The Vancouver Canucks may belong in Vancouver — it's in the name — but they're really the province's team. All of British Columbia, apart from some holdout fans of the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, cheers for the Canucks.
That's one of the reasons why the Canucks have held their training camp outside of Vancouver in recent years, taking their players to Victoria, Whistler, and Abbotsford. Another reason is that the Canucks don't have a dedicated practice facility, one of just two teams in the NHL without one. The only other team without a dedicated practice facility is the Calgary Flames and they're building one as part of their new arena deal.
The Canucks' training camp ahead of the 2024-25 season will once again take place outside of Vancouver, as they will head to Penticton, B.C. from September 19 to 22. The camp will be held at the South Okanagan Events Centre where the BCHL's Penticton Vees play and will feature a scrimmage on the final day of camp.
The press release from the Canucks says that practice sessions will be open to the public but also includes a sign-up for information on tickets. It's possible that tickets will need to be reserved for the open sessions or that the scrimmage will be a paid event.
Penticton is also the location of the 2024 Young Stars Classic, the annual prospect tournament that features prospects from the Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets. That tournament will run from September 13 to 16, leaving a three-day break between the tournament and training camp.
“Staying in Penticton for training camp following Young Stars makes perfect sense for our organization,” said Jim Rutherford in a statement. “The facilities are first class, the fans in the interior are very passionate and the players, coaches, and staff really enjoy what the city and region has to offer.
"Our hockey club is committed to growing the game province-wide and we really enjoy taking our camp to different cities in British Columbia. We look forward to connecting with our fan base in the Okanagan and using these on-ice sessions to set the standard and put in place the structure needed for the start of another season."
The Canucks will head to Rogers Arena two days after the close of camp to play their first preseason game against the Seattle Kraken on September 24.
Training camp was last held in Penticton in 2010, which kicked off the Canucks' most successful season in franchise history. If the 2024-25 Canucks are similarly successful, the Canucks might have to hold training camp in Penticton every year as a good luck charm.
