Sipping from hockey's Holy Grail was an experience that eluded Russ Courtnall. Nevertheless, his speed and puck-handling ability made him an exciting player to watch, from his Junior Cougar days in Victoria, throughout his 16-year National Hockey League career. Russ and older brother Geoff form one of the most prolific and long-lasting brother combinations in NHL history. Each played more than 1,000 games and together they scored 664 regular season goals. Russ Courtnall's talent was evident early on as he skated and competed on par with players much older. While he enjoyed playing soccer and baseball, once he devoted himself to hockey it was clear he would catch the eye of the professional scouts. The Toronto Maple Leafs were particularly interested and selected him seventh overall in the 1983 draft when he was 17 and playing junior hockey. He scored 66 points in 32 games with the Cougars the following season, joined the Canadian national team before being called up by the Leafs for good. He spent four more full seasons with the Toronto before being dealt to Montreal. The Habs went to the 1989 Cup final that year but lost out to the Calgary Flames. Russ played for four more NHL clubs including Minnesota, Dallas, Vancouver and New York. As well, he represented Canada in world competitions four times as a junior and pro. He had nine 20 goals or better seasons, finishing with 297 goals along with 447 assists by the time he retired in 1999 as a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

For a guy bypassed in the National Hockey League draft following a solid final year of major junior hockey, Geoff Courtnall accomplished a great deal in a 17-year NHL career. The gritty winger, with a nose for the net, played for five teams along the way including Boston, Washington, Vancouver, St. Louis and Edmonton, where he won a Stanley Cup in a brief stop with the Oilers. He scored more than 30 goals six times and his teams made the playoffs every season he played. His NHL regular season totals of 367 goals and 432 assists make him Victoria's highest scoring NHLer by a slim margin over younger brother, Russ. Geoff who was in a 1983 graduating class that included Steve Yzerman and Pat Lafontaine was passed over in the draft. Boston took a flyer on the six-foot-one, 195-pound Oak Bay native, signing him that summer as a free agent. In just two seasons he had a full-time job with the Bruins, who kept him until late in the 1987-88 season before trading him to Edmonton. After winning a Cup with Wayne Gretzky and company, Courtnall bounced from Washington to St. Louis and then Vancouver, where the fan favourite helped the Canucks reach the Cup finals in 1994. Geoff rejoined the Blues for his last five seasons before an injury forced his retirement at age 37 in the 1999-2000 season.