The Vancouver Canucks will host another celebratory night on their next home game this Thursday. The Canucks will face off against the Minnesota Wild and celebrate First Nations in BC throughout the game.
Along with this celebratory night, there will also be special and limited-edition merchandise to release during the game in the team store. However, the merchandise is already available online on Vanbase for those that are eager to secure a piece or two right now.
We are proud to partner with Jay Odjick (@JayOdjick), cousin of Gino Odjick, to design a special First Nations Celebration warm-up jersey and collection.
The design weaves elements that honour Gino’s legacy and Jay’s own First Nations heritage.
SHOP | https://t.co/Lg6QU1Frw9 pic.twitter.com/opREVPi3zr
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 1, 2023
The merchandise includes a special jersey, t-shirts, hoodies, hats, pins, pucks, and mini sticks.
The design on all the merchandise was designed by the late Gino Odjick’s cousin, Jay Odjick. The Algonquin artist designed the logo, which commemorates the special night and Gino. The logo is the Canucks’ popular flying skate logo, resigned with a Thunderbird crest in Algonquin design, which represents “the strong and powerful protector that Gino was.”
Additionally, it has a lightning bolt at the center of the logo to symbolize Gino’s passion. The wings of the Thunderbird will include Coastal Salish inspiration designs to honour the First Nations communities of Vancouver and the surrounding areas.
The shoulder patches will have Medicine Wheels to represent the “interconnectedness and balance of all elements of life, with eight feathers to represent the eight seasons Gino played as a Canuck.”
All the proceeds from sales of the collection will go to Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations youth programs.
Defenceman Ethan Bear sustained an upper body injury and will not return to tonight's game.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 26, 2023
Indigenous Canucks defender, Ethan Bear, is the model for this collection. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury 30 seconds into the Bruins/Canucks game on Saturday, February 25th, when a puck hit him in the face. He did not return for the rest of this game and missed the Canucks’ most recent game against the Dallas Stars on Monday. It is unknown if he will return for this special night; an announcement will likely be made tomorrow morning.