Victory Belongs To Thor And Canucks

04/29/09 11:57am

by Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

Mighty marketer Jon Mikl Thor is muscling in on the Vancouver Canucks' Stanley Cup playoff run with the "Vancouver Millionaires" single/video and his new Vulcan Sky Records album, Sign Of The V.

The record was originally scheduled to come out next year to coincide with the Olympics being staged in Thor's hometown, but the Canucks requested the use of "Vancouver Millionaires" as a motivator and team promotional tool as part of the "Let's Do It Again" campaign.

Thor can kick Gary Glitter's pedophiliac ass, and "Vancouver Millionaires" should replace "Rock And Roll Part 2" as the anthem to get laid-back west coasters pumped about their team.

The Canucks are playing the album's first track at games and promoting Sign Of The V at the team's stores. It's being played 25 times a week by TEAM 1040 Sports Radio, which is also running commercial spots recorded by Thor.

Sign Of The V was recorded early this year at Burkeville Sound in Burnaby, B.C. with producer Ken Burke (Randy Bachman, Moist).

Music and sports retailers are cross-promoting Sign Of The V and Vancouver Millionaires sports wear, which Thor owns the rights to. If you buy the album, you'll get a Millionaires T-shirt. If you buy Millionaires gear, you'll receive the record, too.

The 'V' is a symbol with many meanings for Thor. As a Roman numeral, it represents his fifth decade as a self-described "rock icon." It also stands for victory, and he'd like the Canucks to rack up many of those. 'V' can also represent peace, which Thor wants more of in the world (and who wouldn't want to make peace with a guy who can bend steel bars with his teeth?). Finally, a 'V' logo appeared on the jersey of the hockey team whose spirit Thor has resurrected: the Vancouver Millionaires.

The Millionaires (later called the Maroons) competed in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the Western Canada Hockey League between 1911 and 1926. The team won Vancouver's one and only Stanley Cup in 1915 when they swept the Ottawa Senators in three straight games.

There was no top-level professional hockey in Vancouver until the Canucks joined the NHL in 1970. The team has made it to the league final twice, but came up short against the New York Islanders in 1982 and the New York Rangers in 1994. The Canucks' third jerseys feature a 'V' on the sleeve to honour the Millionaires.

The Vancouver Giants junior hockey team (co-owned by Michael Buble) donned Millionaires uniforms in a game last November to recognize the pioneering team led by Hockey Hall Of Famer Fred "Cyclone" Taylor.

On a somewhat related note, Thor believes he belongs in the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame. Again, who'd want to argue with the bodybuilding metal artist?

Here's the "Vancouver Millionaires" video:

Here's why you must respect Thor:

You can witness Thor's rock here:

May 27 San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
May 30 Burbank, CA @ Monsterpalooza Festival
June 5 Solvesborg, Sweden @ Sweden Rock Festival
June 7 Tampere, Finland @ Sauna Open Air Festival
June 13 Tyrolen, Sweden @ Muskel Rock Festival
April 23-24, 2010 Lauda-Konigshofen, Germany @ Keep It True XIII Festival

Here are the songs on Sign Of The V:

"Vancouver Millionaires"
"I Want More"
"Pump Energy Man"
"Primetime Hero"
"Invader"
"Power US"
"Stay Young Feel Young"
"Eyes On The Cup"
"V Is For Victory"
"Crimson King"