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Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced today that the club has signed forward Carsen Twarynski to a one-year contract ahead of the 2024-25 AHL season.

Twarynski, 26, has skated in 276 AHL regular season games between Lehigh Valley, Charlotte, Coachella Valley and Bridgeport, recording 44 goals, 46 assists and 165 penalty minutes. He has also skated in 35 AHL postseason games, including 26 with Coachella Valley during their Calder Cup Final run in 2023. The Calgary, Alberta native also brings NHL experience to Abbotsford, having played 22 games with the Philadelphia Flyers between 2019 and 2021.

The 6-2, 198-pound winger split the 2023-24 campaign evenly between Austria and the AHL, skating in 27 games for the Vienna Capitals (ICEHL) and finishing the season playing 27 games for the Bridgeport Islanders.

Twarynski was selected by Philadelphia in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and was also selected in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft from Philadelphia by the Seattle Kraken. Prior to making his AHL debut with Lehigh Valley in 2017, he spent five full seasons in the Western Hockey League between his hometown Calgary Hitmen and the Kelowna Rockets.


Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced today that the club has signed forward Carsen Twarynski to a one-year contract.

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CANUCKS SIGN TWARYNSKI TO ONE-YEAR AHL CONTRACT

Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced today that the club has signed defenceman Layton Ahac to a one-year contract ahead of the 2024-25 AHL season.

Ahac, 23, has spent the entirety of his professional career with the Henderson Silver Knights, having amassed 148 AHL regular season games played with 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) and 59 penalty minutes. He has also skated in three Calder Cup Playoff games for Henderson, recording one goal and two penalty minutes.

The North Vancouver native was selected in the third round (86th overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights, after winning a BCHL championship with the Prince George Spruce Kings the same year. He spent two seasons with the Spruce Kings, earning BCHL All-Rookie Team honours in 2017-18 as well as BCHL Second All-Star Team honours in 2018-19.

Before signing an entry-level contract with Vegas in 2021, the 6-2, 205-pound defender played two NCAA campaigns with Ohio State (Big-10), skating in 63 collegiate games between 2019-2021 while recording 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) and 46 penalty minutes. 


Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced today that the club has signed defenceman Layton Ahac to a one-year contract.

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CANUCKS SIGN AHAC TO ONE-YEAR AHL CONTRACT

Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced today that the club has signed forward Dino Kambeitz to a one-year contract ahead of the 2024-25 AHL season.

Kambeitz, 24, has spent the entirety of his professional career with the Bakersfield Condors, having amassed 172 AHL regular season games played with 44 points (22 goals, 22 assists) and 91 penalty minutes. He has also skated in eight Calder Cup Playoff games for the Condors, recording three points (one goal, two assists) and two penalty minutes. 

The 6-2, 212-pound winger played four full major junior seasons in the Western Hockey League, splitting two seasons between the Victoria Royals and Lethbridge Hurricanes, respectively. The Parker, Colorado native also served as captain of the Hurricanes during his overage season in 2020-21, before signing an AHL contract with Bakersfield as an undrafted free agent.

CANUCKS SIGN KAMBEITZ TO ONE-YEAR AHL CONTRACT

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Abbotsford, BC – The American Hockey League (AHL) announced today its 2024.25 regular season schedule. The Abbotsford Canucks will open their season in Calgary on Friday, October 11, for a two-game set, before heading to Loveland, CO on Friday, October 18 to take on the Colorado Eagles on the 18th and 19th. Abbotsford’s home opener is set for Friday, October 25 at 7:00pm when the Canucks host the San Diego Gulls. 

Following the two-game set against the Gulls on October 25 and 26, Abbotsford will host the Tucson Roadrunners on October 29 and 30, with both games starting at 7:00pm. 

[Click here](https://abbotsford.canucks.com/schedule) for the complete list of dates and opponents for the 2024.25 regular season. 

**Key Matchup Info** 

Abbotsford will both start and end the season on the road, with their first four games away from Abbotsford Centre and their last three matchups taking place in Southern California (Bakersfield, Coachella Valley, and Ontario, respectively). 

Of Abbotsford’s 72 games, 64 of them will be played against Pacific Division opponents. The eight games versus non-division opponents are splits between the Manitoba Moose (two home, two road) and the Laval Rocket (two home, two road). 

The division rival Calgary Wranglers will face Abbotsford more than any other opponent. Both teams will open their respective campaigns in Calgary when facing off on October 11, while Abbotsford will host the Wranglers in three two-game sets, including their final two home games of the season on April 11 and 12. 

**Season at a Glance **

Familiar Faces: Former Vancouver Canuck Manny Malhotra re-joins the organization as Abbotsford’s new Head Coach while captain Chase Wouters returns for a fourth season, having signed a two-year contract extension. Wouters and returning alternate captain John Stevens are both expected to reach their 200th regular season games played milestones for Abbotsford in 2024.25 as they represent the franchise’s top two longest tenured skaters (Wouters - 196 games played, Stevens – 179 games played). 

‘Home Sweet’: Abbotsford will have three season-long six game homestands in 2024.25, with the first starting Saturday, December 7 against Colorado at 7:00pm and ending on Saturday, December 21 versus Tucson at 2:00pm. 

Family SunDAY: Abbotsford’s home schedule features six Sunday games, each of which will have 4:00pm puck drops, a perfect time for the whole family to catch all the action. 

O Canada: Almost 28%, or 20/72 games in 2024.25 will be played against Canadian opponents, Calgary Wranglers, Laval Rocket, and Manitoba Moose. 

Hittin’ the Road: Abbotsford will have two season-long six game road trips in 2024.25, with the first beginning on Tuesday, November 19 in Bakersfield and wrapping up on Saturday, November 30 in San Jose. 

‘California Stars’: The 2025 AHL All-Star Classic will be hosted at Acrisure Arena, home of the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Palm Desert, CA from February 2-3. Last season, the Canucks were represented by Surrey, BC native Arshdeep Bains, who led all scorers in the round-robin style tournament with five points (2-3-5) and was named the All-Star Challenge’s Most Valuable Player. 

To sign up for early-access to single-game tickets, [CLICK HERE](https://tradablebits.com/tb_app/507787
 ). For more information on full season, half season, and mini memberships, [CLICK HERE](https://ticket.abbotsfordcanucks.ca/membership?membership-tab=Full).  

 

ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS ANNOUNCE 2024.25 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE 

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It was another strong year in North America for Linus Karlsson and with it comes a one-year contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.

The 24-year-old forward scored 23 goals and added 37 assists to be a point-per-game player in his 60 AHL games. He also made his NHL debut, followed by three more regular season games with the Canucks and a pair of appearances during the playoff run. 

Karlsson has made significant changes to his play style since joining the Abbotsford Canucks before the 2022-23 season. He gives a lot of credit to the Abby coaching staff and the Sedin twins for their work on improving his play around the net and making him tougher in the corners.

“It was a big difference, and I am a different player now,” reminisced Karlsson about his two seasons of pro hockey in North America. “I was always a half-wall player in Sweden and now I’m a net-front guy and I like it more. I like to be there, and I want to be there because that’s where most goals are from. I also had to take big steps on the walls and learn to be better at protecting pucks. And defensively, you’ve got to win battles and protect the net because it’s tighter here.”

The substantial difference that Karlsson has seen is how coaches work with him in Abbotsford is that they are preparing him to be an NHL player. In years past, his strengths were leaned on for production and wins but since he’s joined the Abbotsford Canucks, the focus has been on improving the skills that will give him success at the NHL level.

“The Sedins and Jeff Ulmer have been really helpful for me. I’m always trying to listen to them and do my best so that I can be a full-time player in the NHL. That’s what I want and that’s why I’m working hard to take a step this summer. The main goal is to be stronger overall but also focus on my first three strides — that is what I’m working on right now,” Karlsson said.

The development over his two years in the AHL helped him make his debut at the NHL level, and it was a dream come true for the 6’1” Swede.

“That first lap was amazing, I was trying to take it in because it is something I’ve dreamed about. It was really cool, and something I'm going to remember forever. I was really excited to get that opportunity and it helped me a lot during the season too. To get that first game made me feel like I am close.”

The proximity of Abbotsford to Vancouver helped keep Karlsson motivated. Knowing that management is just a one-hour drive away keeps the players in Abbotsford hungry for what they can achieve with a strong season and commitment to playing Canucks Hockey.

“I like everything about the organization; all the staff, the atmosphere at the rink, the fans, and the city,” said Karlsson. “And in Abbotsford, everyone wants to help you get to the NHL. The organization has done a great job developing me and my game in my two years. So, I'm really excited to come back for my third year now and improve even more to show them how badly I want to be a full-time NHLer.”

Those NHL games opened Karlsson’s eyes to what he must accomplish this summer. He did not waste any time getting back on the ice and is focused on improving his foot speed. With added strength and agility, Karlsson can then use his good shot and strong hands around the crease to make an impact at the NHL level.

His few weeks in the NHL were beneficial for him to develop a relationship with Rick Tocchet and the rest of the Canucks’ coaching staff.

“The coaching staff in Vancouver is so good. I learned so much there and what I liked was how they just wanted to win so badly. The winning mentality was something I liked from the coaches, and they are all winners. You can see it from how they teach the small details. It was great to see how hard everyone works and that is somewhere I really want to be.”

