The Vancouver Canucks are hosting a first-of-its-kind fan event at Rogers Arena, starting this Thursday, the team announced. Fans will be welcomed to the arena at 3 p.m. to see players arrive on a blue carpet hours before they take to the ice for a preseason tilt against the Edmonton Oilers. The event kicks off a three-day celebration that ends with another preseason game, this time against the Seattle Kraken, the team’s closest geographical rival. Speaking with CTV Your Morning Vancouver host Keri Adams on Monday, recently named co-president of hockey operations Daniel Sedin said the team is just excited to welcome the fans back. “Show up, have fun, be a part of these three great days,” he said. Thursday’s festivities also include autograph signings from current and past players during the blue carpet event. On Friday, Sedin said fans can take in an open practice at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are required for the open practice, and they’re available for free on the team’s website. Closing Friday’s events is a charity game featuring PWHL Vancouver Goldeneyes players, the Sedin twins, alumni goaltender Kirk McLean and more. “Our alumni do such a good job in the community that we’re honoured to have them play as well,” he said. “First responders will be part of the game, so really excited.” Sedin adds that Saturday’s pregame festivities begin outside Rogers Arena at 12 p.m., including street hockey, live entertainment and the players from the team entering the building on another blue carpet. In a statement on the team’s website, Canucks Sports and Entertainment president Michael Doyle said the fans are “what makes Rogers Arena feel like home,” and echoed Sedin’s excitement to welcome them back. “We’re deeply grateful for the passion and support our fans continue to show year after year. Their energy drives everything we do, and this weekend is about celebrating that connection between the team and the community.” Sedin said all proceeds from the fan festival go to the Canucks for Kids Fund, which is celebrating its fortieth anniversary. He didn’t confirm he’ll be on the blue carpet, but Daniel said he and his brother Henrik will be around for the festivities. “It’s good there is two of us, so we can split up,” he added. More firsts While the event is a first-time thing, according to the team, Sedin expressed excitement about other firsts for the Canucks this year. Notably, 2026-27 is the team’s first season led by general manager Ryan Johnson, head coach Manny Malhotra and the co-presidency of Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Sedin said the team is lucky to have Johnson on board as GM. “He’s done a great job so far, and his whole staff has really again been bought into what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to do something special here moving forward,” he said. “It’s been an exciting almost five months now for us at this job, so we’re excited with the players we have and the coaching staff and everything. Looking ahead to the season, Sedin said it’s going to be a lot of fun watching the roster they’ve put together, expressing his happiness with having players that “want to play for the Vancouver Canucks.” “They’re a tight group that’s going to stand up for each other,” he said. “It’s easy doing all the good things and the right things when things go well, but we want to see them also do the right things when things go bad in the season, because it does for any team.” “Where we are right now, we want to see a group that is building something together.” Last season, the Canucks traded their captain, Quinn Hughes, to the Minnesota Wild for three young players and a first round pick and finished dead last with a 25-49-8 record. Barring a surprise announcement, the Canucks will play the first game of the season without a captain, as they’ve yet to name a successor to Hughes. The Canucks regular season starts at home on Sept. 26 against the Seattle Kraken.
