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Abbotsford Canucks forward Arshdeep Bains named to 2024 AHL all-star game

Surrey product will become second-ever player to represent Abbotsford Canucks
Ben Lypka
Ben Lypka
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Arshdeep Bains has been named to the 2024 AHL all-star game. (Photo courtesy Abbotsford Canucks)

Abbotsford Canucks forward Arshdeep Bains is heading to the 2024 American Hockey League all-star game next month.

The AHL recently announced rosters for the event, Feb. 4-5 in San Jose, and the sophomore from Surrey is the Abbotsford Canucks representative on the Pacific Division roster.

It’s the first all-star appearance for Bains. He follows defenceman Christian Wolanin, who last year became the first Abbotsford Canucks player to represent the team at the league’s all-star game.

Bains said playing in the AHL all-star game wasn’t something on his radar at the start of the current season.

“I was just trying to play hockey and be a Canuck,” Bains recalled. “But probably a month or two ago, I thought I might get this opportunity, just trying to play my best hockey to give myself a chance. It’s pretty special that I get to be part of this.”

Bains has emerged as the top offensive player on the Canucks this season with 29 points in 29 games. He leads the team in points, assists and is second in plus/minus at a +11. He ranks in the top-10 in the AHL for assists and top-20 for points. Bains has also been the team’s top producer on the power play with eight points.

He also had a solid rookie campaign, collecting 38 points in 66 games and adding three points in six playoff games. Bains is signed through the 2024-25 season.

“I was able to kind of get the ball rolling last year,” Bains confirmed. “I know I got better throughout this season. Then training camp in Vancouver last summer, it was a momentum thing and building on that. At camp I was able to play with some veteran linemates so I learned from them, what it takes to play for the big club and pace of play, all that.”

Bains, 23, is still waiting for his first shot to play for the “big club” in Vancouver, and all-star recognition in the AHL should help him reach that goal one day.

RELATED: Surrey’s Arshdeep Bains chasing pro hockey dream in Abbotsford

“This is a huge recognition for Bainsy, as it is voted on by other coaches in our division,” said Abbotsford Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson. “He has put in a lot of work to get to this point, and we are confident that this is just the beginning for him.”

In San Jose, Bains will play on a team with other Pacific Division talent like Calgary Wranglers goalie Dustin Wolf, Tucson Roadrunners forward Dylan Guenther and Ontario Reign defenceman Brandt Clarke. The Pacific Division team will be coached by former Abbotsford Canucks and current Wranglers head coach Trent Cull.

The four teams will participate in a 3-on-3, round-robin tournament featuring six games of 10 minutes each on Feb. 5. The two teams with the best records at the end of the round-robin will face off for the championship, a six-minute, 3-on-3 game.

Bains will also participate in the skills competition event on Feb. 4.

He and the Abbotsford Canucks return to the Abbotsford Centre for games against the Tucson Roadrunners on Friday (Jan. 12) and Saturday (Jan. 13).

with a file from Tom Zillich

Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford News in 2015.
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