Abby Canucks Return – Four Home Games

Photo Credit Sportswave

While we have been without pro hockey for a while due to restrictions implemented for our safety by the Provincial Government we are having it return this week in Abbotsford.

The Abbotsford Canucks or “Baby Canucks” as some are calling them are set to play scheduled games later in the week as they are scheduled to play host to the Bakersfield Condors. 

The first of four was initially scheduled for January 5th (Wednesday) but has been moved to Thursday (January 6th) and will be played in front of a crowd of half capacity.

Earlier in the week it was announced by the AHL that all tickets that have been purchased are valid and all ticket holders are eligible to attend the game.

In what might seem like a strange set of games in Abbotsford for games Friday (Jan. 7), Sunday (Jan. 9) and Monday (Jan. 10) the two teams will face-off at 7 pm, except the Sunday game which is scheduled to begin at 4 pm.

Both of those games were on the original schedule, which was released back on July 23, 2021. Teams playing each other more than twice in a week is extremely rare in the AHL, but does occur at times in the ECHL.

The Thursday and Monday games were initially scheduled for Nov. 19 and 21, but the flooding in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley prevented those games from occurring.

While many are going through a withdrawal of semi-pro hockey we are reminded that the Abbotsford Canucks last home game was December 5th, knowing that they played their last game Dec. 19th in a 3-1 loss to the Henderson Silver Knights. 

The games will be played in front of a 50 per cent capacity crowd at Abbotsford Centre and we should remember that the players you watch in Abbotsford are future NHL Canucks.

We are also hearing that the league’s Board Of Governors announced that the 2021-22 regular season calendar has officially been extended by six (6) days ; the regular season ending on April 30th.

AHL President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Howson mentioned “Nearly all of our 31 teams have seen their schedules impacted by COVID-related postponements and adding time to the end of the regular season will give our clubs more opportunities to reschedule these games.”

On a side-note we are reminded that the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs are expected to finish prior to June 30.

Half capacity is better than nothing!!!