ECHL: Aiden Hansen-Bukata Signs with the Utah Grizzlies

Aiden Hansen-Bukata Junior Career

Aiden Hansen-Bukata started his junior career in the 2016-17 season when he joined the Surrey Eagles in the BCHL. He played in four games with Surrey, where he had two penalty minutes and did not register any points. Hansen-Bukata then went to the PJHL for a season, where he played for the Delta Ice Hawks. In 40 games with the Ice Hawks, Hansen-Bukata had four goals and 17 points with 20 penalty minutes. In 15 playoff games, he had two goals and 12 assists for 14 points with six penalty minutes, helping the Ice Hawks win the PJHL championship.

After one season in the PJHL, Hansen-Bukata went back to the BCHL, spending two seasons with the Nanaimo Clippers. He played in 102 games with the Clippers, where he had eight goals and 54 assists for 62 points. In nine playoff games through the two seasons, he had one goal and three assists for four points with two penalty minutes. In the 2018-19 season, Hansen-Bukata was named a BCHL Second Team All-Star after putting up 37 points in 55 games.

Aiden Hansen-Bukata College Career

Upon completing his junior career, Hansen-Bukata started his collegiate career with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Hansen-Bukata had a bit of a slow offensive start to his collegiate career, putting up just two points in his freshman season and 13 as a sophomore. But in his final two seasons at RIT, Hansen-Bukata had over 30 points each season. In his four seasons at RIT, Hansen-Bukata played in 132 games, where he had nine goals and 69 assists for 78 points. He served as an alternate captain of RIT in his senior season.

In the 2022-23 season, Hansen-Bukata was named the AHA Best Defenseman and was named to the AHA First All-Star Team before being named to the AHA Second All-Conference Team in the 2023-24 season. Hansen-Bukata and RIT were the AHA Regular Season Champions in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons and won the AHA championship in the 2023-24 season.

After spending four seasons at RIT, Hansen-Bukata decided to enter the portal for his final season of collegiate hockey, landing a spot at Ohio State, where he served as an alternate captain. In 38 games with the Buckeyes, Hansen-Bukata registered two goals and 29 assists for 31 points.

Pro Career So Far and What He Brings To Utah

After completing his collegiate career, Hansen-Bukata signed in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch to finish off his 2024-25 season. He only played in one game where he did not register any points and had a -1.

Hansen-Bukata brings a lot to the Grizzlies after they struggled on both offense and defense in the 2024-25 season. He has continued to grow his offensive game throughout his collegiate career, without letting his defensive game slip. While Hansen-Bukata is not a huge goal scorer, he is extremely good at finding open areas and setting up his teammates to score.