Vancouver Canucks with a side of sushi

Back in June, the Vancouver Canucks launched a new slogan: “Change is Coming”. The announcement came around the same time that Willie Desjardins was hired as the new head coach, and shortly after Trevor Linden was named president of the team’s hockey operations.

The slogan was also appropriate in terms of the players on the team. Long-time Canucks centre Ryan Kesler was finally given the boot, as were popular teammates David Booth, Jason Garrison, Mike Santorelli, and more.

New names, including Linden Vey, Radim Vrabata, Nick Bonino, and Ryan Miller were added to the roster.

At the preseason opener at Rogers Arena on September 23, change was apparent. Even though the team was split into two rosters—one hosted San Jose in Vancouver, while the other travelled to Stockton to face the Sharks on their turf—there were plenty of new names and faces to keep track of on home ice. These included prospects, such as Hunter Shinkaruk, Jordan Subban, and Bo Horvat, who each scored a goal on opening night; as well as Vey and Vrabata, who both put in ice time.

However, the names at centre ice weren’t the only new attractions at Rogers Arena.

For hungry and thirsty fans, the action around the concourse was just as thrilling. In the spring, Canucks Sports and Entertainment terminated its contract with Aramark, which provided concession services at the arena. By summer, they hired top bartender Jay Jones as the director of wine and beverage, and began revamping many of its food offerings as well.

Last night, hockey fans got a taste of these changes, which I’m told will continue to roll out slowly. Now, if you’re not in the mood for beer or wine, you can order a cocktail at Rogers Arena. How about a Negroni or Margarita to go with your lobster roll or poutine? Maybe you’d like to try one of the new gourmet hot-dogs from Steamer’s? (Yes, named after Canucks lifer Stan Smyl.)

I had a chance to enjoy last night’s game from a box suite as a media guest of Pacific Western Brewery. What I learned is that local high-end Japanese restaurants Miku and Minami now supply sushi to these VIP suites. This is a new partnership that started in the summer, so guests can enjoy Miku and Minami’s aburi salmon oshi sushi and other styles of sushi during games and concerts at the arena.

If this is an effort to win back fans as the team rebuilds, it appears that the Canucks are on the right path.