Canucks Plan John Garrett Tribute Against Hurricanes

The Vancouver Canucks will honor former goaltender and longtime broadcaster John Garrett when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Rogers Arena on Tuesday. The tribute will feature scoreboard videos, special T-shirts worn by players, and a pregame meal inspired by Garrett's favorite foods, celebrating his contributions to the franchise as both a player and a commentator. According to Daily Hive, the team will extend the commemoration beyond the ice to include staff members and media personnel in the press box.

Their pregame meal will feature several of Garrett's favorite dishes, including ketchup, a condiment closely associated with the broadcaster throughout his career. Garrett played three seasons with the Hartford Whalers and another three with the Canucks. The Whalers later became the Hurricanes, making the matchup between the two franchises a fitting occasion to recognize his playing career and his longstanding connection to Vancouver hockey.

After retiring as a player, Garrett became a color commentator for the Canucks, a role he held for more than two decades. His broadcasts with play-by-play announcer John Shorthouse frequently featured lighthearted exchanges about his fondness for ketchup, particularly during difficult stretches of games.

One of Garrett's most memorable stories involved taking ketchup onto the ice during an NHL game. According to Daily Hive, he had concealed a fully dressed hot dog inside his goalie pads when he was called upon to replace Dan Bouchard of the Quebec Nordiques. The incident became a memorable part of Garrett's reputation among Canucks fans, linking his love of ketchup with an unusual moment from his playing days. The planned meal for media members will incorporate that familiar detail into the team's broader tribute.

Garrett's connection to both franchises spans his time in the NHL as a goaltender and his subsequent broadcasting career in Vancouver. Tuesday's game against the Hurricanes will bring those chapters together as the Canucks recognize his legacy through in-arena tributes and a meal reflecting his well-known personal tastes.