This summer presents an opportunity for Karlsson to hone his craft and continue to build towards achieving his goal of becoming a full-time NHL player. He wants to make an impact at Canucks training camp and show that he can be a versatile player who can contribute on both special teams' units and be trusted in his own zone at even strength. 

Karlsson is spending his summer back in Sweden. Aside from working out and skating, he has been around his family a ton and is enjoying the time he gets to spend with them after being away for most of the year. 

As for his Canucks family, Karlsson is spending a lot of time with Nils Höglander. The two don't live very far away from each other and spend some of their downtime fishing. They are joined by Nils Åman from time to time when he comes to visit.

After a pair of strong developmental seasons in the AHL, Karlsson is ready to take on the next step and try to turn his cup of coffee in the NHL into a full season at the highest level.

‘I’m a different player now’: Linus Karlsson Continues Taking Steps Towards NHL

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Jonathan Lekkerimäki performed at a higher level this season and showed why he was deserving to be selected 15th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

He was named Most Valuable Player of the World Junior Championships, had the most goals, assists, and points in the SHL from a player under the age of 20, and got himself a six-game AHL stint to get used to the North American pro game.

All-in-all, the year went quite well for the youngster who will turn 20 this July.

Health was a major factor in the turnaround for Lekkerimäki. He was able to build muscle last summer and keep it on so that he could be reliable throughout the year with his SHL club Örebro.

He scored 19 goals and added 12 assists in the season but was most proud of how he took steps on the defensive side of the ice.

“I improved my play off the puck and my overall game,” said Lekkerimäki about what progression he is most proud of this season. “I think that was where I took the biggest step last year.”

Lekkerimäki enjoyed his SHL season and believes that he took the right steps in development at this point in his career. While putting in the work and improving his play without the puck is most important, he also admitted that it is fun to score goals.

The 19-year-old worked his way into the AHL lineup for six games this past season and notched a goal and an assist with the Abbotsford Canucks. Though his time was short with Abbotsford, he learned a lot of valuable lessons and feels that the time spent in the AHL will help him hit the ground running in the fall.

“It was a good experience for me to play a few games in the AHL and I learned that it's a tough league, it is a fast league and [there is] a lot of physical play. It was good to play in those types of games,” Lekkerimäki said.

This summer is an important one for the young winger as he looks to transition his game to playing in a smaller rink full-time. Lekkerimäki has never prepared for a season of pro hockey in North America but did learn a lot about what worked well for him to stay physically fit and healthy last season.

He did not take much time off for the offseason and started his offseason training at the end of May. This long runway will give Lekkerimäki a chance to come into training camp and show that he can fit in with the NHL and AHL players at camp.

“I need to get stronger and bigger so I can take some hits and make some hits too,” said Lekkerimäki about coming over the pond and playing in North America. “I like to be a physical player, maybe the most when I’m mad.”

Improving his skating is another offseason goal for Lekkerimäki so that he will be able to create space for himself in the North American game.

When asked about what he wants to show to the Canucks’ coaches at training camp, Lekkerimäki spoke about wanting to display his strengths and letting them see the type of player that he can be.

One of the strengths of Lekkerimäki’s game is his work on the man advantage. He primarily played the left half-wall in the SHL but saw time in the bumper with Abbotsford in his AHL stint.

“I love playing with the puck on my stick,” said Lekkerimäki about his favourite part of being on a power play unit. “I like the man-advantage because we are getting lots of pressure on the goalies and then hopefully scoring too.”

Lekkerimäki has seen his confidence steadily rise throughout the 2023-24 hockey year and he now takes all his good vibes into the offseason, where he is already working to prepare himself for the new challenge of playing his rookie season in North America.

Next year is certainly not going to be easy for the 19-year-old but there is a support system in place from the organization to give him the best chance to develop and grow his game.

Building Blue: Jonathan Lekkerimäki Prepares for North America in the Next Chapter of his Young Hockey Career

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Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced today that the club has signed goaltender Jonathan Lemieux to a one-year contract extension ahead of the 2024-25 AHL season.

“Jonathan had a very productive rookie season with Kalamazoo, and we are happy with the progression we have seen him achieve over the past year,” said Johnson. “We are looking forward to having him continue to provide value and depth for us at the goaltending position.”

Lemieux, 23, spent the entirety of the 2023-24 under contract to Abbotsford while on loan to the club’s ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings. As a rookie, he led Kalamazoo’s goalies in games played (39) and saves (1,036) while ranking third among ECHL rookies in save percentage (.911). He commanded a 17-16-3 record during the regular season along with a 2.84 goals-against average and two shutouts. He played one Kelly Cup Playoff game for Kalamazoo, before being recalled by Abbotsford after the Wings were eliminated in the first round of the postseason.

Originally acquired as an undrafted free agent, the Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec native played one season at Concordia University (U Sports) where he earned OUA East division honours as Goaltender of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2022-23. He also spent five major junior seasons in the QMJHL with Val-d’Or, Saint John and Moncton, earning QMJHL Second Team All-Star honours in 2020-21.


Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced that the club has signed goaltender Jonathan Lemieux to a one-year contract extension.

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CANUCKS SIGN LEMIEUX TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION

Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced today that the club has signed forward and team captain Chase Wouters to a two-year contract extension through the end of the 2025-26 AHL season.

“Chase has been an integral part of growing and maintaining the culture we want here in Abbotsford,” said Johnson. “His contributions on and off the ice are a testament to both his abilities and his character. We are thrilled that Chase has committed to leading this team and continuing to develop within our organization.”

Wouters, 24, has spent the entirety of his professional career with Abbotsford to date, having joined the club during its inaugural season in 2021-22. He has served as captain for the past two seasons, and is Abbotsford’s franchise leader in all-time regular season games played (196), postseason games played (14) and postseason penalty minutes (21).

The 6-0, 185-pound centre has been the recipient of the club’s “Man of the Year Award” in back-to-back seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24) as Abbotsford’s nominee for the AHL’s Yanick Dupré Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions to his local community and charitable organizations. Wouters has notably volunteered with the Chilliwack Bowls of Hope Society, visited patients at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre, championed the Abbotsford Canucks KidsPlay Skate, and supported countless other charitable and non-profit organizations in the Fraser Valley.

“I’m incredibly thrilled to return to Abbotsford for another two years,” said Wouters. “It’s a true honour to extend this journey alongside the amazing teammates, fans and staff. I’m looking forward to seeing them all soon.”

A native of Lloydminster, Alberta, Wouters originally joined the organization by signing a one-year AHL contract on July 22, 2021. Wouters was acquired as a free agent after completing his overage major junior campaign with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League. In a combined eight seasons between Saskatoon and Abbotsford, he has served five seasons as captain of his team.


General Manager, Ryan Johnson, announced today that the club has signed forward and team captain Chase Wouters to a two-year contract extension.

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CANUCKS SIGN WOUTERS TO TWO-YEAR AHL CONTRACT EXTENSION

Manny Malhotra was 60 seconds removed from a call with Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet when he hopped on the line to chat about his new role as the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks. 

“He’s a ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of guy and is deeply passionate about the game,” said Malhotra about Tocchet. “He loves the game, loves his players, and wants to see them be successful.”

Tocchet let Malhotra know that his phone is always open for a call and that there is an elevated level of expectation for development at the AHL level from this current Canucks management team. 

“Tocc was expressing how well the Abbotsford-Vancouver connection is working in the short time that he's been with the Canucks. I'm looking forward to working with Tocc and picking his brain on the way he sees the game. You can see their level of play is just the way the game is going, and I want to learn how he got them to buy into that system,” said Malhotra. 

After an NHL career that spanned 16 seasons and saw 991 games played, Malhotra moved into a development role with the Vancouver Canucks before the 2016-17 season. He moved on to be an assistant coach with the Canucks from 2017-2020 and then took on a role with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant coach from 2020-2024. 

“Having been an assistant for years now; learning from different coaches, seeing things that work and don't work – I feel that it is time to implement those things and run my own shop and take that next step in my career,” said Malhotra. “So obviously, coming to an organization that I'm familiar with makes things a lot easier and knowing the people that I get a chance to work with makes it exciting. I am really looking forward to it.” 

Two of the people Malhotra is familiar with are Daniel and Henrik Sedin. The two Hall of Famers spend plenty of time out in Abbotsford working on a variety of developmental projects. They have committed a lot of their time to making the Canucks’ AHL-NHL pipeline strong and we are beginning to see the work show up at the NHL level – Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, and Nils Höglander being a couple of examples this past season. 

Malhotra will be running his shop which features many young players. 

Elias Pettersson, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Josh Bloom, Aätu Räty, Danila Klimovich, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and Ty Mueller are all examples of players who are 21 or younger and will be in the most important developmental years of their young hockey careers. 

There are also plenty of 22 to 25-year-olds who are on the brink of getting their first chance at the NHL level or potentially even earning a full-time job at the NHL level if the scenario arises. 

Malhotra believes that these young players take the next step in their game once they understand the life that comes with being a pro player. He calls it ‘learned behaviour’ and that it’s about having a dedicated focus instead of just showing up for practice time. These players have skill, but a focus of Malhotra’s is going to be showing these players the way that will not only get them to the NHL but be able to stay there once they make it. 

