Abbotsford Canucks debut goalie helps secure first win on home ice

JEN FIELD/GATG

November 12, 2025 marked the second matchup between the Abbotsford Canucks and the San Jose Barracuda. Abbotsford was coming off a 7-0 loss and looked to redeem themselves in this game. 

Phip Waugh made his Abbotsford Canucks debut, while Aku Koskenvuo made his AHL debut in net. 

The first period started with heavy game play, clean hits, and a constant drive of the puck to the opposing net. 

San Jose’s Lucas Carlsson opened the scoring in the first period at 7:31. 

Incomplete passes and turnovers continued to be a challenge in the flow of game play for Abbotsford.  

Vilmer Alriksson took the first Abbotsford penalty at 16:13 in the first period for roughing. Giving San Jose the man advantage. 

Koskenvuo held his own throughout the penalty kill with some incredible saves keeping the score 1-0. 

The game's physicality picked up at the end of the first. Ty Mueller took the second penalty of the game with 8.5 seconds left in the first for tripping. 

The first period ended 1-0 for San Jose. 

The second period began with Abbotsford on the penalty kill. Though Abbotsford remained successful on the penalty kill, San Jose would bite back moments later with Quentin Musty scoring at 1:09 in the second. 

The intensity and physicality remained high throughout the beginning of the second period. Abbotsford continued to battle hard, bringing the puck into the San Jose zone. 

Joe Arntsen put Abbotsford on the board at 4:12 in the second. The goal was assisted by Arnaud Durandeau and Ty Mueller. This was Arntsen’s first goal of the season. 

 San Jose’s Carlsson took a delay of game penalty at 8:26. Giving Abbotsford their first power play of the night. 

Mueller capitalized on the man advantage scoring the tying goal at 9:26. The goal was assisted by Nils Åman and Ben Berard. This was Mueller’s second goal of the season. 

Both teams battled for the puck trying to break the tie but it would be Colin White of San Jose who got the goal at 14:56 in the second.

Abbotsford came close to tying the game late in the second, however, the period would end 3-2 for San Jose. 

The third period started strong with both teams driving the puck to the opposing nets. The physicality ramped up sending Joseph Labate and Shane Bowers to the penalty box for fighting at 3:46. 

Sawyer Mynio took a holding penalty at 8:19 in the third, putting Abbotsford on the penalty kill. They were successful on the penalty kill and game close to scoring a short handed goal. 

San Jose’s Musty took a slashing penalty at 15:07, giving Abbotsford their second power play of the night, where they looked to tie the game. 

San Jose would be 1-1 on the penalty kill and kept the score 3-2. 

Abbotsford pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. San Jose Filip Bystedt took a holding penalty at 18:33 giving Abbotsford another chance to tie the game late in the third. 

LaBate capitalized on the man advantage scoring the tying goal at 18:44. The goal was assisted by Mynio and Åman. 

The third period ended 3-3 sending the game to overtime. 

Both teams played solid defense throughout overtime sending the game to a shoot out. Berard secured the game winning goal in the shoot out, to give Abbotsford the win. 

Abbotsford broke their losing streak, securing their first win on home ice this season, defeating San Jose 4-3. Giving Koskenvuo his first AHL win in his debut game. 

After the game Koskenvuo shared what his mindset was going into the game; “It’s obviously a jump in skill level and pace compared to the [East] coast….[I’m] not focusing too much on the result, just trying to see what I can do, the stuff I need [to do to] bring good results.” 

Mueller commented on the win; “It feels great. I think the last couple games are showing signs that we can play, and especially tonight, coming back from down to [this] shows we got more than what we’ve shown so far.”

The team is new and still finding their stride but the win in this game brought a sense of hope and light to the team and its fanbase. 

The Abbotsford Canucks head on the road for back to back away series. They play their next home game on December 2, 7pm, PST against the Calgary Wranglers.