Abbotsford Canucks

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Abbotsford Canucks
2021–22 AHL season
Abbotsford Canucks logo.svg
CityAbbotsford, British Columbia
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 coachTrent Cull
AffiliatesVancouver Canucks (NHL)
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

The Abbotsford Canucks are a 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 the 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.[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 relocate 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]

In April 2021, a new trademark was filed for the brand "Utica Devils" by Robert Esche for a potential relocation of the Binghamton Devils.[12] On May 4, the Canucks announced that they planned to relocate the Comets' franchise to Abbotsford, pending final discussions with the city of Abbotsford and league approval, for the 2021–22 season.[13] On May 6, the league approved both the relocations of the Canucks owned Comets franchise to Abbotsford and the Devils franchise to Utica[14] with the Utica team remaining branded as the Comets.[15] The Canucks and the city of Abbotsford signed a five-year agreement on June 29 to host the team, with options for further renewal that could extend the deal for as long as twenty years.[16]

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.[17]

Players[]

Current roster[]

Updated December 11, 2021.[18]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
18 Canada LW L 24 2021 Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec Abbotsford
95 United States Justin Bailey (A) RW R 26 2021 Buffalo, New York Vancouver
4 Canada Madison Bowey D R 26 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Vancouver
55 Canada Guillaume Brisebois D L 29 2021 Longueuil, Quebec Vancouver
2 Canada D L 26 2021 Elmira, Ontario Abbotsford
34 Canada Phil Di Giuseppe LW L 28 2021 Maple, Ontario Abbotsford
65 Canada Michael DiPietro G L 22 2021 Windsor, Ontario Vancouver
15 United States Sheldon Dries C L 27 2021 Macomb, Michigan Vancouver
19 Canada C L 21 2021 Regina, Saskatchewan Vancouver
41 Canada D R 21 2021 Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand Abbotsford
92 Canada LW L 20 2021 Whitby, Ontario Abbotsford
46 Belarus Danila Klimovich C R 18 2021 Pinsk, Belarus Vancouver
10 United States Will Lockwood RW R 23 2021 Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec Abbotsford
14 Canada RW R 26 2021 Squamish, British Columbia Abbotsford
30 Canada Spencer Martin G L 26 2021 Oakville, Ontario Vancouver
84 Canada C L 21 2021 Fort St. John, British Columbia Abbotsford
7 Canada Nic Petan C L 26 2021 Delta, British Columbia Vancouver
62 Czech Republic LW L 21 2021 Prerov, Czech Republic Vancouver
3 United States Jack Rathbone D L 22 2021 Boston, Massachusetts Vancouver
56 Canada Sheldon Rempal RW R 26 2021 Calgary, Alberta Vancouver
6 Canada Ashton Sautner (A) D L 27 2021 Flin Flon, Manitoba Abbotsford
5 United States Cameron Schilling D L 33 2021 Carmel, Indiana Abbotsford
76 Latvia G L 20 2021 Riga, Latvia Vancouver
24 Canada D L 24 2021 White Rock, British Columbia Vancouver
16 United States  (A) C L 27 2021 Sea Isle City, New Jersey Vancouver
22 Canada Jett Woo D R 21 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Vancouver
21 Canada C R 21 2021 North Battleford, Saskatchewan Abbotsford

References[]

  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. 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. 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. ^ "Potential move of AHL teams puts future of hockey in Binghamton in question". WBNG. April 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "Canucks to move American Hockey League affiliate to Abbotsford". The Province. May 4, 2021.
  14. ^ "Board of Governors Approves Franchise Relocations". AHL. May 6, 2021.
  15. ^ "NEW JERSEY DEVILS SIGN TEN-YEAR AFFILIATION DEAL WITH UTICA COMETS". Utica Comets. May 6, 2021.
  16. ^ "Canucks and City of Abbotsford make AHL deal official". The Province. June 29, 2021.
  17. ^ "Coaching and Training Staff for Abbotsford Canucks Announced". Vancouver Canucks. July 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "Abbotsford Canucks Team roster". eliteprospects.com. December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.

External links[]

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