“My mantra for myself for my team, especially a young team, is the mindset of, we got to be better than yesterday and just focus on daily improvements as a group. For me, that goes a long way. That means your practice habits get better, the intensity gets sharper, and you're better from one game to the next. If you have that mentality of incrementally getting better on a daily basis, over the course of time, that results in some major achievements and major differences in your team,” he said. 

Taking a wider lens on the AHL situation, Malhotra is excited about the augmented expectations and higher pressure that is coming from management for success in their AHL development. He takes it on as a privilege to be trusted to work with these young players in achieving their goals. 

“First off, pressure is a privilege. For me personally, it would not be fun if there was no pressure involved. If there was no mandate to be successful or no mandate to produce players and help players get to that next level. It wouldn't be fun for me. I feel a great level of gratitude and am very thankful that they trusted me enough to be a part of it. I know how important the AHL development piece is for the organization and for them to entrust me with that, I take a lot of pride in that,” Malhotra said.

“So, right from there, it makes me want to be successful and that makes me want to prove to them that they were right with their decision. I want to help this organization continue down that path of developing young players and getting them in uniforms.” 

Malhotra knows that the AHL can be a massive boost to an NHL team in the current salary cap era and he is excited to be a big part of the organization developing from within. 

“I think the importance on AHL development is a product of the NHL cap system. You cannot just continue to sign and buy players at free agency time; you need to develop players within your system to be able to be cap-compliant and get players on a good deal at a good number. You have to be able to grow those players from within your organization. It's a product of what is necessary right now. And teams can't just go out and buy the player they want. You have to develop them from within.”

Malhotra has focused on learning in his eight years of experience in development and coaching. 

He believes that the individual is the focus of development but that the team helps guide an individual in the right direction. 

“Everybody learns differently. It's a new generation of players in terms of the way they interpret information, the way they receive information, the way they learn. You have to be aware of your audience. And that's part of the job that I really enjoy. Learning about the guys, and learning about the individual, what makes them tick, how they learn how they understand things,” said Malhotra. 

“From there, I like being able to implement those things and help them understand the message, understand the system, understand what we are trying to get out of them. The biggest thing for me is just understanding the individual and you have to be able to get through on various levels.” 

Returning to the West Coast also works so well for Manny Malhotra.

He is comfortable with his co-workers, has learned so much about developing players in his post-playing days, has coaching experience in the NHL with Vancouver and Toronto, and is now excited about taking the reins on this next challenge and a new challenge, as a head coach in the AHL.

Aside from hockey, Malhotra is excited about going back to B.C. and named the scenery and sushi as the two things he is excited to be amongst as a British Columbian. 

“It’s a different vibe on the West Coast, that is for sure. I am excited for good sushi again. My family kind of became sushi snobs ever since we were living in Vancouver. I’m also excited about getting back to living that outdoorsy lifestyle. Scenery and sushi. I can’t wait.”

‘Pressure is a Privilege’: Abbotsford Head Coach Manny Malhotra Embraces High Expectations for AHL Development

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**Vancouver, B.C. -** Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that Manny Malhotra has been hired as the new head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks. Malhotra replaces Jeremy Colliton who was named the second head coach in Abbotsford franchise history in July of 2022.

“Bringing in someone who is familiar with the organization is a big win for us,” said Allvin. “Manny’s experience in hockey development and coaching has prepared him really well for this head coaching opportunity. We look forward to working with him and providing our staff in Abbotsford all the support they need to continue to develop our players.”

Malhotra has spent the past four seasons working as an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs after joining Toronto at the start of the 2020 NHL Season. Before that, the Mississauga Ontario native also spent time on the Canucks coaching staff working as a development coach in 2016-17 and as an assistant coach from 2017 to 2020.

“First of all, I would like to thank Jeremy Colliton and Gary Agnew for the work they did for us in Abbotsford,” said Abbotsford GM and Canucks Assistant GM Ryan Johnson. “Having played against Manny in the NHL, I know firsthand many of the great qualities he possesses and the competitiveness in his DNA. He is a teacher first and his skillset and mindset will fit in perfectly with our vision for the team in Abbotsford.”

A 7th overall first round draft pick of the New York Rangers in 1998, Malhotra played for seven NHL teams over 16 seasons. In 991 NHL games he racked up 116 goals, 179 assists for 295 points. Known for his prowess in the face off circle, Malhotra spent three seasons playing for the Canucks, appearing in 159 games with Vancouver.

“Being able to return the to the Vancouver Canucks organization is an incredible opportunity for both me and my family,” said Malhotra. “Getting the chance to help develop the next wave of young talent is an honour and a privilege. We have a lot of good prospects in the group, and I can’t wait to get started on the ice. I would like to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs as well for providing me the opportunity to work with them the past four years.”

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that Manny Malhotra has been hired as the new head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks.

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CANUCKS HIRE MANNY MALHOTRA AS HEAD COACH OF THE ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS

The Abbotsford Canucks finally returned home for the first time this playoff run, and they took on the Ontario Reign for game 3 of the Pacific Division Semifinals. 
Abbotsford went with the same lineup as Sunday’s game, with Zach Sawchenko in net for the Canucks once again, facing off against Erik Portillo for the Reign. The defensive pairings in front of him remained the same, with Christian Wolanin and Nick Cicek, Matt Irwin with Filip Johansson, and Akito Hirose alongside Cole McWard. 
Upfront, Max Sasson continued to center Vasily Podkolzin and Linus Karlsson, followed by the trio of Arshdeep Bains, Sheldon Dries, and Tristen Nielsen. Aatu Räty and Marc Gatcomb bookended John Stevens, and Chase Wouters, Dmitri Zlodeev and Ty Glover rounded out the Canucks lineup.
The first period could not have gone any better for the Canucks, when Aatu Räty opened the scoring just 8 minutes and 14 seconds in, after receiving a pass from Chase Wouters in front to give the Canucks a 1 goal lead. A few minutes later, Christian Wolanin gets through an obstacle of bodies and goes through the legs of Portillo to extend the Canucks leads to 2. The Canucks had the lead for the first time in this series and headed into the second with a two-goal lead. 
Abbotsford kicked off the period on the penalty kill but was able to successfully kill that off. Shortly after, the Canucks found themselves on a 5-on-3 for 14 seconds before going back on the 5 on 4 penalty kill. Despite facing adversity from the special teams, they were able to get back to even strength without giving up their lead. Samuel Fagemo broke the Reigns draught when he deflected in a shot from Joe Hicketts to cut the Canucks lead at 8:59. Just 37 seconds later, Charles Hudon netted his third of the playoffs to tie the game up at 2. The momentum didn’t stop there, because less than a minute after that, Tyler Ward parked himself in front of Sawchenko, who made the initial save on Hicketts, but Ward picked up the rebound and gave the Reign the lead in less than a minute in a half. 4 minutes after that Marc Gatcomb found himself on a two-on-one with John Stevens, where he ripped one past Portillo to tie the game up at 3. The Reign would go on to score one more time before the end of the period, this time, Andre Lee would net his 3rd of the playoffs to give the Reign a 4-3 lead heading into the final frame. 
The Canucks had 20 more minutes to get it done, but they were dealt a great deal of penalties they needed to kill first. They were successfully able to kill them all but unfortunately couldn’t generate the offensive plays they needed to tie up the game. With a few minutes left, Sawchenko left the net to give the team an extra man on the ice, but the time ran out before the puck could cross the line.
The Canucks battled until the very last second but unfortunately dropped game 3 in the Pacific Division Semifinals and were eliminated from the running in the Calder Cup Playoffs. 

The Canucks dropped game 3 in the Pacific Division Semifinals against the Ontario Reign

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Abbotsford, BC – The Abbotsford Canucks unveiled plans today for Game #3 of the Pacific Division Semifinals, as the Canucks host the Ontario Reign on Wednesday, May 8. Game #3 will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Vancouver Canucks team that went to the Stanley Cup Final, with the night celebrating the accomplishments of that team and looking to bring the momentum of the ’94 Canucks team to the Abbotsford Centre.  

“As the Abbotsford Canucks return home, we look back to 1994 for inspiration and motivation,” said Rick Comeau, General Manager, Abbotsford Centre. “We are excited to see this series arrive in the Fraser Valley and celebrate the 1994 Stanley Cup Finalists with our fans while helping push Abbotsford to victory.” 

Game #3 will see the first 1,000 fans in the building receive a free Abbotsford Canucks hat, and from 6:00-7:00 p.m., prices on select concession items will travel back to 1994, with $5.00 Budweiser and $3.00 Grimm’s Original Sizzlin’ Smokies at Section 117.  

Prior to the game, there will also be a ceremonial puck drop, featuring 1994 alumni, including Kirk McLean, Dave Babych, and Geoff Courtnall.   

Throughout the game, be sure to find numerous 1994 and Vancouver Canucks alumni around the Abbotsford Centre signing autographs, including McLean, Babych, and Courtnall in Section 101 and Garry Monahan and Dennis Kearns in Section 114.  

Archway Food Justice will be in Community Corner at Section 116, and there will also be a signed Trevor Linden jersey giveaway and a signed, game worn Artūrs Šilovs Abbotsford Canucks jersey auction located at Guest Services at Section 104, with bidding starting at $100.  

