Vancouver, BC - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced the promotion of Chris Gear to Assistant General Manager & Chief Legal Officer today. Gear will work closely with Benning, Assistant General Manager John Weisbrod, and the Canucks Hockey Operations executive in the day to day management of the team.

Gear, 47, has spent the past four seasons within the Hockey Operations executive, responsible for player contract negotiations, the club's AHL affiliation with the Utica Comets and the business operations of the team. Gear has worked a total of nine years at Canucks Sports & Entertainment (CSE) as Vice President and General Counsel and will continue to preside over both legal and insurance matters related to CSE.

"We're fortunate to have a very talented and experienced Hockey Operations staff," said Benning. "Chris Gear has made a significant contribution to our Hockey Operations executive over four years and we're pleased to recognize his efforts and have him continue to provide his experience and support."

Prior to joining CSE in 2010, Gear worked as Director and Senior Legal Counsel of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC). The first six years of his legal career were spent withBlake, Cassels & Graydon LLP.