Abbotsford Canucks celebrate 5 years as a team

JEN FIELD/GATG

December 7, 2025 marked the 5 year anniversary of the Abbotsford Canucks. Rogers Forum was set to celebrate the team's accomplishments throughout their time as a team. 

Abbotsford played their second game of two against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. They fell to them 4-3 in a shootout last night, and looked to split the series. 

Aku Koskenvuo started in net. Both teams started strong driving the puck into the opposing zone. 

Ben Berard served a bench minor for too many men at 3:18 in the first. Giving Coachella Valley the first man advantage of the game. Abbotsford was successful on the penalty kill. 

In the first half of the first period Abbotsford made up almost half the number of shots on net that they had the previous night. Both teams battled hard for the opening goal of the game. 

Chase Wouters went to the penalty box at 16:21 for tripping, putting Abbotsford back on the penalty kill. Abbotsford would go 2-for-2 on the penalty kill in the first period. 

Joe Arnsten and John Hayden of Coachella Valley dropped gloves with 49.8 seconds left in the first period. Arnsten took a 5 minute penalty for fighting. While Hayden would serve 2 minutes for instigating, 5 minutes for fighting and took a 10 minute misconduct. 

Koskenvuo made some incredible saves in the first. The period ended 0-0. 

Abbotsford started the second period on the power play, where they looked to open the scoring. Coachella Valley was successful on the penalty kill. 

Berard opened the scoring at 3:09 in the second. The goal was assisted by Nils Åman and Mackenzie MacEachern. 

Jagger Firkus went to the box for tripping at 4:33, giving Abbotsford the man advantage. Coachella Valley’s J.R. Avon tied the game on a short handed goal at 6:21. 

Jimmy Schuldt would head to the box at 12:38 for high-sticking, giving Coachella Valley the man advantage. Abbotsford was successful on the penalty kill. 

Danila Klimovich took a high-sticking penalty at 15:42, putting Abbotsford back on the defensive. Abbotsford remained successful on the penalty kill. 

The second period ended 1-1. 

Both teams battled hard in the opening minutes of the third period to break the tie. Abbotsford came close, but were unable to put the puck in the net. 

Coachella Valley’s Ben Meyers scored the tie breaking goal at 15:57. Putting the game 2-1 for Coachella Valley. 

Abbotsford looked to tie the game back up in the dying minutes of the game, pulling their goalie for an extra attacker. 

Coachella Valley’s Caden Price headed to the box with 18 seconds left on the clock putting Abbotsford 6-on-4. Despite their best efforts Abbotsford could not capitalize on the man advantage and the game ended 2-1 for Coachella Valley. 

The Abbotsford Canucks next home game takes place on Friday, December 19, 2025 at 7 pm, PST at Rogers Forum. They will face off against the Tucson Roadrunners in a 2 game series.