Tickets for Games 3, 4, and 5 are still available [HERE](https://abbotsford.canucks.com/tickets/singlegame) 

ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS TO CELEBRATE 1994 CANUCKS AT GAME #3 OF CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS PACIFIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS 

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The Abbotsford Canucks closed out their 2-week road trip as they took on the Ontario Reign for game 2 of the Pacific Division Semifinals. 

No changes to the goaltenders as Zach Sawchenko starts for the Canucks against Erik Portillo for the Reign. The defensemen pairings remained untouched, as Christian Wolanin and Nick Cicek stuck together, as well as Matt Irwin with Filip Johansson and Akito Hirose with Cole McWard. 

Up front, Vasily Podkolzin joined Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson to kick things off, and Sheldon Dries centered Arshdeep Bains and Tristen Nielsen. Aatu Räty lined up with John Stevens and Marc Gatcomb, and Ty Glover slotted back in with Dmitri Zlodeev and Chase Wouters to round out the Canucks offense. 

The first period did not go as the Canucks had hoped. The Reign opened the scoring just 8 minutes in when the Canucks found themselves on the penalty kill, and Akil Thomas backhanded the puck past Sawchenko to give the Reign an early lead. Just 2 minutes later, Charles Hudon found himself on the breakaway where he was able to rip one to the back of the Canucks net. Zach Sawchenko made a massive glove save late in the second to hold the Reign at 2, but the Canucks headed into the second period down 2-0. 

The Canucks would look to get on the board in the second period, but despite some good chances, Erik Portillo and Zach Sawchenko each made some saves to keep the second period scoreless. The Canucks were still down by two heading into the third period. 

Looking to get on the board once again, the Canucks' hopes to split the series was still alive. Erik Portillo held on to all of the shots that came his way, and instead, Andre Lee scored for the Reign to extend their lead to 3 goals. With just over 2 minutes to play, Abbotsford pulled goaltender Zach Sawchenko to get the extra man, but after the Reign cleared the puck from their zone, Tyler Madden beat the Canucks to the other end to secure the empty net goal and make it 4-0. 

The Canucks dropped the second game of the five-game series 4-0, but will finally return home to battle back in a do-or-die game against the Ontario Reign, where they will remain to finish up the series. 

Despite some great chances and some sprawling saves, Erik Portillo closed the door on the Canucks and the Abbotsford dropped game 2 of the series, 4-0.

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The Canucks drop game 2 against the Ontario Reign, 4-0.

The Abbotsford Canucks kicked off Round 2 of the Calder Cup Playoffs, taking on the Ontario Reign for the first game of the Pacific Division Semifinals. 

The Canucks continued to go with Zach Sawchenko between the pipes, as he went up against Erik Portillo from the Reign. No changes to the defensive pairing since the last series, as Christian Wolanin and Nick Cicek kicked things off, followed by Matt Irwin and Filip Johansson, and Cole McWard and Akito Hirose. 

Up front, Aatu Räty, Max Sasson, and Linus Karlsson stick together. Vasily Podkolzin returns to the Abbotsford Canucks lineup following his stint in Vancouver, and he was reunited with Arshdeep Bains and John Stevens. Sheldon Dries centered Marc Gatcomb and Tristen Nielsen, and Dmitri Zlodeev and Cooper Walker bookended Chase Wouters to round out the Canucks lineup. 

Neither team was able to get themselves on the board in the first twenty minutes of play. Despite some close chances, a couple of back-and-forth penalties resulted in more defensive-style play, and the period closed out scoreless. 

The second period saw a lot of back-and-forth play, a test of the team's endurance. It wasn’t until the Reign found themselves with possession of the puck in the Canucks zone, that Wyatte Wylie was able to rip one in front, and it was deflected by T.J. Tynan to put Ontario up 1-0. The Canucks couldn’t get one before the end of the period and headed into the final frame down by 1. 

The Reign was quick to get things started in the third period when Alex Turcotte picked up the rebound from Samuel Fagemo to give Ontario an insurance goal. Shortly thereafter, Max Sasson was able to intercept the puck right in front of the net, quickly turned it over, and fired it home to cut the Reigns lead in half. Unfortunately, just a few minutes later, Nikita Pavlychev was able to provide insurance once again when he ripped one home from the point to put the Reign up 3-1 and restored their 2-goal lead. The Canucks pulled Sawchenko out of the net to gain an extra body on the ice, but no one was able to find the back of the net again. 

The Canucks drop game one in the series 3-1 against the Ontario Reign, and will look to reset and battle back on Sunday, before returning home to the Abbotsford Centre. 

To purchase tickets to an upcoming Abbotsford Canucks playoff game, click [HERE].(https://abbotsford.canucks.com/tickets/singlegame).  

Despite a late goal to cut the Reign's lead in half, it wasn't enough to secure the win, and Abbotsford dropped game 1, 3-1.

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The Canucks drop game 1 against the Ontario Reign 3-1

The Abbotsford Canucks continue their chase for the Calder Cup as their second-round series begins on Wednesday night against the Ontario Reign.

Abbotsford won their way into the second round with a three-game series win in Colorado against the Eagles. Abbotsford captain Chase Wouters scored in overtime on Sunday afternoon to clinch the series and give the Canucks their matchup with the Reign in round two.


Ontario won their series against the Bakersfield Condors in two games and played good, defensive hockey – allowing only one goal in each of their two wins.

These teams played each other eight times in the regular season and both sides picked up four wins apiece. The Canucks outscored the Reign by a 25-20 count in their eight games including a 6-0 domination on December 21st. 

The leading scorer for the Reign during the regular season was T.J. Tynan with 66 points in 71 games. Their leading goal scorer was Samuel Fagemo with 43 goals in 50 games. Former Canuck prospect Tyler Madden leads the Reign with three goals in two playoff games. 

Erik Portillo is the Reign’s starter between the pipes, and had a 24-11-3 record in the regular season with a .918% save percentage and a pair of shutouts.

The second-round series is set to be a defensive battle and emotions are sure to run high just as they did in game three of the Canucks’ first-round bout with Colorado. Canucks captain Chase Wouters spoke about winning being the only thing that matters at the end of the day and the Canucks are continuing to learn how to stack those wins up as the playoffs go along. 

This young Abbotsford team learned a lot from their playoff experience last season and are looking forward to continuing to build their game. 

“We saw this last year and played two emotional and high-intense series. That is something that we learned from the Calgary series last year, where we lost two games in overtime. We’re just trying to use that experience to help our team this year and do everything we can to give ourselves the best chance to win. And at the end of the day, winning is all that matters. That is why we’re working so hard and continuing to build our game,” said Wouters.

Head Coach Jeremy Colliton views this time of the year as the paramount part of developing players. Whether you’re on the first line or in the press box, there’s learning to be gained in the coming weeks and with the way playoff hockey goes in the AHL, you always need to be ready in case your name is called.

“You learn about how much the playoffs experience matters,” said Colliton. “You have to go through it, you have to be around it. You really learn a lot from being involved in playoff hockey. Last year really helped our guys with that. Even the guys who don’t play and are just experiencing this. It’s a tremendous opportunity to learn what the pro game is all about.” 

Arshdeep Bains liked how his club finished the regular season and how it was not about results but how the team was playing their game. 

“We played really well to finish the season and feel like we are peaking at the right time as the playoffs started,” said Bains. “That was important for us because we weren’t too satisfied with our regular season, but we know our group is better than that. We’ve got some confidence in here and feel we are one of the top teams in the league and that we can do some damage.” 

Colliton believes his team is at their best when they are forechecking hard and playing aggressively. His focus for the group is to play with pace and force the opposition to play at their team’s tempo. 

The coach also views the overtime period in game three against Colorado as the way he wants his group to play moving forward. 

“I thought the best part of the whole series was how we came out in overtime. I thought we stopped playing not to lose and started playing to win.” 

With Artūrs Šilovs and Nikita Tolopilo being called up to the NHL to support the Vancouver Canucks, Zach Sawchenko has taken over the reins in net for Abbotsford and has shown extremely well in the playoffs.

Sawchenko has a .925% save percentage through three games and shined in the series-deciding game three, stopping 47 of the 48 shots he faced.


“Sawzy’s played in the NHL, and he's obviously a great goalie, but he's also a really good teammate,” said Wouters. “I think that's the thing we've been able to build around. He’s been here all year and hasn't played much but he's been great every chance he's had. Sawzy has been a great guy in the room, a great teammate, and a great friend to all of us. Yeah, it’s been a whirlwind, but this is fun, and we believe in him.”

Sawchenko holds down the crease and has support from a defence corps that features veteran Matt Irwin and last year’s AHL defenceman of the year, Christian Wolanin. Filip Johansson, Akito Hirose, Cole McWard and Nick Cicek are all younger defencemen who have been solid through the playoffs. 

On the forward group, they are feeling confident with all four lines as they feature high-end scorers like Sheldon Dries, Linus Karlsson, Aatu Räty and Max Sasson. They find balance throughout the forward group with two-way dogs like Tristen Nielsen, Marc Gatcomb, and John Stevens. 

Bains sees depth as the team’s key to success and how anyone in the lineup can step up and be a leader. 

“I think our depth is what helps us be effective. We’ve got a handful of guys on the front end that can score. If they're not scoring, they're helping other guys score,” said Bains. “We’ve got a little bit of everything throughout this group working hard and every night a different guy is stepping up. I think that’s important when you're on the road and don't have the last change. We’re able to switch players around and keep it new, so it's hard for other teams to know who's going to be the guy. It’s good for us because we can find success with a bunch of different players.” 

