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Abbotsford Canucks

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abbotsford Canucks
CityAbbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionPacific
Founded1932
Home arenaAbbotsford Centre
ColoursField green, Pacific blue, Fraser blue, valley fog grey, mountain white[1]
         
Owner(s)Canucks Sports & Entertainment
General managerRyan Johnson[2]
Head coachManny Malhotra
CaptainChase Wouters
AffiliatesVancouver Canucks (NHL)
Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)
Websiteabbotsford.canucks.com
Franchise history
1932–1935Quebec Beavers
1935–1951Springfield Indians
1951–1954Syracuse Warriors
1954–1967Springfield Indians
1967–1974Springfield Kings
1974–1994Springfield Indians
1994–2005Worcester IceCats
2005–2013Peoria Rivermen
2013–2021Utica Comets
2021–presentAbbotsford Canucks
Championships
Division titles0
Conference titles1 (2024–25)
Calder Cups1 (2024–25)
Current season

The Abbotsford Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. The team began play in the 2021–22 season with home games at Abbotsford Centre as the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks. The team is a relocation of the franchise owned by the Canucks and known as the Utica Comets from 2013 to 2021. This is the second AHL team to play in Abbotsford after the Calgary Flames affiliate Abbotsford Heat from 2009 until 2014.

History

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The Abbotsford Canucks franchise is one of the oldest professional hockey franchises in existence, dating back to 1932, when the team was known as the Quebec Beavers. In 1935, the franchise moved to Springfield and became the Indians, reviving the name after the original Indians franchise ceased operations during the 1932–33 Canadian-American Hockey League season. In addition to the Indians, the team has been known as the Syracuse Warriors, Springfield Kings, Worcester IceCats, Peoria Rivermen, and Utica Comets.

On March 29, 2013, Canucks Sports & Entertainment (CS&E), owners of the National Hockey League's (NHL) Vancouver Canucks, was announced as purchasing the American Hockey League (AHL) franchise then playing as the Peoria Rivermen. The purchase was approved by the league on April 18.[3] After purchasing the franchise, CS&E intended to have the franchise located in a market close to Vancouver with their initial preference as Abbotsford, which at the time was home to the Calgary Flames AHL farm club, the Abbotsford Heat. The Heat had been rumoured to be relocating to Utica, New York, at the time.[4] Negotiations between the Canucks and Abbotsford broke down by April 22 and the Heat remained in the city.[5]

After exploring options for having the team in Vancouver,[6] Seattle,[7] and Peoria,[8] CS&E came to a six-year operating agreement with Robert Esche to place the franchise in Utica and the city's soon-to-be-renovated Memorial Auditorium as the Utica Comets.[9] The Comets began play in the 2013–14 AHL season. The Heat lasted only one more season in Abbotsford before relocating to Glens Falls, New York, as the Adirondack Flames in 2014. Before the 2019–20 season, CS&E and Esche's operating contract was extended for up to an additional six years, with potential opt outs every two seasons.[10][11]

On July 14, 2021, the name, logo, and colours for the Abbotsford Canucks were released.[1] The Vancouver Canucks transferred both former Comets general manager Ryan Johnson[2] and head coach Trent Cull to Abbotsford.[12]

On June 8, 2025, the Abbotsford Canucks advanced to the Calder Cup final for the first time in franchise history after defeating the Texas Stars in 6 games.[13] This marked the fourth appearance of the Vancouver Canucks' AHL affiliate in the final round joining the 1987-88 Fredericton Express (shared affiliation with the Quebec Nordiques), 2008-09 Manitoba Moose, and 2014-15 Utica Comets.

On June 23, 2025, the franchise won its first Calder Cup by defeating the Charlotte Checkers in 6 games becoming the first franchise from the AHL's Pacific Division, the first Western Canadian team, and the first Vancouver Canucks AHL affiliate to win the Calder Cup.[14]

Season-by-season records

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Regular season Playoffs
Season GP W L OTL SOL Pts PCT GF GA Standing Year Prelims 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Finals
2021–22 68 39 23 5 1 84 .618 230 200 5th, Pacific 2022 L, 0–2, BAK — — — —
2022–23 72 40 25 3 4 87 .604 229 203 4th, Pacific 2023 W, 2–0, BAK L, 1–3, CGY — — —
2023–24 72 40 25 5 2 87 .604 234 210 5th, Pacific 2024 W, 2–1, COL L, 0–3, ONT — — —
2024–25 72 44 24 2 2 92 .639 241 204 2nd, Pacific 2025 W, 2–1, TUC W, 3–1, CV W, 3–2, COL W, 4–2, TEX W, 4–2, CLT

