals and 20 assists last year in 45 games. In the playoffs, Chicoine has six points in 25 games.
Coming up
The Canucks open their regular season on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 at Century Arena against the Ft. Garry/Ft. Rouge Twins. Their home opener is Sunday, Sept. 29 against the Pembina Valley Twister in a rematch of last year’s MMJHL championship series.