Abbotsford Canucks weekend primer: Abby Canucks host the Ontario Reign for banner-raising weekend

The reigning champions are home.

The last time the Abbotsford Canucks played a game at the Abbotsford Centre, they conceded a fluke goal in overtime to send them back to Charlotte.

That final trip crowned them Calder Cup Champions for the first time in franchise history.

On Friday, that win will be recognized with the official banner-raising ceremony as they host the Ontario Reign for the team’s official home opening game.

It will be the first time Canucks fans will enjoy a moment to celebrate the team’s great success with the players on the ice and bask in the glory one final time before they continue to defend their title.

Despite being just months removed from winning the AHL league title, it’s been an up-and-down start to the 2025-26 season.

After earning wins to start the season in Henderson, the team travelled to Laval, where they dropped both games, leaving their early-season record at 2-2-0.

While the loss of many players who made an impact on that Calder Cup win plays a part, the loss of several core members due to the ongoing injury list in Vancouver has also contributed to its lack of offensive juice.

Of that champion team, 16 skaters and one goaltender – Arturs Silovs – will be absent from the lineup, whether in Vancouver or moved on from the organization.

Series Matchup

Considering the strong season the Canucks enjoyed, it’s a surprise that they held a winning record against their visiting Pacific Division rivals. Last season.

In four games, Abbotsford finished with a 3-1-0-0 record, winning both games at home. Those three wins bumped up their all-time record to 16-9-3-0 against the Reign.

This game kicks off a six-game home stand at the Abbotsford Centre, beginning with the banner-raising match on October 24 and finishing with a two-game set, hosting the Henderson Silver Knights on November 1 and 2.

Players to Watch

Victor Mancini, RD

Will it be a one-stop stay in Abbotsford? That remains to be seen. Regardless, Victor Mancini will be in the lineup for Friday’s game, at the very least, after being sent down for cap implications. Under the new CBA rules, players must be present for one game after being sent back down.

Swapping out with Tom Willander, he should see tons of minutes on the team’s backend.

Anri Ravinskis, W

Recovering from hernia surgery, Anri Ravinskis made his Abbotsford debut last weekend in Laval. It took him just one game to elevate to the team’s top line, albeit on a depleted forward group, so there’s a good chance the fans see more from him throughout the weekend.

He plays a fast and gritty game and showed some soft skills to boot.

Jujhar Khaira, C

It doesn’t sound like he’ll dress for Friday’s game, but Jujhar Khaira should suit up in Sunday’s game after signing a one-year deal with the team on Thursday.

The reinforcement couldn’t come at a better time, as the team is in desperate need of bodies, and he has proven to be a strong asset at the American League level. It’s also nice to have him present for the banner-raising moment, which he played such a pivotal role in last spring.

Arnaud Durandeau, W

Khaira wasn’t the only player who signed this week. Arnaud Durandeau also snagged a one-year deal after skating a full year in the KHL last season. Now 26, he has six years of AHL experience under his belt, and at the very least, brings just that.

It’s unclear whether he will play this weekend, given the physicals needed, but there’s a good chance we will see him at some point.

Danila Klimovich, W

Coming off a career-best season in which he led the team in goals, Danila Klimovich will need to step up if this team wants to flex its offensive muscles.

After a good opening weekend, he struggled in Laval and, as a result, the team’s offence dried up.

Key Injuries

Jett Woo (upper body): Injured during the 2025 Calder Cup run, which he played through. Woo is listed as month-to-month.

Guillaume Brisebois (lower body): The full extent of the injury is unknown, but he is expected to miss significant time, with a possible return not anticipated until early 2026.

Ty Mueller (upper body): Ty Mueller left midway through the second game of a back-to-back last week in Laval after taking a high stick to the face. The team has yet to provide an update on him, so his status remains unclear. If he is deemed fit to play, he will likely slot in as the team’s top centre.

Familiar Faces in Vancouver

A significant chunk of Abbotsford’s core is currently with the big club, including:

Arshdeep Bains, Max Sasson, Linus Karlsson, Jonathan Lekkerimäki (injured), Aatu Räty, Nils Åman, Joseph LaBate and Tom Willander

With this many call-ups, the Canucks are relying on organizational depth and a freshly signed face to hold down the fort.

Projected Lineup (not line combinations)

Forwards

Vitali Kravtsov – Ty Mueller – Danila Klimovich

Jujhar Khaira – Chase Wouters – Chase Stillman

Anri Ravinskis – Cooper Walker – Ben Berard

Vilmer Alriksson – Jakson Kunz – Mackenzie MacEachern

Josh Bloom – Arnaud Durandeau – Dino Kambeitz

Defence

Kirill Kudryavtsev – Victor Mancini

Jimmy Schuldt – Joe Arntsen

Sawyer Mynio – Nikolai Knyzhov

Derek Daschke – Jayden Lee

Goaltenders

Nikita Tolopilo

Ty Young

Jiri Patera

What’s Ahead

The team will host the Ontario Reign on Friday, October 23 (7:00 pm) and Sunday, October 25 (3:00 pm), which begins a six-game road trip.

They will see just two days’ rest, as they host the Calgary Wranglers for a mid-week back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Abbotsford Centre.