The Vancouver Canucks have named defenseman Quinn Hughes as the 15th captain in the team’s history, making him the first defenseman to hold the honor for the franchise. The 23-year-old takes over the captaincy from Bo Horvat, who served as captain for four seasons before being traded to the New York Islanders.
INTRODUCING CAPTAIN QUINN!
Quinn Hughes has been named the 15th Captain in Canucks History!
FEATURE READ | https://t.co/5qTT7UWzZU pic.twitter.com/S9UoSxMe1K
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 11, 2023
In a recent interview, Hughes expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, saying, “Being the captain, it’s incredibly special. Something I’ve never dreamed of.” He also acknowledged the significance of being named captain in a Canadian market, stating, “When I moved here five years ago and started playing for the Canucks, I knew right away what a hockey market it is and how important hockey is to the city and the market and the people in Vancouver. So to now be the captain, it’s an incredible honor, something that I never even dreamed of.”
Hughes has demonstrated his leadership abilities both on and off the ice. He has been praised for his willingness to address difficult situations and for the respect he shows to his teammates, coaches, and the organization. The young defenseman has already made a significant impact on the team, recording seven goals and 69 assists in the 2022-23 season, ranking third among defensemen in points.
The Canucks have a storied history of captains, with Hughes joining a prestigious list that includes Hall of Famers Henrik Sedin, Roberto Luongo, and Mark Messier. As the team prepares for the start of the season, fans and teammates alike will be looking to Hughes to lead the Canucks to success.
In addition to the captaincy announcement, the Canucks have been active on their YouTube channel, sharing videos of the captaincy announcement, Hughes’ reaction to being named captain, and discussions on why Hughes was the perfect choice for captain.
The Vancouver Canucks finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 38-37-7, placing them 6th in the Pacific Division and 11th in the Western Conference. The team scored a total of 276 goals while conceding 298. Key contributors to the team’s performance included Elias Pettersson, who led the team in goals (39) and points (102), and Quinn Hughes, who led the team in assists (69).
As the Canucks embark on a new chapter with Hughes at the helm, the team and its fans are eager to see what the future holds for this talented young leader and the franchise as a whole.