We also received news on Wednesday morning that Vasily Podkolzin was assigned to Abbotsford to get into some game action with the AHL club. He will provide a boost to the group as Podkolzin had 15 goals and 13 assists in 44 games with Abbotsford.

The Abbotsford Canucks play games one and two of the series on the road before coming home for game three and possibly games four and five. The second round of the AHL playoffs is a five-game series and the higher-seeded team decides if they want the first two home games or to have three road games to close out the series. In this series’ case, the Reign selected to have the first two home games.


The captain spoke about what last season’s playoff games were like at the Abbotsford Centre.

“For people that weren’t there last year, it was electric, to say the least,” said Wouters. “The rink was full, it was loud, and it was a lot of fun. We played good games on home ice last year and the fans have been truly amazing in the three years I've been here. It’s cool to get the community together and all cheer for the same thing. The fans we have at our rink are just awesome.”

For ticket information, visit tickets.abbotsfordcanucks.ca for single-game tickets, group packages, and more!

The Abbotsford Canucks continue their chase for the Calder Cup as their second-round series begins on Wednesday night against the Ontario Reign.


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Abbotsford Canucks Roll into Second Round of AHL Playoffs with Depth as Their Strength Against Ontario Reign

Tonight’s game against the Colorado Eagles served as the final game in the best-of-3, first-round playoff series. The Canucks looked to close out the series in the win column this afternoon.

No change to netminders for both teams, as Zach Sawchenko kicked off the lineup for the Canucks, and once again faced off against Ivan Prosvetov of the Eagles. Continuing the regular 12 and 6 formations, the defencemen remained the same, with Christian Wolanin and Nick Cicek, Matt Irwin with Filip Johansson, and Akito Hirose alongside Cole McWard.

Upfront, Aatu Räty, Max Sasson, and Linus Karlsson remain a trio, followed by Tristen Nielsen, Sheldon Dries, and Marc Gatcomb. Chase Wouters joins John Stevens and Arshdeep Bains, and Dmitri Zlodeev slotted back into the lineup centering Ty Glover and Cooper Walker.

Both teams playing defense tonight, as the game remained scoreless for a while. Colorado was outshooting the Canucks quite a bit, but when Abbotsford broke loose from playing defensively, Arshdeep Bains was the first to get on the board. 14 minutes into the first period, Max Sasson cut through the defencemen, cross ice passed to Bains, who netted his 2nd of the postseason to put the Canucks up 1, into the second period.

The second period was a goalie’s game, but despite registering some very close chances, no one was able to get the puck past the netminders, and the game remained 1-0 Canucks.

Up by 1, with 20 minutes to go, Zach Sawchenko held on with some unbelievable saves to keep the Canucks in the game. Unfortunately, a late penalty to the Canucks meant that the Eagles would pull their goalie to get a 2-man advantage. Sam Malinski was the hero for the Eagles who tied the game up late, to force overtime.

The overtime lasted 8 minutes before the Canucks found themselves back in the offensive territory, where Arshdeep Bains passed in front, and a deflection off Chase Wouters’ stick found the back of the net to call the game.

The Canucks won game 3, 2-1 in overtime, to launch themselves into the Pacific Division Semifinals against the Ontario Reign.

The Canucks will return home for games 3-5 of the second round against the Reign, beginning on May 8th. 




The Canucks defeat the Colorado Eagles 2-1 in a Pacific Division Semifinals clinching victory. 

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The Canucks defeat the Colorado Eagles 2-1 in overtime to clinch their spot in round 2 of the Calder Cup Playoffs

With a 2-1 victory in Game 3 of the AHL Pacific Division First Round, the Abbotsford Canucks have advanced to the Pacific Division Semifinals, where they will take on the Ontario Reign.  

The Canucks have advanced to the Pacific Division Semifinals for the second-consecutive season, having finished the regular season with a 40-25-5-2 record. Ontario, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, have advanced to the Pacific Division Semifinals for the fifth time in franchise history, having defeated the Bakersfield Condors in the Pacific Division First Round.  

Games 1 and 2 will be held at Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA on May 1st and May 5th, respectively, before the series shifts to Abbotsford for Games 3, 4, and 5.  

The full schedule for the Pacific Division Semifinals can be found below: 

Game 1 at Toyota Arena—Wednesday, May 1 at 7pm PT 

Game 2 at Toyota Arena—Sunday, May 5 at 3pm PT 

Game 3 at Abbotsford Centre—Wednesday, May 8 at 7pm PT 

*Game 4 at Abbotsford Centre—Friday, May 10 at 7pm PT 

*Game 5 at Abbotsford Centre—Sunday, May 12 at 4pm PT 

 
*If necessary 


Tickets go on sale tomorrow, April 29th at 10:00 a.m. PT. Tickets can be purchased at abbycanucks.com/playoffs and start at just $37.  

 

All five games will be available to watch on AHLTV.  

The Canucks have advanced to the Pacific Division Semifinals for the second-consecutive season, having finished the regular season with a 40-25-5-2 record.

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ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS ANNOUNCE AHL PACIFIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE AND TICKETS 

The Canucks took on the Eagles for game two of their playoff series, and they looked to secure the win once again tonight.

Backstopping for the Canucks once again is Zach Sawchenko, who posted a .928 SV% in the series opener. Abbotsford changed things up, choosing to go back to the 12 and 6 formation, with the lines remaining the same as Wednesday. Christian Wolanin and Nick Cicek kicked off the backend, followed by Matt Irwin and Filip Johansson, where Akito Hirose and Cole McWard closed it out.

Up front, the Canucks had the unchanged trios of Aatu Räty, Max Sasson, and Linus Karlsson, as well as Tristen Nielsen, Marc Gatcomb and Sheldon Dries. John Stevens continued to center Aidan McDonough and Arshdeep Bains, and Cooper Walker slotted back into the lineup alongside Chase Wouters and Ty Glover.

Not the start the Canucks were hoping for, when Brad Hunt intercepted a turnover and passes in front to Nikolai Kovalenko who opens the scoring for the Eagles. Just over a minute later, Tanner Kero extends the Eagles lead to 2, picking up his first post-season goal. The Canucks down by two, were desperate to get something going before the end of the period. With just 50 seconds left to play, Tristen Nielsen shoots on Ivan Prosvetov, and Aatu Räty is right there to tip home the goal for the Canucks. The Canucks cut the Eagles lead in half, and were down by 1, heading into the second period.

The Eagles domination continued into the second when Callahan Burke scored his second goal in the postseason to extend the Eagles lead 3-1, just 6 minutes into the period. A few minutes later Spencer Smallman scored an unassisted goal to give the Eagles a 3-goal lead. Without hesitation, the Canucks needed to get back into the game quickly, and just over a minute later Christian Wolanin snuck around and got the puck past Prosvetov to cut the Eagles lead in half once again. The Canucks found themselves on a powerplay late in the period, and this time Linus Karlsson ripped one home for his second playoff goal, to bring the Canucks within 1, heading into the final frame.

Desperate to keep this game alive, Abbotsford needed to score another one to at least force overtime. The period kicked off with 4 straight penalties, 2 to each team. Nothing came of the special teams, but once things got back to regular 5 on 5, Akito Hirose was the hero that tied the game up at 4, scoring his first-ever AHL Career Goal. Some close chances for both teams, but the defense core along with the goal tenders didn’t allow anything more to come through, and the teams were headed into overtime.

The Canucks came close, but ultimately Brad Hunt ripped it home 3 minutes into overtime to force game 3 on Sunday, where Abbotsford will look to bounce back in a do-or-die game.

Despite erasing a 3 goal deficit, the Canucks drop this one 5-4 in overtime. 

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The Canucks drop game two against the Eagles 5-4 in overtime.

The Abbotsford Canucks took the opening game of their opening-round playoff series on Wednesday night.

The AHL sees a three-game series to open the postseason for teams in the Pacific Division and the Canucks will play all the games at the higher-seed Colorado Eagles’ rink.

Abbotsford rolled into the playoffs, playing some of their best hockey of the season. They picked up four consecutive wins against the team that eliminated them from the AHL playoffs last season and have shown that they have fine-tuned their system to be prepared for the playoff hockey that is now upon them.

“I thought we finished the season really well,” said Abbotsford Head Coach Jeremy Colliton. “We won nine of our last 11 and it was more than just the results. We challenged the group to prepare better and play a playoff style. The guys really answered the call. We feel like our game is in a good place with how we're playing, and understanding what it takes to win playoff-style games. And that's a good feeling.”

The Abbotsford Canucks are one of the youngest teams in the AHL and Colliton has been able to see the 19 and 20-year-olds grow into more mature players from the experiences that they have gone through over the past couple of seasons.

"You need guys to feel comfortable in the big moments and understand what's important and what it takes to win,” said Colliton. “Sometimes just getting the puck out on the wall is as big as a goal. That's playoff hockey. Every moment is magnified, and you don’t fully understand it until you've lived it and gone through it and truly understand the fine line between winning and losing.”

Colliton is looking at his young guys to learn their lessons but also be leaders on the ice. Five of the top six scorers on the Canucks are 24 years old or younger. Sheldon Dries is the veteran of the group and scored a goal while adding an assist in the Canucks’ game-one win.

