For the annual playoff bandwagon jumper, a visit to one of Gastown or Chinatowns tacky tourist traps can nab you a little blue flag to hang off your car antenna to then discard and forget about by next May. For the serious fan, theres Hastings-Sunrises Canucks Pro Shop.
Situated on the corner of Hastings and Renfrew, across from Playland and Hastings Park, the red brick boutique is properly wrapped in blue and green, and carries enough merchandise to alienate every single one of your friends who dont share your passion for Canadas pastime.
The shops selection includes the basics (player jerseys, T-shirts, action figures and foam hands), the eccentric (barbecue aprons and utensils, inflatable Stanley Cups, baby pyjamas and cellphone cases) and the more personal (autographed photographs and the sticks, pads and skates sweated in by your favourite Canuck).
It also includes a few bizarre pieces, like the gnome coin bank, stuffed lions and monkeys sporting orca attire and "Canucks Water," collectible plastic water bottles featuring a Canucks player, with a new featured player every two months (Henrik Sedin currently holds the honour.) While you browse the wares, youre encouraged by the smiling faces of various cardboard cut-out players.
While the interior is filled with overwhelming shades of blue and green, some love for the classic flying C of yellow, red and black can still be seen.
Vintage Canucks merchandise, and even Vancouver Millionaires clothing, is kept on stock. The back corner is a perpetual sale of "other team merchandise," however this does not include the aforementioned inflatable Stanley Cup.
Game-worn jerseys are also available to order through the pro shop, but scoring a star player can prove to be costly. A No. 1 Luongo from last season goes for $2,000, as does any jersey worn by Kesler or either of the Sedins. A cool $1,000 will get you an original Bieksa, Garrison, Booth, Burrows, Edler or Schneider jersey, with the rest of the team priced between $400 and $550.
Most famously, the used goalie pads of Cory Schneider (no longer a Canuck netminder, of course) are now used by Britannias Cory Oskam, a transgendered teen who took Schneiders first name when he identified as a boy.
Game-worn jerseys are each tagged with a tracking number, located inside on the fight strap, which lists the dates the jersey was worn. Jerseys are not signed by players, though the hockey club occasionally hosts signing events.
A cheaper alternative is pre-used equipment. Players sticks, skates, and goalie pads are available, assuming you dont mind a few scratches or sweat stains. The sale of equipment is what gives the Hastings-Sunrise store the distinction of being called a pro shop. The Robson and Rogers Arena stores both carry only merchandise and memorabilia, leaving them with the label of team stores.
No one from the store was authorized to comment.
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