SAUVE SET TO MAKE HISTORY

More info on Yann Sauve’s National Hockey League debut continues to roll in.

Rogers Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy has been in beast mode today, posting up a storm on Twitter. Murphy reports that Sauve will wear No. 47 as he has in the past with the Vancouver Canucks during exhibition games.

Some other stuff, including the defense pairings:

Of course, what is bad news for Andrew Alberts is probably good news for Sauve. The Canucks are currently missing four other defensemen along Alberts and his broken wrist: Dan Hamhuis (concussion), Keith Ballard (knee sprain), Alex Edler (back surgery), and Lee Sweatt (foot fracture).

From Nucks Misconduct:

These injuries and fourth line holes have made it a rookie parade which continues tonight with Yann Sauve playing his first NHL game as our 12th blueliner this season. Coincidentally Sauve was paired with Sami Salo just last week with the Moose. Since the bottom pairings are going to be notably weak, Bieksa and Ehrhoff will probably flirt with 30 minutes TOI again.

While Sauve will be the first Saint John Sea Dog to appear in a NHL game, the 20-year old will be making Victoria Salmon Kings history as well. From VicNews.com:

Take note hockey fans, Yann Sauve’s debut as a Vancouver Cancuk against the Minnesota Wild tonight (Feb. 15) is a piece of history for the Victoria Salmon Kings organization.

Sauve will be the first Salmon King to climb the organizational ladder from the ECHL to AHL (Manitoba Moose) to the NHL's Canucks.

Trivia buffs back off, the three minutes former Salmon Kings’ goalie Rob McVicar played for Vancouver in 2005-06 was emergency stuff. Sauve is a bona fide NHL prospect.

Sea Dogs president Wayne Long chimed in on what will be a proud and historic moment for the still-young junior hockey franchise.

“Yann is an outstanding hockey player, but more importantly he’s an outstanding young man. He’s a great ambassador for our organization and I’m looking forward to watching him play many more games in the National Hockey League,” said Long in a team release.

“We’re extremely proud of how far Yann has come. To think back to when he arrived here as a 16-year-old and to see his progress to date, that’s what junior hockey is all about,” Long said. “We’re proud when anyone from our organization moves on to the next level, whether it’s in hockey or in life. But there’s something extra special about the NHL. It’s what every kid dreams of, and we hope to see many more of our alumni there in the future.”

The Canucks, currently the best team in the NHL, take on the Minnesota Wild tonight at 9:00 pm on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific. If you don’t have the NHL package or whatever the game is probably blacked out. Gotta love Sportsnet.

The crew at ‘Nucks Misconduct’ have a game preview.

Photo Credit: Dan Murphy