By Dan Przybylski
The Dawson Creek Senior Canucks have been lacing up the skates in Dawson Creek since their formation in 1946. Founded through the Dawson Creek Athletic Association, the Senior Canucks have played in a number of leagues during their time in the B.C. and Alberta Peace Country while becoming an intrinsic part of the Dawson Creek sporting community.
Although they currently play in the Western Division of the Alberta-based North Peace Hockey League, they began their playing days in the Wheat Belt Hockey League during the late 1940s and early 1950s. After playing in the WBHL for nearly 10 seasons, they moved to the newly formed South Peace Hockey League where they played from 1954 to 1988. The SPHL changed names to the Central Peace Hockey League for the 1988-89 season and the Canucks played there until the league disbanded at the end of the 1995-96 season. With no league to play in for the 1996-97 season, the Canucks sat out that season before joining the North Peace Hockey League for the 1997-98 season where they have played ever since.
The Canucks have won the NPHL Championship Campbell Cup twice, in 2001-02 and 2002-03, but have won the last three consecutive Coy Cup Championships (2017-18, 2018-19 & 2021-22).
The Canucks are managed by Arturs Dzelzs, who played goal for Latvia for the 2005-06 World Junior Hockey Championships and the Delaware Thunder in the American East Hockey League before moving to Dawson Creek and playing for the Canucks for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
The team is coached by ex-Canuck Marcel Capelle, a well-respected veteran of the team who patrolled the blue line for 11 seasons from 1988-89 to 1998-99.
Team Captain Jeff Taylor is a 10-year veteran, having previously played with the Penticton Vees, Merritt Centennials and Osoyoos Storm.
The roster is filled with players who live and work in the Dawson Creek area and have an executive and bench staff who have been with the organization for up to 45 years; a community team filled and supported by the community they play for.
READ MORE: Penticton Silver Bullets in mourning
READ MORE: 2023 Coy Cup coming to Quesnel