Abbotsford Canucks

	Abbotsford Canucks
City:	Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
League:	American Hockey League
Conference:	Western
Division:	Pacific
Founded:	1932
Home Arena:	Abbotsford Centre
Owner(s):	Canucks Sports & Entertainment
General Manager:	Ryan Johnson
Head Coach:	Manny Malhotra
Captain:	Chase Wouters
Affiliates:	Vancouver Canucks (NHL); Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)
Franchise history
1932–1935:	Quebec Beavers
1935–1951:	Springfield Indians
1951–1954:	Syracuse Warriors
1954–1967:	Springfield Indians
1967–1974:	Springfield Kings
1974–1994:	Springfield Indians
1994–2005:	Worcester IceCats
2005–2013:	Peoria Rivermen
2013–2021:	Utica Comets
2021–present:	Abbotsford Canucks

The Abbotsford Canucks are a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and members of the American Hockey League (AHL). The team began play in the 2021–22 season with home games at Abbotsford Centre as the 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[]

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.^[2] 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 rumored to be relocating to Utica, New York, at the time.^[3] Negotiations between the Canucks and Abbotsford broke down by April 22 and the Heat remained in the city.^[4]

After exploring options for having the team in Vancouver,^[5] Seattle,^[6] and Peoria,^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9]^[10]

On July 14, the name, logo, and colours were released.^[11] The Vancouver Canucks transferred both former Comets general manager Ryan Johnson^[1] and head coach Trent Cull to Abbotsford.^[12]

Season-by-season records[]

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	—	—	—

Players[]

Current roster[]

Updated May 13, 2024.^[13]

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace	Contract
3	Canada	Arntsen, JoeJoe Arntsen	2.0 D	L	22	2024	Swift Current, Saskatchewan	Abbotsford
62	Canada	Bloom, JoshJosh Bloom	6.0 LW	L	22	2023	Oakville, Ontario	Vancouver
55	Canada	Brisebois, GuillaumeGuillaume Brisebois	2.0 D	L	27	2021	Longueuil, Quebec	Vancouver
40	United States	Daschke, DerekDerek Daschke	2.0 D	L	27	2023	Troy, Michigan	Abbotsford
15	United States	Dries, SheldonSheldon Dries (A)	4.0 C	L	31	2021	Macomb Township, Michigan	Vancouver
68	United States	Felton, ChristianChristian Felton	2.0 D	R	25	2024	Medina, Ohio	Vancouver
17	United States	Gatcomb, MarcMarc Gatcomb	7.0 RW	R	25	2022	Woburn, Massachusetts	Abbotsford
40	Canada	Glover, TyTy Glover	4.0 C	L	24	2023	Salford, England, Great Britain	Vancouver
2	Canada	Hirose, AkitoAkito Hirose	2.0 D	L	26	2023	Calgary, Alberta	Vancouver
48	Sweden	Johansson, FilipFilip Johansson	2.0 D	R	25	2023	Västerås, Sweden	Vancouver
41	Canada	Kannok Leipert, AlexAlex Kannok Leipert	2.0 D	R	24	2021	Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand	Abbotsford
75	Canada	Lemieux, JonathanJonathan Lemieux	1.0 G	L	24	2023	Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec	Abbotsford
32	Canada	Loewen, JermaineJermaine Loewen	6.0 LW	L	27	2023	Mandeville, Jamaica	Abbotsford
25	United States	McDonough, AidanAidan McDonough	6.0 LW	L	25	2023	Milton, Massachusetts	Vancouver
45	Canada	Mynio, SawyerSawyer Mynio	2.0 D	L	20	2024	Kamloops, British Columbia	Vancouver
84	Canada	Nielsen, TristenTristen Nielsen	4.0 C	L	25	2021	Fort St. John, British Columbia	Vancouver
39	Canada	Nychuk, ChadChad Nychuk	2.0 D	L	24	2022	Rossburn, Manitoba	Abbotsford
51	United States	Passolt, JoshJosh Passolt	6.0 LW	L	29	2023	Hayward, Wisconsin	Abbotsford
14	United States	Stevens, JohnJohn Stevens (A)	4.0 C	L	31	2021	Sea Isle City, New Jersey	Abbotsford
60	Belarus	Tolopilo, NikitaNikita Tolopilo	1.0 G	L	25	2023	Minsk, Belarus	Vancouver
90	Canada	Walker, CooperCooper Walker	4.0 C	R	22	2023	Cambridge, Ontario	Abbotsford
4	Canada	Woo, JettJett Woo	2.0 D	R	24	2021	Winnipeg, Manitoba	Vancouver
21	Canada	Wouters, ChaseChase Wouters (C)	4.0 C	R	25	2021	North Battleford, Saskatchewan	Abbotsford
98	Russia	Zlodeyev, DmitriDmitri Zlodeyev	4.0 C	L	23	2023	Voronezh, Russia	Abbotsford

Team captains[]

Chase Wouters, 2022–present

Head coaches[]

