Confirmed with Link: Canucks announce Abbotsford Canucks as AHL Farm Team

[rypper]

Something around the Abbotsford Pilots would be interesting - especially if they could incorporate this fan mock-up into it somehow;

View attachment 429849

The team could go for a bite here after games. Maybe eat for free?

 

[Dab]

The name should be

The Fraser Valley Hockey Team

 

[Jay Cee]

I saw this as inevitable but it doesn't mean I didn't appreciate the Utica crowd, particularly Bad Goalie. Best of luck guys!

 

[canuckfan75]

I could easily see. Cull in Vancouver and John Weisbroud buddy Troy Ward back in Abbotsford

 

[Get North]

Does that mean Bad Goalie is leaving us

He'll tune in for Vancouver games to check on the Utica Comet alumni. Virtanen, Rathbone, Lind, Juolevi, Chatfield, MacEwen, Demko. I'm sure I am missing some, but even Markstrom on Calgary is a reason to tune in. The Comets alumni runs deep.

The guys a goalie, he can watch CGY vs Van, 2 Utica Comets go at in Markstrom and Demko.

 

[Cupless44]

Hate it.

Loved the Utica environment.

Wasnt practical at all. Most all other NHL teams have their farm team close. Advantages far outweight a good crowd in Utica.

Recalls will be instant, prospects can be called up to get practise time with the big club and not miss AHL games and we can go watch our prospects live!

 

[Cupless44]

Western AHL teams literally play 10 fewer games than everyone else because the travel is so horrible. It’s a pretty big deal.

But there are more and more western teams all the time. You can add Seattle to the mix 100%

 

[NoShowWilly]

Good to hear..Be interesting to hear what the name of the team will be...

Hoping for the aviators. Liked this logo for it.

Not so much the jersey.

 

[Hit the post]

Western AHL teams literally play 10 fewer games than everyone else because the travel is so horrible. It’s a pretty big deal.

Wasn't that the reason why Abby had to pay such a huge bribe for the Calgary Flames to have the affiliate located there in the past? (where there was even fewer teams out west). Travel expenses (which *OTHER* AHL teams forced the Abby Heat to reinburse *THEIR* expenses to a large extent) will be freaking high.

 

[rypper]

But there are more and more western teams all the time. You can add Seattle to the mix 100%

Palm Springs.

 

[RobertKron]

Abbotsford Aquilinis

 

[CanucksMJL]

Wasnt practical at all. Most all other NHL teams have their farm team close. Advantages far outweight a good crowd in Utica.

Recalls will be instant, prospects can be called up to get practise time with the big club and not miss AHL games and we can go watch our prospects live!

Recalls are only instant when both the Canucks and the farm team are at home, which obviously diminishes its usefulness.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

Abbotsford Aquilinis

the unpaid migrant workers

 

[CanucksMJL]

the unpaid migrant workers

Abbotsford Thirst.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Will be the only team worth watching live.

And I live in Vancouver.

 

[Jyrki21]

Obviously for selfish reasons I'd have preferred they be in Utica, but it also seems weird to me (especially while the team is penny-pinching) to stick them in a dead zone nowhere near any other team. (I'm not sure how Winnipeg does it either). I'd understand if it were near the California teams, but being alone in the Northwest just seems really inefficient. If they're concerned about a closed border (which would be weird if we expect the Canucks to be crossing it next year) then honestly sticking the team closer to other Canadian AHL teams seems to make the most sense.

We're seeing more and more of a soccer approach for the Canadian NHL cities, with farm teams serving as the "academy" next to the parent club, and I think that's kind of sad for the medium-sized cities (or larger non-NHL cities) that traditionally occupied this space. The farm teams now become an afterthought in NHL markets instead of the main hockey attraction in places like Salt Lake City, Baltimore or Portland, Maine. Even many standalone Canadian markets that used to be minor pro cities (Hamilton, Halifax, Sherbrooke, St. John's, etc.) are now junior hockey markets instead.

 

[Pip]

Wasnt practical at all. Most all other NHL teams have their farm team close. Advantages far outweight a good crowd in Utica.

Recalls will be instant, prospects can be called up to get practise time with the big club and not miss AHL games and we can go watch our prospects live!

not necessarily a positive for development imo

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Abbotsford Aquilinis

Abbotsford Worst Crew Evers?

i would buy an abbotsford entourage jersey

 

[CpatainCanuck]

Abbotsford Aquilinis

the unpaid migrant workers

Abbotsford Thirst.

The Abbotsford Blueberry Boys?

 

[DustyMartellaughs]

"Abby Sockeyes"

View attachment 429868

Lol! I’ve always thought fish names and logos were the worst ever.

 

[arttk]

"Abby Sockeyes"

View attachment 429868

Wow we can ruin our prospects by killing their self esteem?

 

[Cancuks]

Abbotsford Blueberries

 

[bossram]

I'll be inclined to see some of our prospects. In terms of fan interest the team will do better than the Heat.

But for development purposes, this is worse. Less playing time, less practice time, more travel.

BUT they can leverage some cap "banking" shenanigans like the Leafs sending players down to the Marlies on off days, and then calling them back up. With a team so capped out (lol Benning), this might be a saving grace.

 

[StreetHawk]

I think back when Calgary had the Heat in Abby, teams would come and play 2 game series to reduce travel costs.

Is Abbotsford a permanent home or is this a temporary placeholder for the upcoming 21-22 season only?

Personally, not a fan of having the AHL club that isolated from their division opponents. The other NW teams have their clubs in California, so the travel is drastically increased.

In terms of club names, I think Abbotsford Aviators works very well.

 

[CanuckleBerry]

I think back when Calgary had the Heat in Abby, teams would come and play 2 game series to reduce travel costs.

Is Abbotsford a permanent home or is this a temporary placeholder for the upcoming 21-22 season only?

Personally, not a fan of having the AHL club that isolated from their division opponents. The other NW teams have their clubs in California, so the travel is drastically increased.

In terms of club names, I think Abbotsford Aviators works very well.

Multi game series in each city is honestly what both the NHL and AHL should be doing. Flying from one city to the next day after day is incredibley inefficient and wasteful. The majority of the Abbotsford team's opponents are in southern California; just one flight down, then bus from place to place for two weeks seems pretty reasonable financially and logistically.

I am curious like you say though if this move is just a placeholder location for now, followed by a relocation to California once the border is back to normal, or if the Abbotsford experiment fails.