GRAND FORKS — Dane Jackson thought it was a prank.
Vancouver Canucks vice president of hockey operations George McPhee called Jackson in December 1993 and told the former UND player he was being called up to the NHL for the first time.
"We're going to call you up to Vancouver," Jackson recalled hearing from McPhee. "You have a flight out of Toronto pretty quick. Here's your flight number. You have a car service to catch."
Jackson wasn't convinced.
"I was going like, 'Uh huh. Yep. OK,'" Jackson said.
Earlier that season, someone on the Hamilton Canucks played a prank on defenseman Phil Von Stefenelli, saying he got called up.
He came to the arena with a huge suitcase that day.
"Our coach was Jack McIhargey, an old tough guy," Jackson said. "He said (to Von Stefenelli), 'What the hell