Vancouver native Jayden Lee signs AHL contract with Abbotsford: report

This is the second year in a row where the defenceman has been under an AHL deal. In 2023-24, his first season in professional hockey, he signed a deal with the Washington Capitals’ top farm club, the Hershey Bears. Yet, despite being called up to Hershey, Lee never saw the ice in an American League game.

Instead, the 24-year-old spent the entire season with the Capitals’ ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays. Lee was a solid contributor at both ends of the rink. In 48 regular season games, he scored eight goals and 24 assists for 32 points, finishing 10th on the team in scoring, second among defenders behind Connor Moore. His played helped the Stingrays win the Brabham Cup as the best team in the regular season.

However, it didn’t lead to postseason success, as South Carolina was stunned by the Orlando Solar Bears in the South Division Semifinals, losing in seven games. Lee scored two goals and an assist in the series.

Prior to turning pro, Lee had a fruitful career playing at the university level in the United States. He played five years at Quinnipiac University, being a solid defensive force for one of the top teams in the ECAC. In 2022-23, the former Powell River King was part of the Bobcat squad that took down the University of Minnesota, in thrilling fashion, to win the program’s first NCAA Championship.

Lee’s best season at Quinnipiac, individually, came in his fifth year. While captaining the team in 2023-24, he posted a career-high 23 assists and 26 points. Lee was named First Team All-ECAC as the Bobcats won the conference regular-season title for the fifth year in a row.

Lee’s experience representing his region dates to his minor hockey days. Along with playing for the BC Junior Canucks at the 2011 Brick Invitational, he played for the North Shore Winter Club at the 2013 and 2014 Quebec PeeWee Tournament.

Lee joins a team in Abbotsford that is coming off winning the Calder Cup for the first time in franchise history.