“These kids keep us feeling young,” said Dries with a laugh. "Johnny [Stevens] and I just turned 30, so we're creeping up there. But being around the guys, no matter how old you are, we get to be in a locker room every day with a group of great guys. It's awesome and it keeps me young so it's fun for sure.”

As much as there is fun to be had, Dries enjoys putting a little extra on his shoulders at this time of the year. He mentioned Matt Irwin, John Stevens and Christian Wolanin being guys who want to be there for the young guys as well.

“It just comes with the territory,” said Dries about providing advice from experience. “The longer you play, the more guys lean on you. Christian, Matty, and Johnny, we all want to be leaders on this team and do that on a nightly basis and there is no better time to do it than right now at playoff time.”

For a majority of the season, Artūrs Šilovs and Nikita Tolopilo have been the mainstays between the pipes, but the NHL team came calling, and Šilovs has taken over the role as the backup for the Vancouver Canucks while Nikita Tolopilo is also with the NHL club as their emergency backup goaltender or EBUG.

Zach Sawchenko got the start for Abbotsford in game one and stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced in his playoff debut with the Canucks.

“Sawzy is awesome,” said Dries. “We have full confidence in him, and it hasn't been the easiest year for him, but he's been the best teammate day in and day out. He’s put in his time and he's one of the best teammates. We love that he can find this success in playoff time. It's a good feeling for our group.”

Linus Karlsson led the Abbotsford Canucks with 60 points (23g-37a) in 60 games played.

Sheldon Dries was the goals leader with 29 goals on the season.

Arshdeep Bains finished the year with a +18.

Game two of the opening-round series is on Friday at 6:05 pm PT and can be viewed with an AHLTV subscription on watchtheahl.com.

Youngsters Aätu Raty, Linus Karlsson, Tristen Nielsen, Elias Pettersson, Max Sasson, Arshdeep Bains, and Aidan McDonough join veterans Christian Wolanin, Sheldon Dries, Matt Irwin and more as the Abbotsford Canucks tread down the road towards the Calder Cup.

Info on AHL playoffs:

The opening round is a three-game series and the only series where the higher seed hosts all three games.

The second round is a best-of-five in the Division Semifinals.

The third round, or Division Finals, will also be a best-of-five series.

The fourth round is a best-of-seven Conference Finals.

The Calder Cup Finals is a best-of-seven series.

The Abbotsford Canucks took the opening game of their opening-round playoff series on Wednesday night.

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Abbotsford Canucks Take Game One as Their Quest for the Calder Cup Commenced in Colorado

The Abbotsford Canucks kicked off playoff hockey down in Loveland, Colorado to take on the Colorado Eagles for Round 1, Game 1.

The Canucks continued their tried and true 11 and 7 formation, but tonight Zach Sawchenko found himself starting between the pipes. Backing him up on defense is the duo of Christian Wolanin and Nick Cicek, followed by Matt Irwin and Filip Johansson. Akito Hirose and Cole McWard stuck together and Elias Pettersson capped off the back end.

Up front, no change to the offense as Aatu Räty and Linus Karlsson continued to bookend Max Sasson, and Sheldon Dries centered Tristen Nielsen and Marc Gatcomb. Aidan McDonough, John Stevens, and Arshdeep Bains follow suit, and Chase Wouters and Ty Glover round out the offensive power.

A quick start to the game, Arshdeep Bains picks up John Stevens’ rebound to put the Canucks up 1-0 just 1 minute and 56 seconds into the game. Quickly asserting their dominance in the game, but Canucks found themselves trying to kill off a penalty at the halfway mark in the period. Unfortunately, the Eagles used this to their advantage when Callahan Burke stickhandled his way through the Canucks, to tie the game up at 1.

The game was tied going into the second, and the Canucks found themselves playing their special teams more than anticipated, getting multiple penalty calls. The penalty kill got to work, this time successful. The scoring came first in this period when Sheldon Dries ripped home a shot from center to give the Canucks a 1-goal lead once again, around the 7-minute mark. The Eagles were quick to challenge them when Ivan Ivan got one past Sawchenko just a few minutes later to tie the game up at 2. Looking to pull ahead, Sheldon Dries became the hero once again and netted his 2 goals in a row with just 27 seconds left to play in the period. The Canucks headed into the final frame with 1 goal lead once again.

The Canucks looked to keep up the momentum in the third, using the lead to their advantage. Some great chances for both teams, but Sawchenko held on to make some big saves for the team. With just over a minute to play, and the score unchanged, the Eagles pulled their goalie to get an extra man, but the Canucks took advantage, with Linus Karlsson grabbing the empty netter to solidify the Canucks win. 

The Canucks take game one against Colorado 4-2, to put them up 1-0 in the series. They will look to secure a second win on Friday, and hopefully punch their tickets to the second round. 

Arshdeep Bains opens the scoring, Sheldon Dries notches 2 goals, and Linus Karlsson grabs an empty netter to secure the win in game one of the series. 

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THE CANUCKS TAKE GAME 1 IN THE SERIES WITH A 4-2 VICTORY OVER THE EAGLES

The Abbotsford Canucks will begin the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs on the road, as they will take on the Colorado Eagles in a best-of-three series for the First Round. All three games will be held at Blue FCU Arena in Loveland, Colorado.

The Canucks recently clinched their third postseason berth in as many seasons, finishing fifth in the AHL’s Pacific Division with a record of 40-25-5-2. The Eagles, AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, finished fourth in the Pacific Division standings with the exact same record as Abbotsford, but held the tiebreaker of 33 regulation victories against the Canucks’ 29 regulation victories.

CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS PACIFIC DIVISION FIRST ROUND:

GAME 1 – Wednesday, April 24 at 6:05 p.m. PDT – Abbotsford at Colorado

GAME 2 – Friday, April 26 at 6:05 p.m. PDT – Abbotsford at Colorado˄

*GAME 3 – Sunday, April 28 at 2:05 p.m. PDT – Abbotsford at Colorado

*If necessary
˄Abbotsford designated as home team

All three games will be available to watch on AHLTV.


The Abbotsford Canucks will face the Colorado Eagles on the road in the first round. 

CANUCKS TO FACE COLORADO IN FIRST ROUND OF CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS

Abbotsford, B.C. – Yesterday, the Abbotsford Canucks announced the winners of the 2023.24 Team Awards during Fan Appreciation Weekend. Four of the five awards given to players, including Most Valuable Player, Fan Favourite, Unsung Hero and Rookie of the Year, were voted on by fans from April 5 to 13.  


Arshdeep Bains: Most Valuable Player 

In his second season, Arshdeep Bains has been voted MVP of the Abbotsford Canucks. During the season, Bains has recorded career-highs across the board, besting his previous record for points, goals and assists. Tallying 52 points (15-37-52) 28 penalty minutes and a team high +18 in 57 games heading into the weekend, Bains has continued his strong play this season in Abbotsford. Bains also made his NHL debut on February 20/24 at Colorado, becoming the fourth Punjabi player in NHL history to play in the NHL. 

 
Arshdeep Bains: Fan Favourite 

In addition to winning MVP, Bains has also won the Fan Favourite Award for the 2023.24 season. Throughout the year, Bains has entertained fans with his creative moves and excellent finishes. He was named an All-Star this season and won the AHL All-Star MVP after recording the most points during the All-Star tournament (5 points, 2-3-5, 4 GP).  

 
Marc Gatcomb: Unsung Hero 

In his second full season with the Abbotsford Canucks, Marc Gatcomb has been voted as the team’s Unsung Hero. Playing in 59 games this season, Gatcomb more than doubled his previous career-highs in points, goals and assists. He has recorded 20 points (9-11-20) and 32 penalty minutes this season as of April 18. His timely plays and calm presence on the ice have provided the Canucks with consistent momentum throughout the season. 


Max Sasson: Rookie of the Year 

Recording 41 points (18-23-41), 30 penalty minutes and a +17 plus/minus rating as of April 18, Max Sasson has been voted as the Rookie of the Year of the Abbotsford Canucks. Sasson has made his presence felt this season, currently leading the Abbotsford Canucks with six game-winning goals. Throughout his rookie season, Sasson has taken strides on and off the ice, and has continued to improve his all-around game. 


Chase Wouters: Man of the Year 

For the second consecutive season, Chase Wouters has been named the Abbotsford Canucks Man of the Year. Wouters, in his second year as Captain, has continued to build upon his previous charity work in the Fraser Valley. He has volunteered with the Chilliwack Bowls of Hope Society, who provide lunches for children in local schools, visited local patients at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre, in addition to participating in the Abbotsford Canucks KidsPlay Skate, helping teach over 100 youth to skate alongside his teammates.  

Yesterday, the Abbotsford Canucks announced the winners of the 2023.24 Team Awards during Fan Appreciation Weekend.

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ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF 2023.24 TEAM AWARDS 

Abbotsford, B.C. – Yesterday, the Abbotsford Canucks announced the winners of the 2023.24 Team Awards during Fan Appreciation Weekend. Four of the five awards given to players, including Most Valuable Player, Fan Favourite, Unsung Hero and Rookie of the Year, were voted on by fans from April 5 to 13.  

