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Abbotsford Canucks

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Abbotsford Canucks
CityAbbotsford, British Columbia
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionPacific
Founded1932
Home arenaRogers Forum
ColoursField green, Pacific blue, Fraser blue, valley fog grey, mountain white[1]
         
OwnerCanucks Sports & Entertainment
General managerRichard Seeley
Head coachRyan Papaioannou
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 Rogers Forum 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 franchise that became the Abbotsford Canucks was founded in Quebec City in 1932 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 rumoured 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, 2021, the name, logo, and colours for the Abbotsford Canucks were released.[1] The Vancouver Canucks transferred both former Comets general manager Ryan Johnson[11] 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, 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] The following season, during the 2025-26 campaign, the Canucks failed to defend their championship title by being formally eliminated from playoff contention following a series loss to the San Jose Barracuda on March 22, 2026 and ultimately finishing the season 9th place in the Pacific Division above the last place Calgary Wranglers.[15]

Although the Canucks do not formally acknowledge their pre-2021 legacy (or claim the Indians' seven Calder Cups), the franchise has iced a team in one form or another for all but seven seasons since 1932 in the CAHL (all but three not counting wartime or pandemic years). The Canucks and Hartford Wolf Pack—heirs to another charter AHL member, the Providence Reds—are the oldest minor-league hockey franchises in North America, and are the lsst surviving members of the original "circuit of mutual convenience" from 1936 that became the AHL. Among all professional hockey franchises, only the NHL's Original Six teams and the Wolf Pack are older than the Canucks.

Season-by-season records

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Regular season Playoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsPCTGFGAStandingYearPrelims1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
2021–226839235184.6182302005th, Pacific2022L, 0–2, BAK————
2022–237240253487.6042292034th, Pacific2023W, 2–0, BAKL, 1–3, CGY———
2023–247240255287.6042342105th, Pacific2024W, 2–1, COLL, 0–3, ONT———
2024–257244242292.6392412042nd, Pacific2025W, 2–1, TUCW, 3–1, CVW, 3–2, COLW, 4–2, TEXW, 4–2, CLT
2025–267228374363.4381732349th, Pacific2026—————

Players

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Current roster

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Updated August 6, 2026.[16]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
3 Canada Joe Arntsen D L 23 2024 Swift Current, Saskatchewan Abbotsford
29 Canada Ben Berard LW L 27 2024 Duncan, British Columbia Abbotsford
8 Canada Austin Brimmer RW R 24 2026 Markham, Ontario Abbotsford
– United States Quinn Emerson RW R 25 2026 Manhattan Beach, California Abbotsford
– United States Tim Rego D R 25 2026 Mansfield, Massachusetts Abbotsford
52 United States Bennett Schimek RW R 23 2026 Mendota Heights, Minnesota Abbotsford
– United States Ryan St. Louis LW L 23 2026 Burlington, Vermont Abbotsford
93 Canada Cooper Walker C R 24 2023 Cambridge, Ontario Abbotsford
– Canada Mitchell Weeks G L 25 2026 Barrie, Ontario Abbotsford
– Canada Gavin White D R 23 2026 Brockville, Ontario Abbotsford

Team captains

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Head coaches

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Notable alumni

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The following players have played both 100 games for the Abbotsford Canucks and 100 games in the National Hockey League:

References

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  1. 1 2 "AHL's Newest Franchise Named Abbotsford Canucks". Vancouver Canucks. July 14, 2021.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (February 26, 2013). "Possible AHL move to Utica stirs conflicting reports". The Post-Standard. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Mirtle, James (June 17, 2013). "Seattle on NHL's relocation radar yet again". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  7. ↑ Eminian, Dave (April 23, 2013). "Civic Center begins talks with NHL Vancouver over Rivermen". Peoria Journal-Star. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  8. ↑ Brough, Jason (June 6, 2013). "Report: Canucks moving AHL affiliate to Utica". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Canucks extend affiliate deal with the AHL's Utica Comets". The Province. December 29, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Canucks extend AHL affiliate deal with Utica Comets". Vancouver Canucks. December 29, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Ryan Johnson Confirmed as G.M. of Abbotsford Franchise". Vancouver Canucks. June 25, 2021. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021.
  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. ↑ Lypka, Ben (March 22, 2026). "Abbotsford Canucks eliminated from AHL playoffs". SurreyNOW Leader. SurreyNow Leader. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Abbotsford Canucks Team roster". eliteprospects.com. August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
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