The bandwagoners guide to the Abbotsford Canucks

Photo: Darren McDonald

The Canucks are in the playoffs.

Not those Canucks or those playoffs, of course. But that doesn’t mean the Abbotsford Canucks’ participation in the American Hockey League’s playoffs doesn’t include a whole bunch of NHL players and a lot of potential excitement (not to mention a less inevitable conclusion.)

Abbotsford hosted its first AHL playoff game in nearly a decade on Wednesday and won.

With the Canucks returning Friday night, we provide a quick explainer for locals looking to hop on a Canucks bandwagon that hasn’t shut down for the season—or for those looking to rekindle a passion for junior hockey.

Who are these guys?

The Abbotsford Canucks play in the American Hockey League. Like all AHL teams, the Canucks generally function as a training ground/holding cell for players contracted to their NHL “parent club” but who, for any variety of reasons, aren’t currently among the 22 players rubbing shoulders with Elias Pettersson..

The players generally fit into one of a handful of groups:

1) Younger players who are still developing their talent to where they can play regularly at the NHL level. Some of these athletes may be extremely skilled, but may lack (at least in their coach’s eyes) the physical attributes needed to withstand play in the NHL. Others may need to figure out the defensive or mental sides of the game. In some cases, a player may be good enough to play occasionally in the NHL but is in the AHL to play a larger role, and get more ice time to further their development.

Some of these players may be projected to be future stars in the NHL, or at least long-term contributors. The future of others may be less certain, but still promising. Not every player will graduate full-time to the NHL, but usually a handful will. The Abbotsford Canucks include players like Nils Höglander and Vasily Podkolzin (currently injured) who were high NHL draft picks and previously played in Vancouver, and who still carry the hopes of many Canucks fans.

Most of the Abbotsford roster is built around these types of guy. Names to watch include:Linus Karlsson, Nils Höglander, Vasily Podkolzin, Tristen Nielsen, Arshdeep Bains, Aatu Räty, Jack Rathbone, Jett Woo, Artūrs Šilovs, Danila Klimovich.

2) Mid- and late-career players who have carved out solid minor-league careers while never breaking into the NHL on a permanent basis. Many of these players will have played a few games in the big league. But they may have been unable to make a big impression, or found themselves in a position where there are even better players ahead of them. But they’re still very good hockey players, and their talent can allow them to make significant contributions to an AHL team like the Abbotsford Canucks, while waiting in the wings in case the NHL squad needs reinforcements, either because of injuries or poor performance.

Some players, like Seth Griffiths of the Bakersfield Condors—the Canucks’ current playoff opponent—may struggle at the NHL level (Griffiths amassed just 19 points in 80 career NHL games) and be lethal scorers in the AHL (this year he netted 60 points in 73 AHL games).

Prominent current Abbotsford Canucks in this mold include: Justin Dowling, Kyle Rau, John Stevens, Vincent Arseneau, Spencer Martin

3) Some AHL squads have a player who has previously been a prominent NHL star but who, whether because of age, injury, deteriorating skill or sometimes their contracts, have found themselves in the minor leagues. Sometimes these players end up being retained for their leadership and know-how and ability to work with younger players.

The Canucks don’t actually have any of these players

4) Finally, at AHL playoff time, there are sometimes players who have recently graduated to the National Hockey League but who still qualify to play for their minor league team. If their parent club doesn’t make the NHL playoffs, they can then return to help their minor league team make a playoff push.

The Abbotsford Canucks have two prominent players who finished the year in Vancouver.

Abbotsford’s best player this year was Christian Wolanin, a 28-year-old defenceman who led the Canucks in scoring, despite playing only 49 games because he was called up to the NHL in February. While in Vancouver, he was praised for his ability on the puck and ouptlayed many more experienced defenders

Wolanin also won the AHL’s award for best defenceman in the league and is back in Abbotsford for the playoffs.

Noah Juulsen, another defenceman who played well for the Vancouver Canucks at the end of the season, has also returned to Abbotsford. Juulsen should feel at home—not only did he play 49 games this year and 50 last year for the AHL club—he actually grew up in Abbotsford and attended the games of the Abbotsford Heat, the city’s previous minor league hockey team. (Juulsen also won the team’s “Man of the Year” award in 2021/22 for his work off the ice.)

The playoffs

The AHL playoffs have a rare format that begins with a best-of-three series in which the team with the better regular season record hosts all three games.

The Canucks are hosting the Bakersfield Condors, the Edmonton Oilers farm team. Last year the teams also played in the first round, though Bakersfield was the host and won two games to quickly sweep Abbotsford out of the playoffs.

This year, the Canucks had a slightly better record in the 72-game regular season, giving them the right to host. The Canucks should have an additional edge because while they can draw on players like Wolanin and Juulsen, who might otherwise be playing in the NHL, the Condors’ farm team is in the NHL playoffs.

So players who could make the difference for Bakersfield may be found on NHL ice in Edmonton, or even just watching the games from the stands.

The first game

The Canucks beat the Condors 3--0 Wednesday night to take a crucial 1-0 lead. Spencer Martin, who spent much of the last season in the NHL, got the shutout. One more win will take the Canucks’ into the second-round, which will be a best-of-seven series.

Attendance figures were not revealed, but the game was well-attended but not a sell-out.

The second game

Game 2 takes place tonight, Friday, at 7pm at Abbotsford Centre. As of the writing of this story, there were plenty of tickets still available. Ticket prices range from $30 (including fees) to $87.

Other analysis

• Canucks Army tallied 19 different items of interest for the series, including highlights of the Condors’ strengths.

• The Hockey Writers highlights three Abbotsford Canucks to watch during the playoff run (they point to Christian Wolanin, Arshdeep Bains, and Linus Karlsson.

• And The Province focused on five storylines to watch in the series.

The other playoff run

Although the Canucks are just starting their playoff push, another Fraser Valley club is already deep into their own post-season.

The British Columbia Hockey League’s Chilliwack Chiefs need just one more win to advance to the third-round. They hold a 3-1 series lead over the Nanaimo Clippers, who just barely staved off elimination with an overtime win Wednesday. Despite being underdogs in both series and having a weaker regular season record than the Clippers and their first-round opponent, the Coquitlam Express, the Chiefs have lost just twice in the playoffs.

(The Langley Rivermen lost their first-round series in six games.)

If they advance to the third round, the Chiefs will play the winner of the other Coastal Semifinal: either the Surrey Eagles or Alberni Valley Bulldogs. First, though, the Chiefs need to beat the Clippers. The two teams will face off tonight, Friday, in Nanaimo. If the Clippers win, they will return to Chilliwack for Game 6. You’ll find tickets here, whether they are for Game 6, or the third round.