The Vancouver Canucks have only 18 wins this season and are on pace for their worst campaign since they were an expansion team in the 70s and 80s. Not only that, but they will likely finish with their worst home record ever, as fans have walked away disappointed 21 times already. In the franchise’s over 50-year history, the most losses they have endured at home is 22, set at the beginning of the infamous Mark Messier era in 1997-98. They could surpass that as soon as March 2 against the Dallas Stars.
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Basically, if you are a Canucks fan going to a game at Rogers Arena, expect a loss. But if you’re a friend or relative of a BC native playing for the opponent, get ready to cheer because they will likely have a multipoint night. This season, more than any other, it seems, BC natives – especially ones playing in their hometown for the first time as an NHL opponent – are having a grand ol’ time in Vancouver, whether it be scoring big goals or just generally dominating the team they grew up cheering for.
That was never more true than last month when Fraser Minten, Justin Sourdif and Ben Kindel all had their supporters on their feet multiple times. In fact, Sourdif was the only one who didn’t have PA announcer Al Murdoch say his name twice for a goal. Talk about a homecoming, right?
Fraser Minten, Boston Bruins – Jan. 3 (2 Goals Including OT Winner)
Minten was born in Vancouver on July 5, 2004 and spent his entire minor and junior career in British Columbia. He started in high school at West Van Academy and then, after two games with the Prince George Spruce Kings in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), made his way north to play for the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was drafted 38th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022 and made his NHL debut on April 5, 2025, against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Minten only played 41 games in the Maple Leafs organization (26 with the Marlies and 15 with the Maple Leafs) before he was traded to the Boston Bruins at the deadline for Brandon Carlo. He split his time between Boston and Providence for the rest of the season before becoming a full-time NHLer this season. He didn’t start 2025-26 with a bang, notching only six goals and 15 points in his first 41 games, but coming to his hometown seemed to be the tonic he needed to get going.
The Bruins made their annual trip to Vancouver on Jan. 3, and Minten, with plenty of family and friends in attendance, put on a show they will remember for a long time. Just scoring a goal would have been good, but he potted two, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the Bruins to a 3-2 victory.
“Lots of happiness. Happy to win, happy to do it here. Just good feelings,” Minten said. “It’s really cool for me and really cool for all my friends too. They all grew up with me, dreaming of the same thing, so get to do it here, and hopefully they’re all watching and just group effort and good for everyone.”
“You can’t describe a better script,” Bruins coach Marco Sturm said. “He’s a young kid growing up here just around the corner and begging for tickets just to see the Canucks play, and what a game he had today. Not just two goals, but overall, just very happy for him and his family. I think he had like 100 people in today so couldn’t be a better night for the kid.”
Minten has been riding that high for a month now. Since that overtime winner, he has six goals and 12 points in 14 games, and was just named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for January. Maybe he needs to visit Vancouver more often.
Justin Sourdif, Washington Capitals – Jan. 21 (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
Born in nearby Richmond, BC, on March 24, 2002, Sourdif also spent most of his minor/junior career on the West Coast. He began with the Delta Hockey Academy and the Valley West Hawks U18 AAA, and was then selected third overall by his hometown WHL team, the Vancouver Giants. He spent parts of five seasons with the Giants, where he recorded 69 goals and 166 points in 171 games before finishing his tenure in the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2021-22. He was also captain of the Giants that season before he was traded to the Oil Kings.
Selected 87th overall by the Florida Panthers in 2020, Sourdif made his NHL debut on Oct. 16, 2023, against the New Jersey Devils. He only played three games that season, and one in 2024-25 (it was a memorable one, though; he scored his first NHL goal against the Nashville Predators) before he was traded to the Washington Capitals last offseason.
Sourdif has found a home in the US capital, as the 23-year-old is having a career season with 12 goals and 25 points in 53 games. Two of those points came in his return to Vancouver on Jan. 21. Unfortunately, unlike Minten and Kindel, his efforts didn’t lead to a win, as the Capitals fell 4-3 in a rare home victory for the Canucks.
Sourdif had a monster January, though, scoring seven goals and 14 points in 13 games, including his first hat trick on Jan. 5 against the Anaheim Ducks, and a career-high five points. He also hasn’t slowed down since he visited his hometown, notching another two goals and five points, and his first OT winner on Jan. 31 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ben Kindel, Pittsburgh Penguins – Jan. 25 (2 Goals)
Kindel was born in Coquitlam, BC, just outside of Vancouver. He spent his minor hockey in the Burnaby Winter Club system and Yale Hockey Academy Prep before the Calgary Hitmen selected him in the WHL Draft. He spent two memorable seasons with the Hitmen, including a career-high 35 goals and 99 points in 65 games during his draft year in 2024-25. The Pittsburgh Penguins snagged the 5-foot-11 winger 11th overall in the 2025 Draft, and he is now, surprisingly, an NHL player at the young age of 18.
Kindel made the Penguins out of training camp and just hit the 52-game mark, joining only first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer as 2025 draft picks to do so. I don’t think anyone heading into this season would have predicted that, at least not in Kindel’s case. He hasn’t just played 52 games, either. He has been a productive member of the Penguins, and one of the reasons they are in the mix for the playoffs – another surprise this season. He is eighth in rookie scoring with 12 goals and 25 points.
Like Minten, Kindel’s trip to Rogers Arena also seemed to ignite his offence. The Penguins recently made their annual trek to the West Coast on Jan. 25, and he was one of the stars. He scored his ninth and 10th goals of the season, breaking a 19-game drought, and had another two goals and three points in his next two games. Also like Minten, his second ended up being the game-winner, although not as dramatic, as it extended the Penguins’ lead to 3-0. The Canucks came back in the third to make it a close 3-2 game, but Kindel’s second-period one-timer stood up as the winner.
“It’s obviously awesome,” Kindel said. “Lots of people that have been part of my life for a long time and have helped me make it here, so it’s great. This night is just about them as much.”
Canucks Have Been Perfect Hosts to Their Hometown Boys This Season
The Canucks have not made it hard on opponents when they have visited Rogers Arena this season, especially when it comes to their hometown boys. In addition to the trio mentioned above, here’s a snapshot of others that have had success in Vancouver this season:
- Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks (Vancouver) – one goal, four points in 5-2 win on Jan. 27, 2026 & one goal, two points in 6-3 win on Dec. 27, 2025.
- Mat Barzal, New York Islanders (Coquitlam) – two assists in 4-3 win on Jan. 19, 2026.
- Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks (North Vancouver) – one goal, two points in 5-2 win on Nov. 5, 2025.
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers (Burnaby) – two assists in 6-0 win on Jan. 17, 2026 & one assist in 4-3 OT loss on Oct. 26, 2025.
- Michael Rasmussen, Detroit Red Wings (Surrey) – one assist in 4-0 win on Dec. 8, 2025.
- Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars (Victoria) – one assist in 4-2 win on Nov. 20, 2025.
- Tristan Jarry, Edmonton Oilers (Surrey) – 31-save shutout in 6-0 win on Jan. 17, 2026.
The Canucks have a home-heavy schedule after the Olympic break, so this list is likely to expand in the coming months. Benn will get the first chance to add to his totals when the Stars visit Vancouver on March 2.
