Movember Edition: Who has the Greatest Facial Hair in Canucks History?
Alex Rickman November 10th, 2022
Facial hair has been an integral part of hockey for years. From covering the scars of pucks and sticks taken to the face, to the ever-important playoff beard, it’s a known fact that hockey just wouldn’t be the same without the glorious beards and moustaches donning players' faces. Movember has also become an important time, not only in the hockey world but for men around the world to grow their moustaches to support men's health. As Movember is now upon us, let’s take this time to look through Canucks history and find the best moustaches and beards that have donned the faces of Canucks players through the years. To determine whose facial hair reigns supreme, we first have to look into who the contenders to the throne are. Here are, in my opinion, the three main candidates, and one honourable mention
Dave Babych
One of the contenders for the greatest moustache in NHL history, Babych is remembered not only as an important part of the defence that led the Canucks to the finals in 1994, but also for the glorious walrus moustache gracing his upper lip. With his hard-nosed, no-nonsense style of hockey, a bushy, no-nonsense walrus moustache makes all too much sense for this man. Babych, now working with the Canucks as an assistant director of player personnel, can still be seen sporting this moustache to this day, albeit with some more grey than it had in the 90s.
Harold Snepsts
One of the members of the Canucks ring of honour, Harold Snepsts was a staple of the Canucks defence through the 1970s and 80s, Returning for a brief second stint with the team for the 1988-89 and 89-90 seasons. Snepsts made the Campbell Conference All-Star team when Vancouver hosted the game in 1977. As well remembered as he is for his play, Snepsts is remembered almost as well for the moustache he donned during his playing days. His thick, black moustache added to the legend of Harold. While he may be known for his physicality, it’s difficult, if not impossible to beat Babych or Snepsts for the top spot, but beards can’t be ignored either. We’ll look into two of the greatest beards the Canucks, and possibly professional hockey as a whole, have ever seen.
Jordie Benn
While his on-ice product as a member of the Vancouver Canucks was nothing to write home about, BC native Jordie Benn’s beard game was never lacking. Despite the on-ice struggles, Benn’s lumberjack beard was always on point, showing up whether his play was or not. It’s a shame that Benn never found his game with the Canucks, but Canucks fans will always have his glorious beard to look back upon fondly.
Colton Saucerman
Although technically never a Canuck, only being signed to an AHL contract to play for the Canucks then affiliate Utica Comets, this list would feel incomplete without Saucerman. Saucerman immediately gained attention from fans and media alike upon arriving in Utica, not for his play, but from a sense of pure fascination with the man. Partly for his truly epic name, but more so for the beard reminiscent of that of Yukon Cornelius he was sporting with the Comets. Saucerman, a fan favourite in Utica, only spent 24 games with the Canucks affiliate before returning to the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. He is still remembered fondly for the incredible chin curtain he sported, and it’s hard to imagine a better beard coming along for the Canucks-or any organization for that matter, for quite some time, if ever.
Honourable Mention: Johnny Canuck
Johnny Canuck, the namesake for the team and logo of the WHL-era Vancouver Canucks, famously can be seen sporting a legendary lumberjack beard in every logo the Canucks have had him featured in. While not a player, technically making him ineligible for the title of greatest facial hair in franchise history, Johnny Canuck earns a mention on this list no matter what, as without him the identity of the team as we know it would be entirely different.
Verdict
I would love to pick Saucerman for this title, as I do believe he has the greatest facial hair in hockey history, but because he was never officially signed to the Canucks I can’t in good conscience pick him. Therefore, with Saucerman deemed ineligible, the clear winner of greatest facial hair in Canucks history has to go to the man, the myth, the legendary moustache, Dave Babych.
Harold Snepsts and Jordie Benn make convincing cases, but the elite walrus moustache donned by Dave Babych is right up there with those of Lanny McDonald and Filip Forsberg as one of the best ever seen in the NHL.
While moustaches for NHL players are becoming less and less common these days, they are yet to go extinct. All we can do is hope that one day, moustaches like those of Babych and Snepsts can make a comeback to the NHL.