| 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[1] |
| 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 | 
|
Joe Arntsen
|
D | L | 21 | 2024 | Swift Current, Saskatchewan | Abbotsford |
| 62 |
|
Josh Bloom
|
LW | L | 21 | 2023 | Oakville, Ontario | Vancouver |
| 55 |
|
Guillaume Brisebois
|
D | L | 27 | 2021 | Longueuil, Quebec | Vancouver |
| 40 | 
|
Derek Daschke
|
D | L | 26 | 2023 | Troy, Michigan | Abbotsford |
| 15 |
|
Sheldon Dries
(A) |
C | L | 30 | 2021 | Macomb Township, Michigan | Vancouver |
| 68 |
|
Christian Felton
|
D | R | 24 | 2024 | Medina, Ohio | Vancouver |
| 17 |
|
Marc Gatcomb
|
RW | R | 25 | 2022 | Woburn, Massachusetts | Abbotsford |
| 40 |
|
Ty Glover
|
C | L | 23 | 2023 | Salford, England, Great Britain | Vancouver |
| 2 |
|
Akito Hirose
|
D | L | 25 | 2023 | Calgary, Alberta | Vancouver |
| 48 | 
|
Filip Johansson
|
D | R | 24 | 2023 | Västerås, Sweden | Vancouver |
| 41 |
|
Alex Kannok Leipert
|
D | R | 24 | 2021 | Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand | Abbotsford |
| 75 |
|
Jonathan Lemieux
|
G | L | 23 | 2023 | Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec | Abbotsford |
| 32 |
|
Jermaine Loewen
|
LW | L | 26 | 2023 | Mandeville, Jamaica | Abbotsford |
| 25 |
|
Aidan McDonough
|
LW | L | 24 | 2023 | Milton, Massachusetts | Vancouver |
| 45 |
|
Sawyer Mynio
|
D | L | 19 | 2024 | Kamloops, British Columbia | Vancouver |
| 84 |
|
Tristen Nielsen
|
C | L | 24 | 2021 | Fort St. John, British Columbia | Vancouver |
| 39 |
|
Chad Nychuk
|
D | L | 23 | 2022 | Rossburn, Manitoba | Abbotsford |
| 51 |
|
Josh Passolt
|
LW | L | 28 | 2023 | Hayward, Wisconsin | Abbotsford |
| 14 |
|
John Stevens
(A) |
C | L | 30 | 2021 | Sea Isle City, New Jersey | Abbotsford |
| 60 | 
|
Nikita Tolopilo
|
G | L | 24 | 2023 | Minsk, Belarus | Vancouver |
| 90 |
|
Cooper Walker
|
C | R | 22 | 2023 | Cambridge, Ontario | Abbotsford |
| 4 |
|
Jett Woo
|
D | R | 24 | 2021 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Vancouver |
| 21 |
|
Chase Wouters
(C) |
C | R | 24 | 2021 | North Battleford, Saskatchewan | Abbotsford |
| 98 | 
|
Dmitri Zlodeyev
|
C | L | 22 | 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[]
| 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 |