The 2022-23 season was a big one for Abbotsford Canucks defenceman Alex Kannok Leipert. He was able to become an impactful piece of the Abbotsford Canucks’ roster after battling for ice time throughout the early stages of his pro career.
He’s still battling for ice time but he has formed a role for himself. Kannok Leipert is becoming one of the best fighters in pro hockey. The former Vancouver Giants captain wrapped up his second AHL season this past year and has played in 41 and 44 games throughout his two-year AHL career. Kannok Leipert is well respected in the Abbotsford locker room and he is one of the players who the team looks to when it needs a spark.
The 22-year-old Kannok Leipert had a couple of massive fights this past season and on Monday, it was announced that he had the number one fight of the 2022-23 season according to our friends at Hockey Fights.
Hockey Fights has been running through their top 50 fights and AKL took home number one from his emotional tilt with long-time AHL tough guy Alex Gallant.
Kannok Leipert and Gallant dropped the gloves after Canucks prospect Danila Klimovich took a dirty hit to the head. This is the type of player that AKL is. He will not stand by and allow AHLers to take runs at the Canucks’ young prospects on the farm.
This wasn’t the only Canucks fight that made the top-50. There were actually six Canucks fights in Hockey Fights’ top-50.
Kyle Burroughs and Jake Neighbours came in at number 46.
Burroughs made another appearance at number 41.
Luke Schenn and Jamie Oleksiak came in at number 35.
We went back to Abbotsford for number 29 as Vincent Arseneau and Tyrell Goulbourne came in at number 29.
We saw Sheldon Dries go off on April 10th and he came in at number 16 on the list.
Another memorable fight was AKL’s matchup with 6’8″ Adam Klapka.
The Vancouver Canucks were fifth in the league for fights last season. There were 34 Canucks fights last year. The Tampa Bay Lighting were first in the league with 37 fights. The Carolina Hurricanes were at the bottom of the league with five fighting majors on the year.
Kannok Leipert will be back with Abbotsford next season and will be one of the players who is protecting the young stars on the farm. He’s now got the award for best fight of the season in his back pocket and somehow didn’t crack the top-50 with his fight against Adam Klapka, who is nine inches taller than AKL.
Which Canucks fight was your favourite from last year?
Or do you believe that fighting doesn’t belong in today’s NHL?