Trent Cull, 2021–2022

Jeremy Colliton, 2022–2024
Manny Malhotra, 2024–present

References[]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Ryan Johnson Confirmed as G.M. of Abbotsford Franchise (June 25, 2021).
↑ Report: Vancouver Canucks Purchase Rivermen; Move to Abbotsford?. Thecanuckway.com (March 29, 2013).
↑ Kramer, Lindsay (February 26, 2013). Possible AHL move to Utica stirs conflicting reports. The Post-Standard.
↑ McIntyre, Gordon (2013-04-23). Abbotsford Heat staying put for next season at least after Canucks talks break down. The Province.
↑ Dan Kinvig (April 13, 2013). Heat's territorial rights limit Canucks' local AHL options - Abbotsford News. Abbotsford News.
↑ Mirtle, James (June 17, 2013). Seattle on NHL's relocation radar yet again. The Globe and Mail.
↑ Eminian, Dave (April 23, 2013). Civic Center begins talks with NHL Vancouver over Rivermen. Peoria Journal-Star.
↑ Brough, Jason (June 6, 2013). Report: Canucks moving AHL affiliate to Utica. NBC Sports.
↑ Canucks extend affiliate deal with the AHL's Utica Comets. The Province (December 29, 2018).
↑ Canucks extend AHL affiliate deal with Utica Comets. Vancouver Canucks (December 29, 2018).
↑ AHL's Newest Franchise Named Abbotsford Canucks (July 14, 2021).
↑ Coaching and Training Staff for Abbotsford Canucks Announced (July 16, 2021).
↑ Abbotsford Canucks Team roster. eliteprospects.com (May 13, 2024).

External links[]

Official website

[FirstGM-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Ryan Johnson Confirmed as G.M. of Abbotsford Franchise (June 25, 2021).

[2] Report: Vancouver Canucks Purchase Rivermen; Move to Abbotsford?. Thecanuckway.com (March 29, 2013).

[3] Kramer, Lindsay (February 26, 2013). Possible AHL move to Utica stirs conflicting reports. The Post-Standard.

[4] McIntyre, Gordon (2013-04-23). Abbotsford Heat staying put for next season at least after Canucks talks break down. The Province.

[5] Dan Kinvig (April 13, 2013). Heat's territorial rights limit Canucks' local AHL options - Abbotsford News. Abbotsford News.

[6] Mirtle, James (June 17, 2013). Seattle on NHL's relocation radar yet again. The Globe and Mail.

[PJS04232013-7] Eminian, Dave (April 23, 2013). Civic Center begins talks with NHL Vancouver over Rivermen. Peoria Journal-Star.

[8] Brough, Jason (June 6, 2013). Report: Canucks moving AHL affiliate to Utica. NBC Sports.

[9] Canucks extend affiliate deal with the AHL's Utica Comets. The Province (December 29, 2018).

[10] Canucks extend AHL affiliate deal with Utica Comets. Vancouver Canucks (December 29, 2018).

[NameColours-11] AHL's Newest Franchise Named Abbotsford Canucks (July 14, 2021).

[12] Coaching and Training Staff for Abbotsford Canucks Announced (July 16, 2021).

[13] Abbotsford Canucks Team roster. eliteprospects.com (May 13, 2024).

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Abbotsford Canucks
Formerly the Quebec Castors, Springfield Indians, Worcester IceCats, Peoria Rivermen, and Utica Comets - Founded in 1932 - Based in Abbotsford, British Columbia
The franchise	History - Players
Arena	Abbotsford Centre
Affiliates	Vancouver Canucks (NHL) - Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)
Past teams	Quebec Castors - Springfield Indians - Worcester IceCats - Peoria Rivermen - Utica Comets

Vancouver Canucks
The Franchise	Franchise • WHL years • Expansion Draft • History • All-time Roster • Draft Picks • Seasons • Records • Head Coaches
Arenas	Pacific Coliseum • Rogers Arena
Coaches	Laycoe • Stasiuk • McCreary • Maloney • Kurtenbach • Neale • Neilson • Neale • LaForge • Neale • Watt • McCammon • Quinn • Ley • Quinn • Renney • Keenan • Crawford • Vigneault • Tortorella • Desjardins • Green
General Managers	Poile • Laycoe • Maloney • Milford • Neale • Gordon • Quinn • Burke • Nonis • Gillis • Benning
Team awards	Babe Pratt Trophy • Cyclone Taylor Trophy • Cyrus H. McLean Trophy • Fred J. Hume Award • Molson Cup • Most Exciting Player Award • Daniel & Henrik Sedin Award
Retired numbers	10 • 11 (unofficial)• 12 • 16 • 19 • 22 • 28 (unofficial) • 33 • 37 (unofficial) • 99 (league wide)
Affiliates	Abbotsford AHL team (AHL) • Victoria Salmon Kings (ECHL)
Stanley Cup Finals (3)	Wins: None • Losses: 1982 • 1994 • 2011