Orland Kurtenbach: The First Captain of the Vancouver Canucks
The Story of the Steady Leader
When the Vancouver Canucks entered the NHL in 1970, everything was new—the jerseys, the rivals, even the idea that big-league hockey had finally come to the province of British Columbia. The team had plenty of eager players, but what it really needed was a compass. Someone to set the tone and show everyone what it meant to wear that new NHL jersey. That person turned out to be Orland Kurtenbach, the first captain in franchise history.
The Right Guy at the Right Time
Orland Kurtenbach wasn’t a headline-grabber, and that’s probably what made him perfect for the job. He’d been around the league (New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs), knew how to handle the grind of an NHL season, and brought a steady presence to a new NHL team trying to figure itself out—a presence that “commanded respect”.
And he could play. In that inaugural 1970–71 season, Kurtenbach put up 53 points in 52 games. On December 12, 1970, he gave fans a moment they still talk about—the first hat trick in Canucks history in a 5-2 win against the California Golden Seals. For a city (and province) getting its first taste of NHL hockey, that night meant more than three goals. It was proof that Vancouver belonged.
Cool Fact: Orland Kurtenbach followed up with a 61-point season in 1971-72.
The Vancouver Captain Before the Legends
Ask long-time fans, and they’ll tell you Kurtenbach’s real gift wasn’t his scoring touch—it was his leadership. He was tough, honest, and reliable—he simply showed up every night ready to compete. That’s the kind of example that sticks, especially on a new NHL team trying to build an identity.
Cool Fact: Orland Kurtenbach—a 3-time winner of the Vancouver Canucks MVP Award—finished his NHL career with 332 points (119 goals, 213 assists) in 639 games, alongside 628 penalty minutes.
Kurtenbach: A Legacy in the Rafters
When the Canucks launched their Ring of Honour in 2010, Orland Kurtenbach was the first name added—and rightly so. Before Naslund, Luongo, Linden, Smyl, and before the magic Stanley Cup runs—there was Captain Orland Kurtenbach.
Orland Kurtenbach wasn’t just the first captain of the Vancouver Canucks—he was the organization’s first heartbeat.