 
Arshdeep Bains: Most Valuable Player 

In his second season, Arshdeep Bains has been voted MVP of the Abbotsford Canucks. During the season, Bains has recorded career-highs across the board, besting his previous record for points, goals and assists. Tallying 52 points (15-37-52) 28 penalty minutes and a team high +18 in 57 games heading into the weekend, Bains has continued his strong play this season in Abbotsford. Bains also made his NHL debut on February 20/24 at Colorado, becoming the fourth Punjabi player in NHL history to play in the NHL. 


Arshdeep Bains: Fan Favourite 

In addition to winning MVP, Bains has also won the Fan Favourite Award for the 2023.24 season. Throughout the year, Bains has entertained fans with his creative moves and excellent finishes. He was named an All-Star this season and won the AHL All-Star MVP after recording the most points during the All-Star tournament (5 points, 2-3-5, 4 GP).  
 

Marc Gatcomb: Unsung Hero 

In his second full season with the Abbotsford Canucks, Marc Gatcomb has been voted as the team’s Unsung Hero. Playing in 59 games this season, Gatcomb more than doubled his previous career-highs in points, goals and assists. He has recorded 20 points (9-11-20) and 32 penalty minutes this season as of April 18. His timely plays and calm presence on the ice have provided the Canucks with consistent momentum throughout the season. 

 
Max Sasson: Rookie of the Year 

Recording 41 points (18-23-41), 30 penalty minutes and a +17 plus/minus rating as of April 18, Max Sasson has been voted as the Rookie of the Year of the Abbotsford Canucks. Sasson has made his presence felt this season, currently leading the Abbotsford Canucks with six game-winning goals. Throughout his rookie season, Sasson has taken strides on and off the ice, and has continued to improve his all-around game. 

 
Chase Wouters: Man of the Year 

For the second consecutive season, Chase Wouters has been named the Abbotsford Canucks Man of the Year. Wouters, in his second year as Captain, has continued to build upon his previous charity work in the Fraser Valley. He has volunteered with the Chilliwack Bowls of Hope Society, who provide lunches for children in local schools, visited local patients at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre, in addition to participating in the Abbotsford Canucks KidsPlay Skate, helping teach over 100 youth to skate alongside his teammates.  

The Abbotsford Canucks closed out their regular season tonight as they took on the Calgary Wranglers for their first consecutive game and their fan appreciation night.

Both teams swapped goalies tonight, with Nikita Tolopilo starting in net tonight for the Canucks, and Dustin Wolf between the pipes for the Wranglers. On defense, Christian Wolanin and Nick Cicek pair up, followed by Matt Irwin and Filip Johansson. Akito Hirose and Cole McWard lined up together, and Elias Pettersson slots in as the 7th defenceman once again.

Up front, Aatu Räty and Linus Karlsson bookended Max Sasson, followed by Sheldon Dries, Tristen Nielsen, and Marc Gatcomb. John Stevens centered Arshdeep Bains and Aidan McDonough, and Cooper Walker slots back in with Chase Wouters to round out Abbotsford’s lineup.

It was a quiet first period, a true testament to the skill of both netminders. The Canucks were all over the Wranglers, holding them to just 1 shot in the first 10 minutes, but Dustin Wolf held strong between the crease. Tolopilo also denied all shots that came his way, to keep the game scoreless into the second.

Calgary kicked off the second period quickly, with Sam Morton tipping in a shot from Willian Strömgren, to give the Wranglers an early lead. Halfway through the period, the Wranglers found themselves with a 2 goal lead when Sam Morton squeaked one through the Tolopilo for his 5th goal of the season. The response from the Canucks was quick when Linus Karlsson capitalized on his rebound cut the Wranglers lead in half. This goal came as his 23rd of the season, with assists credited to Arshdeep Bains and Cole McWard. 40 seconds later, Tristen Nielsen tipped in a Nick Cicek shot to tie up the game at 2.

Looking to pull ahead in the third period, the effort from both teams heightened. The period remained scoreless until the halfway point when fan-voted MVP Arshdeep Bains notched his 16th goal of the season, to give the Canucks the go-ahead and the game-winning goal.

The Canucks close out the regular season and sweep their 4-game series against the Wranglers in a 3-2 victory. The Canucks will await the results of tomorrow's Colorado vs Ontario game to solidify their spot in the standings.


The Canucks erased a 2 goal deficit to close out their regular season with a 3-2 win over the Wranglers. 

The Canucks close out their regular season with a 3-2 Victory over the Wranglers. 

The Abbotsford Canucks continued their 4-game series against the Wranglers as they return home for their final two regular season home games.

Artūrs Šilovs returned to the Abbotsford Canucks lineup after starting in 3 games for the Vancouver Canucks. Connor Murphy got the start in net tonight for the Wranglers. On defense for the Canucks was the duo Christian Wolanin and Guillaume Brisebois, followed by Matt Irwin and Filip Johansson. Cole McWard also returned to the lineup tonight, and he paired up with Nick Cicek, and Elias Pettersson capped off the blue line as the 7th d-man.

Upfront, the Canucks chose to go with the same lineup as the previous two games against the Wranglers. Aatu Räty, Max Sasson, and Linus Karlsson kicked things off on offense, followed by Tristen Nielsen, Sheldon Dries, and Marc Gatcomb. Aidan McDonough and Arshdeep Bains bookended John Stevens, and Chase Wouters and Ty Glover paired up to solidify the group of forwards.

The Wranglers got the lone goal in the first period after Clark Bishop ripped one past Šilovs just 3 minutes into the game. The Canucks had some great chances but battled too many minutes in the box to successfully get on the board and were down 1-0 heading into the second period.

The middle frame was action-packed, with a total of 4 goals. The Canucks own Linus Karlsson tied it up just 1 minute and 42 seconds into the frame. Karlsson caught a pass from Aatu Räty in front of the net, where he netted his 22nd goal of the season. Around the halfway mark, Mitch McLain got himself on the scoresheet as he netted his 16th of the season and gave the Wranglers the lead once again. Just 59 seconds later, the Canucks had a faceoff in the offensive zone. Sheldon Dries shot straight from the faceoff and the puck found the back of Calgary’s net, unassisted, for his 29th goal of the year, and equalizer once again. A minute and a half later, Aidan McDonough joins the scoring party after a setup from Arshdeep Bains leaves Connor Murphy with a puck in his net for the 3rd time tonight. The Canucks had their first lead of the game heading into the final period.

The Canucks looked to maintain their lead and take home the 2 points in regulation, but the Wranglers has other plans when Jakob Pelletier snook one past Šilovs with just under 5 minutes to play and tie the game up at 3, and force overtime.

In overtime, a late hooking call to the Wranglers meant that the Canucks would get a man advantage, and with just 30 left to play, Christian Wolanin was there to rip one home and win it for Abbotsford.

The Canucks have one final regular season game tomorrow against the Wranglers, and they look to sweep this mini-series.

To purchase tickets to the Canucks final regular season home game, click [HERE](https://abbotsford.canucks.com/tickets/singlegame)

After a big second period, a late equalizer goal from the Wranglers forced the game into overtime, where the Canucks came up big. 

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THE CANUCKS COME UP WITH A BIG 4-3 OVERTIME VICTORY AGAINST THE WRANGLERS

Abbotsford, B.C. – After an exciting, action-packed 2023.24 season, the Abbotsford Canucks are excited to celebrate and thank their faithful fanbase on April 19th and 20th as they take on the Calgary Wranglers in their last two games of the regular season before the start of the playoffs.  

“The time has come to celebrate our amazing fans in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley for all the support they have shown our team this season,” said Rick Comeau, General Manager, Abbotsford Centre. “The chance to show our appreciation to our dedicated fanbase as we close out the regular season and head towards the playoffs is something we look forward to every season. Together with the players, we are ready to host a weekend dedicated to our fans.” 

To thank their loyal fans two nights of events have been planned!  

Night One: Friday, April 19th  

April 19th will see a number of benefits for Season Ticket Members, including early doors, starting at 5:00 p.m. Members will also be granted a 25% discount at the team store between 5:00-6:00 p.m., as well as a 50% discount on food and beverage (non-alcoholic beverage) from 5:00-6:00 p.m. There will also be a Season Ticket Member Grand Prize of a Backyard Package including a BBQ Grill, courtesy of Blackwood Building Centre, an outdoor patio set, courtesy of Canadian Tire, and a $230 BBQ meat package from Lepp Farm.  

Grimms will be on site providing free smokies to the first 1,000 fans.  Throughout the game, there will be prize giveaways, including vouchers from Panago, team-signed items, Vancouver Canucks hoodies, and more! 

Night Two: Saturday, April 20th  

To celebrate the final home game of the regular season, popcorn vouchers and raffle tickets will be given to the first 5000 fans who enter the Abbotsford Centre ahead of the game, and the first 1000 fans will be gifted a Limited Edition Johnny Canuck garden gnome! 

The raffle tickets given at the gate can be used to enter to win one of four prizes: 

A trip for two to Calgary to see the Canucks take on the Wranglers next season. 

Cody Johnson concert experience for four on May 4th.  

Dinner with General Manager Ryan Johnson with two guests. 

A player-worn signed jersey. 

Other giveaways throughout the game include team store prizes, team-signed items, a recliner courtesy of Jag’s Furniture, and more! 

