Vancouver Canucks players, coaches, management, and alumni gathered at Surrey’s Northview Golf Course on Monday, Sept. 9, for the 40th annual Jake Milford Canucks Charity Invitational, also known as “The Jake.” The tournament is held in honour of Jake Milford, the Canucks’ general manager in the late 1970s and early 1980s, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1984.
During the event, new Canucks and former Edmonton Oilers defenceman Vincent Desharnais lightened the mood with some humour. When asked by Conor Garland about what he learned from playing against the Canucks in the second round, Desharnais responded with a playful jab, recorded by Tom Zillich of the Surrey Now Leader and posted to X:
“That JT Miller is an a**hole.”
Desharnais immediately drew laughter from the room, and the remark has already earned Desharnais early praise from Canucks fans on social media, who are well aware how difficult Miller is for opposing team’s to handle.
Desharnais, who was drafted by the Oilers in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, brings experience to the Canucks’ blue line. Over his 114-game career with Edmonton, he recorded one goal, 15 assists, and a plus-minus of +18.
Despite colder weather, hundreds of attendees showed up for breakfast and a day of golf, participating in a season-kickoff fundraiser. The event supports both the Canucks for Kids Fund and the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Foundation, continuing the Canucks’ tradition of giving back to the community. Not only was it a significant charity event, but it also marked the unofficial start of the Canucks’ season.
Training camp is set to begin on Sept. 19 at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, home of the British Columbia Hockey League’s Penticton Vees, and will run until Sept. 22. This weekend marks the start of the 2024 Young Stars Classic, also in Penticton. The first game for the Canucks is a September 13th matchup against the Edmonton Oilers.
The team will play its first preseason game at Rogers Arena on Sept. 24 against the Seattle Kraken.
