MESSIER SIGNING ROCKS THE CANUCKS' TICKET OFFICE

          The Canucks "continued to reap instant dividends from
     the signing of Mark Messier," according to Elliott Pap in
     the VANCOUVER SUN.  Team Dir of Sales & Service John Rocha
     said the team sold more than 150 season tickets, including
     11- and 15-game packs, on the second day after Messier's
     signing.  Rocha: "It was a huge day, the biggest I can
     remember.  We haven't been able to handle all the calls and
     we've had to put extra people on the phones."  Rocha said
     the team yesterday sold 80 full-season packages and another
     75 11- and 15-game packs.  Rocha: "We're approaching 11,000
     season tickets, or equivalents ... If we can get that number
     as high as the 13,000 mark, we'll be looking at a sellout
     position for most games" (VANCOUVER SUN, 7/30).