Players

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Current roster

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Updated October 28, 2025.[15]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
46 Sweden Vilmer Alriksson LW L 20 2025 Enebyberg, Sweden Vancouver
3 Canada Joe Arntsen D L 22 2024 Swift Current, Saskatchewan Abbotsford
29 Canada Ben Berard LW L 26 2024 Duncan, British Columbia Abbotsford
71 Canada Josh Bloom LW L 22 2023 Oakville, Ontario Vancouver
55 Canada Guillaume Brisebois Injured Reserve D L 28 2021 Longueuil, Quebec Vancouver
56 United States Derek Daschke D L 27 2025 Troy, Michigan Abbotsford
52 Canada Arnaud Durandeau (PTO) LW L 26 2025 Montreal, Quebec Abbotsford
17 United States Dino Kambeitz RW R 25 2024 Parker, Colorado Abbotsford
15 Canada Jujhar Khaira C L 31 2025 Surrey, British Columbia Abbotsford
18 Belarus Danila Klimovich C R 22 2021 Pinsk, Belarus Vancouver
72 Russia Nikolai Knyzhov D L 27 2025 Kemerovo, Russia Abbotsford
76 Finland Aku Koskenvuo G L 22 2025 Espoo, Finland Vancouver
92 Russia Vitali Kravtsov RW R 25 2025 Vladivostok, Russia Vancouver
89 United States Jackson Kunz C L 23 2025 Grand Forks, North Dakota Abbotsford
14 United States Joseph Labate C L 32 2025 Eagan, Minnesota Vancouver
6 Canada Jayden Lee D R 24 2025 North Vancouver, British Columbia Abbotsford
20 United States Mackenzie MacEachern (A) LW L 31 2025 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Vancouver
39 Canada Ty Mueller C L 22 2024 Cochrane, Alberta Vancouver
45 Canada Sawyer Mynio D L 20 2024 Kamloops, British Columbia Vancouver
30 Czech Republic Jiri Patera G L 26 2024 Prague, Czech Republic Vancouver
73 Latvia Anri Ravinskis LW L 22 2025 Riga, Latvia Vancouver
48 United States Jimmy Schuldt (A) D L 30 2025 Minnetonka, Minnesota Vancouver
61 Canada Chase Stillman RW R 22 2025 St. Louis, Missouri Vancouver
60 Belarus Nikita Tolopilo G L 25 2023 Minsk, Belarus Vancouver
93 Canada Cooper Walker C R 23 2023 Cambridge, Ontario Abbotsford
4 Canada Jett Woo (A) Injured Reserve D R 25 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Vancouver
21 Canada Chase Wouters (C) C R 25 2021 North Battleford, Saskatchewan Abbotsford
85 Canada Ty Young G L 21 2024 Coaldale, Alberta Vancouver

Team captains

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Head coaches

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References

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  1. ^ a b "AHL's Newest Franchise Named Abbotsford Canucks". Vancouver Canucks. July 14, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Ryan Johnson Confirmed as G.M. of Abbotsford Franchise". Vancouver Canucks. June 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Report: Vancouver Canucks Purchase Rivermen; Move to Abbotsford?". Thecanuckway.com. March 29, 2013. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  4. ^ Kramer, Lindsay (February 26, 2013). "Possible AHL move to Utica stirs conflicting reports". The Post-Standard. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  5. ^ McIntyre, Gordon (April 23, 2013). "Abbotsford Heat staying put for next season at least after Canucks talks break down". The Province. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  6. ^ Dan Kinvig (April 13, 2013). "Heat's territorial rights limit Canucks' local AHL options - Abbotsford News". Abbotsford News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  7. ^ Mirtle, James (June 17, 2013). "Seattle on NHL's relocation radar yet again". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  8. ^ Eminian, Dave (April 23, 2013). "Civic Center begins talks with NHL Vancouver over Rivermen". Peoria Journal-Star. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  9. ^ Brough, Jason (June 6, 2013). "Report: Canucks moving AHL affiliate to Utica". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  10. ^ "Canucks extend affiliate deal with the AHL's Utica Comets". The Province. December 29, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  11. ^ "Canucks extend AHL affiliate deal with Utica Comets". Vancouver Canucks. December 29, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  12. ^ "Coaching and Training Staff for Abbotsford Canucks Announced". Vancouver Canucks. July 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Kuzma, Ben (June 8, 2025). "Abbotsford Canucks Recap: Max Sasson the hero as Abby advances to Calder Cup with 4-2 victory". The Province. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  14. ^ Beggs, Trevor (June 23, 2025). "Abbotsford Canucks complete epic comeback to win first-ever Calder Cup". Daily Hive. Daily Hive Vancouver. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  15. ^ "Abbotsford Canucks Team roster". eliteprospects.com. October 28, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
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