Today in 1996, the Vancouver Canucks hired Tom Renney as the 13th head coach in franchise history.

Renney’s time behind the bench, however, was short-lived lasting only 101 games. It was Renney’s first pro head coaching gig.

He had spent two seasons with the Kamloops Blazers and in the WHL, Renney was wildly successful in just two seasons there winning back-to-back President’s Cups as league championships and a Memorial Cup championship to boot.

Renney left the Blazers in 1992 and took over coaching Team Canada on the international stage.

Hired to replace Pat Quinn behind the bench, Renney struggled mightily in his first year as the Canucks posted a 35-40-7 record in 1996-97. Vancouver didn’t qualify for the playoffs that year after the club made the playoffs in six prior years.

The next year, things weren’t much better. Vancouver once again faltered and after only winning four of the first 19 games, Renney was fired.

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