The Vancouver Canucks are doing damage control after a computer glitch promised free Heritage Classic tickets to hundreds of youth hockey players by mistake.
An email from Canucks Community Partnerships went out to hundreds of minor hockey teams Tuesday inviting them to take part in a giveaway draw for Sunday’s game at BC Place.
Every team that entered received a response with the same good news.
“Congratulations, your Minor Hockey Teams tickets (50) will be ready for pick up at the Rogers Arena Will Call Window,” the emails read. “We look forward to seeing you there!”
Vancouver Canucks vice-president of communications Chris Brumwell said the replies went out in error, but by the time staff noticed it was too late.
The free tickets were donated by the NHL for local hockey teams and charities, in limited supply.
“More teams had applied than we actually had tickets available,” Brumwell said. “We immediately turned it off and worked quickly to contact the teams as fast as we could.”
The Canucks confirmed it will accommodate 200 of the teams that applied, but another 150 won’t be attending the match up against the Ottawa Senators.
Abbotsford Jets coach Anthony Bucci’s team was among the ones shut out.
“I was very disappointed obviously. I told a couple kids on the team and they were super excited and happy. These kids will probably never get a chance to see a game like this in such a setting,” Bucci said.
“As a coach, to give them the bad news, it’s hard.”
Brumwell said the Canucks are eager to make it up to all the disappointed players, and are considering options including inviting them to sit in on a practice and providing free tickets to a game next season.
“With kids, we want to inspire them,” he said. “To have this happen with a program that was really great, and to have it roll out like this is really unfortunate.”
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Shannon Paterson
