B.C. team captures American Hockey League championship after thrilling comeback

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jun 23, 2025 11:33 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

The Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver's workplace squad successful the American Hockey League, are Calder Cup champions.

After spotting the big Charlotte Checkers the archetypal 2 goals connected Monday nighttime astatine Bojangles Coliseum, the Canucks roared backmost with 3 unanswered goals, including the victor from Linus Karlsson astatine 17:19 of the 2nd period.

Sammy Blais and Danila Klimovich besides scored for the Canucks, who were outshot 30-20 but received different prime show from netminder Arturs Silovs.

The goalie received the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy for being the playoff MVP. Silovs won a record-tying 16 games successful the post-season, including 5 shutouts. The 24-year-old goalie finished with a .931 prevention percentage.

Arshdeep Bains, who went into Game 6 with a playoff-leading 17 assists, added 2 much helpers for the Canucks.

John Leonard and Jack Devine scored first-period goals for the Checkers, who mislaid the best-of-seven American Hockey League title bid successful six games. The Checkers won the Memorial Cup successful 2018-19.

The Checkers led 2-1 aft the archetypal play but trailed 3-2 heading into the third.

Abbotsford went 1-for-2 connected the powerfulness play, portion Charlotte went 0-for-4.

The Canucks mislaid Game 5 successful overtime connected Saturday successful beforehand of the largest assemblage to ever witnesser an AHL crippled astatine the Abbotsford Centre successful B.C.'s Lower Mainland.

WATCH | Record assemblage sees Game 5: 

The Canucks, coached by first-year seat brag Manny Malhotra, go the archetypal Canadian squad to triumph the Calder Cup since the Toronto Marlies did it successful 2017-18.

Abbotsford's post-season slogan, "Never Satisfied," mightiness person to beryllium altered. The Canucks knocked disconnected the Tucson Roadrunners 2-1 successful the Pacific Division's archetypal circular of playoffs, followed by a 3-1 triumph implicit the Coachella Valley Firebirds successful the semifinals.

The Canucks outlasted the Colorado Eagles 3-2 successful the Pacific Division final, past bounced the Texas Stars 4-2 successful the Western Conference final.

In winning the Calder Cup, they go the archetypal Vancouver Canucks affiliate to ever bash so, and the archetypal champion to travel retired of the Pacific Division since it was formed successful 2015.

Malhotra is the archetypal rookie caput manager to triumph the Calder Cup since Jeff Blashill successful 2013.

Mayor hails 'phenomenal team'

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens — sporting a Canucks jersey connected Monday — commended what helium called a "phenomenal team" who went connected a large postseason run.

He said plans for a large solemnisation successful the Fraser Valley city, of astir 170,000 residents, would beryllium organized successful the coming days.

"Abbotsford truly has truthful overmuch that radical don't recognize [when] they spell by connected the freeway," helium said. "And this has fixed america not conscionable determination exposure, but you know, nationalist and North America-wide exposure."

Siemens said the Canucks' AHL affiliate was precise progressive successful the community, and their postseason tally garnered enactment from each crossed the Lower Mainland.

"It's a Canadian win. You know, we conscionable brought the American Hockey League Cup location to Canada, wherever it belongs," helium said.