During the game, the Team Award winner will also be announced, including the fan-voted Team MVP, Fan Favourite, Rookie of the Year and Unsung Hero. The Man of the Year award will also be announced, as chosen by a panel from Canucks Sports & Entertainment.  

To purchase tickets to one or both of the remaining Abbotsford Canucks games, click [HERE](https://abbotsford.canucks.com/tickets/singlegame)


The Abbotsford Canucks are excited to announce further details on their Fan Appreciation Weekend. 

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Abbotsford Canucks to Celebrate 2023.24 Fan Appreciation Weekend 

The Abbotsford Canucks are once again playoff-bound and have a combination of youth and experience to feel good about what this group can do in a chase for the Calder Cup. 

Abbotsford is the youngest team in the AHL with an average age of 23.75 but they have the support of veteran leaders like John Stevens, Matt Irwin, Sheldon Dries, and Christian Wolanin. 

Irwin is the only player in his 30s on the Abbotsford roster and the 36-year-old certainly had to catch himself laughing this season when Sawyer Mynio joined the group and Irwin could say that he was literally twice the age of one of his teammates.

“It’s hilarious to me,” said Irwin with a hearty guffaw. “I was graduating high school when Sawyer was born. So, that doesn’t make me feel old at all.” 

Many of the players look up to Irwin for advice and as a guide on how to keep it light in the room but continue to stay focused. The joke around the Abbotsford room is that Irwin is one of the youngest players on the team because he is like a kid out there with how much fun he is having. 

The guys in the room love being able to hear stories from Irwin, who has played in 461 NHL games along with his 311 in the AHL. On top of the stories, Irwin brings a calming presence to every moment on the ice or away from it. This year has been a rollercoaster for the Canucks, and they have learned a lot about battling through adversity.

“You don’t go through a full season at any level without some ups and downs and I think there's benefits of going through those stretches throughout a season,” said Irwin. “There's a learning curve and an opportunity to grow as a group when you go through those ups and downs. And we have certainly done that this year.” 

At Irwin’s age, he does not take anything for granted. He knows he is fortunate to play the game of hockey for as long as he has and is happy to be a part of this young group in Abbotsford who have elevated expectations in the upcoming playoffs. 

Irwin claims he is not going into the room with intentions of preaching to the young players but does admit to actively being a sounding board for the young players including some of the young leaders like Jett Woo and Abbotsford captain Chase Wouters. 

“I enjoy helping these young players develop,” said Irwin. “If they have questions, I like to help them. They are teaching me lots of things too and what I try to always tell them is to enjoy the game and embrace the work.” 

Christian Wolanin is another veteran leader of the group who plays on the backend. Wolanin was named AHL defenceman of the year last season and though he battled an injury that kept him out of the lineup for two and half months, his presence in the lineup and locker room is something that his teammates welcome with open arms. 

Wolanin enjoys the chance to play with such a young group and it has helped him learn a lesson about how the world of professional hockey evolves so quickly. His approach to leadership is being as honest as he can with the young players who have yet to experience a lot in pro hockey. 

“I'm a pretty high-strung, emotional guy,” said Wolanin. “I am not afraid to say whatever is on my mind. And for me, I think it's good to be honest at this point of the year. It's good to be honest about how you're feeling. I'll be the first one to tell the guys when we get down to it that I'm nervous too. But we are all human and you're supposed to be nervous because it shows that we care.” 

The 29-year-old Wolanin views this next stretch of the year as a massively important one for the young players. He looks back at his first few years as a pro and can share the lessons he has learned about how every season that has success is a gift from all the work you have put in and you need to live in those moments and appreciate what is happening around you. 

Wolanin sees the Abbotsford organization as a wonderful place for young players to learn about the demands and expectations of pro hockey. 

“We have a good culture built here and everybody who comes in is welcomed and feels part of it,” said Wolanin. “This experience for them, and their individual journey, it’s nice for the young guys to just get these touches. Especially if they are going to play in the playoffs. You'll really see how bad you want it when you play in an American League playoff game. It’s an intense environment and a great test.” 

Each of Irwin and Wolanin do not view this time of the year as a spot where they need to do more for the group but instead, just want to be able to carry more of the load when challenging situations present themselves to the group. 

Wolanin spoke about hockey cliches being something that, though it is boring to talk about, are most important at this time of the year. 

Irwin is on the same page as Wolanin as to what he wants to do as a veteran at this time of the year. 

“I'm not sure there's anything that you want to do more, I think you just relay that message about by the way you prepare and how you compete in games at this time of the year,” said Irwin. “Understanding the in-game situations of blocking a shot, taking a hit to make a play, those things are what speak volumes to others or throughout the locker room rather than just words. So, for us as veterans and guys that have been around or played playoff games, whether it is at any level really. It's just more or less leading by example.” 

The Abbotsford Canucks close out their season next weekend with a pair of home games against the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last year, the Calgary Wranglers. 

A large amount of the roster that lost that second-round playoff series is back this season and has gained experience of what the AHL playoffs are all about. 

As the youngest team in the AHL, the Abbotsford Canucks continue to be in development mode. Still, with so many players losing their greenness in the AHL, the expectations inside that locker room continue to rise and the veterans’ experience helps them recognize that this team is coming together to be a contender in the AHL playoffs.

The Abbotsford Canucks are once again playoff-bound and feel good about what this group can do in a chase for the Calder Cup. 

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Christian Wolanin & Matt Irwin Help Lead Youngest Team in AHL Toward Playoff Run

Developing for the NHL is a long path, and the Canucks organization is committed to the AHL being where the last steps are taken along the winding road.

We are seeing late-season additions to the Abbotsford Canucks with Elias Pettersson (D-Petey), Ty Mueller, Sawyer Mynio and Jonathan Lekkerimäki joining their roster.

Vancouver Assistant General Manager & Abbotsford General Manager Ryan Johnson views the young players getting reps with the AHL club as a twofold gain for the players in their development.

He wants the prospects to continue playing hockey when their CHL, NCAA, or European Pro seasons end but also get comfortable with the Abbotsford coaches, staff, trainers, and environment.

Johnson also wants the young players to live the life of a professional player, even if it is just for a month or two. There are plenty of new difficulties in a young man’s life that Johnson likes the players to experience and conquer with the support of the team and fellow players.

“You want them to ask questions,” said Johnson. “You want it almost to be a tutorial or an education. You want them to leave here with as much knowledge as possible. It's great to communicate by text and phone but when you can sit in the same room or sit on the bench and watch a guy and talk to him about his game, you cannot replace that connection.”

“When we actually get to see the whites of their eyes, it's inspiring for all of us because we get them in and see their excitement and they get to have our resources that we have as an organization and have everybody be able to impact those players in a way that encourages them and creates excitement about their path.”

One player who made the commitment to the AHL path and is reaping the rewards is NCAA free agent signing from last season, Max Sasson.

Sasson was on one of the best lines in the NCAA during the 2022-23 year and had some options with other NHL teams but decided to sign an amateur tryout with the Abbotsford Canucks and an Entry-Level Contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

This gave him the chance to play for Abbotsford in the playoffs and be able to gain a ton of experience as a pro.

“We find this time propels them forward,” said Johnson. “Max Sasson is a great example from last year. He jumped in, practiced, and even played playoff hockey. From that whole experience and familiarity, he came back in September, and it felt like he has been with the organization for a couple of years.”

Sasson has continued to improve and has been and continues to be one of Abbotsford’s top centres this season.

He had to turn down NHL games to head down the path that he is currently on and though that was a difficult decision at the time, Sasson is extremely content with the decision he made one year ago.

“I'm very glad about my decision,” said Sasson. “Everyone wants to be in Vancouver and push for that. But knowing that I was probably going to be in Abbotsford this year, coming here at the end of last year and getting in the playoffs was huge. They were so hard, and that Calgary series was a battle. That helped me know what it was going to take. Yeah, I am very pleased with the decision to come here and work my way up.”

These young players who join Abbotsford late in the year get a chance to experience a lot and show the organization how they can commit to the standards that management is looking for.

Abbotsford Head Coach Jeremy Colliton explained what he is looking for from these fresh players who come to the team late in their season.

“Look like you can be a player,” he said with a smile. “The more competition we have, the better and if you look like you can help, we will play you. The players are going to get an opportunity in practice. We have two groups at times, and we are out there watching, and you get a pretty good feel for where guys are at.”

Colliton makes sure to do a lot of small area battle drills to test the inexperienced players out against the AHLers who have played all season long.

"If guys aren't ready to play yet, that's fine. That is not unexpected,” said Colliton. “But then for them, they get a picture of what it is going to take next year or down the road to be in that position. So, it's good for both sides for sure.”

Canucks management believes that this experience late in the AHL season is adding another step to the development of young players that may have not existed in the past.

“It’s almost a stepped-up development camp in the sense that they leave here with a lot of information, a lot of experience that we know is going to help them short term and long term and, in their career,” said Johnson.

The focus is getting players comfortable with the pro game in North America but there is a heavy focus on the prospects learning about the standards that this organization instills.

“There's a specific plan in place, details, values that stem right down from Rick Tocchet and his staff down to our youngest players that are in our system,” said Johnson. “Those are standards that they are showing our players on the ice in Abbotsford, we can start to instill that in them. And obviously, we have the staff and resources to do it.”

Developing for the NHL is a long path, and the Canucks organization is committed to the AHL being where the last steps are taken along the winding road.

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