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Abbotsford Canucks

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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 titles0
Calder Cups0
Current season

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

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

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 — — —

Players

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Current roster

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Updated October 26, 2024.[13]

Team roster
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
5 Canada Layton Ahac D L 23 2024 North Vancouver, British Columbia Abbotsford
79 Canada Samuel Blais LW L 28 2024 Montmagny, Quebec Abbotsford
55 Canada Guillaume Brisebois D L 27 2021 Longueuil, Quebec Vancouver
34 Canada Phillip Di Giuseppe LW L 31 2021 Maple, Ontario Vancouver
58 United States Christian Felton D R 24 2024 Medina, Ohio Vancouver
51 Canada Mark Friedman D R 28 2023 Toronto, Ontario Vancouver
61 Canada Ty Glover C L 24 2023 Salford, England, Great Britain Vancouver
41 Canada Akito Hirose D L 25 2023 Calgary, Alberta Vancouver
17 United States Dino Kambeitz RW R 24 2024 Parker, Colorado Abbotsford
94 Sweden Linus Karlsson C R 24 2022 Eksjö, Sweden Vancouver
18 Belarus Danila Klimovich C R 21 2021 Pinsk, Belarus Vancouver
59 Russia Kirill Kudryavtsev D L 20 2024 Yaroslavl, Russia Vancouver
23 Sweden Jonathan Lekkerimaki RW R 20 2024 Huddinge, Sweden Vancouver
48 United States Cole McWard D R 23 2023 Fenton, Missouri Vancouver
39 Canada Ty Mueller C L 21 2024 Cochrane, Alberta Vancouver
84 Canada Tristen Nielsen C L 24 2021 Fort St. John, British Columbia Vancouver
30 Czech Republic Jiri Patera G L 25 2024 Prague, Czech Republic Vancouver
25 Sweden Elias Pettersson D L 20 2024 Västerås, Sweden Vancouver
54 Finland Aatu Raty C L 21 2023 Oulunsalo, Finland Vancouver
63 United States Max Sasson (A) C L 24 2023 Birmingham, Michigan Vancouver
83 United States Nathan Smith C R 26 2024 Tampa, Florida Vancouver
14 United States John Stevens (A) C L 30 2021 Sea Isle City, New Jersey Abbotsford
60 Belarus Nikita Tolopilo G L 24 2023 Minsk, Belarus Vancouver
56 Canada Carsen Twarynski LW L 26 2024 Calgary, Alberta Abbotsford
90 Canada Cooper Walker C R 22 2023 Cambridge, Ontario Abbotsford
86 United States Christian Wolanin (A) D L 29 2022 Quebec City, Quebec Vancouver
4 Canada Jett Woo (A) D R 24 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Vancouver
21 Canada Chase Wouters (C) C R 24 2021 North Battleford, Saskatchewan Abbotsford

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. ^ "Abbotsford Canucks Team roster". eliteprospects.com. October 26, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
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