Abbotsford Canucks complete the sweep against the San Diego Gulls

JEN FIELD/GATG

March 29, 2026 marked the final matchup on Abbotsford ice between the Abbotsford Canucks and the San Diego Gulls. Last night the Abbotsford Canucks took a 5-2 victory, and looked for the repeat. 

The first period started hot with both teams battling for the opening goal. San Diego came close but Jiří Patera made some incredible saves. 

Game play on both sides had a chaotic energy to it as the teams tried to slow the puck and set up plays. 

Ben Berard opened the scoring at 5:32 in the first. The goal was assisted by Ty Mueller and Chase Stillman. 

San Diego’s Drew Elliott went to the box at 6:44 for holding, putting Abbotsford on the power play. San Diego was successful on the penalty kill. 

The physicality of the game started to ramp up as Abbotsford looked to get another point in the first, while San Diego looked to get the tying goal. 

Nils Åman got the second goal of the night at 12:11, the goal assisted by Nick Poisson and Austin Brimmer.

Bennett Schimek went to the box at 12:57 for holding, giving San Diego the man advantage. Abbotsford was successful on the penalty kill. 

Both teams continued to battle hard, Abbotsford trying for their third goal of the period, while San Diego looked to get their first. 

Åman went to the box at 18:59 for high-sticking, putting San Diego on the power play. At the buzzer it looked as though San Diego got on the board, however, the goal went under review. The goal would count and go to San Diego’s Sasha Pastujov at 19:59 in the first. 

The first period ended 2-1 for Abbotsford. 

The second period started with Abbotsford looking to regain their two goal lead, while San Diego looked to tie the game. 

Arshdeep Bains got Abbotsford back up by two at 1:46 in the second. The goal was assisted by Åman and Schimek. This would be Bains’ 50th AHL career goal. 

The period remained clean, leading to longer stretches in game play and opportunities on net for both teams. 

San Diego’s Elliott brought the game within one at 14:08 in the second. 

Dino Kambeitz went to the box at 19:21 for tripping, giving San Diego the man advantage. 

The second period ended 3-2 for Abbotsford. 

Abbotsford started the third period with 1:22 remaining on the penalty kill. San Diego’s Pastujov got the equalizer on the power play at 57 seconds into the third. 

Both teams battled hard for the tie breaking goal, Abbotsford looked to regain the lead, while San Diego looked to get their first lead of the night. 

Brimmer went to the box at 3:51 for delay of game, putting San Diego on the power play. Abbotsford was successful on the penalty kill. 

San Diego’s Nikita Nesterenko went to the box for a double minor at 6:59 for high-sticking, giving Abbotsford the man advantage. Danila Klimovich capitalized on the power play at 8:51, also breaking the tie. The assist went to Mynio and Kirill Kudryavtsev. 

Both teams continued to fight hard in the last half of the third. Abbotsford looked to pull ahead by two again, while San Diego looked to tie it up. 

Bennett Schimek got the fourth goal of the night at 12:51 in the third. The goal was assisted by Åman and Nikolai Knyzhov. This was Schimek’s first AHL career goal. 

Nick Poisson went to the box at 16:59 for tripping, putting San Diego on the power play. San Diego pulled their goalie with just over 2 minutes in the third to put the game 6-on-4. 

Abbotsford was successful on the penalty kill, but would go back on the defensive as Jimmy Schuldt went to the box at 19:01 for boarding. Giving San Diego the man advantage to end the game. 

Abbotsford took the game 5-3, sweeping San Diego for the second time this season on home ice. 

The Abbotsford Canucks are back in action on Friday, April 3 at 7 pm, PST against the Coachella Valley Firebirds at Rogers Forum.