The Abbotsford Canucks announced a pair of hirings for Ryan Papaioannou’s bench.

On Friday morning, Abbotsford General Manager Richard Seeley announced they have hired Mark O’Leary as an Assistant Coach and Lucas Bourdon as a Video Coach.

Seeley had this to say in the press release regarding the hire:

“We’re excited to finalize our coaching staff by welcoming Mark and Lucas to the Abbotsford Canucks,” said Seeley. “Mark brings valuable head coaching experience from the WHL, along with international experience through Hockey Canada. He has a proven track record of developing players and leading competitive teams, and his ability to adapt to different environments will be a tremendous asset to our group. Lucas brings strong ties to the Fraser Valley, great energy, and a keen attention to detail that will complement our staff. We’re confident both will make a positive impact on our organization.”

O’Leary, 41, has spent the previous 13 seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League. He began his coaching career with the Warriors as an assistant coach, serving in that role from 2012-2019. He was then promoted to an associate coach for the 2019-2020 season, before moving all the way up the ranks to head coach mid-season.

Throughout his six full seasons as head coach of the Warriors, O’Leary held a 170-163-31 record. Under O’Leary’s leadership, the Warriors made the playoffs in three straight years (from 2021-2024). His team lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals two straight seasons before getting over the hump in 2023-24, where the Warriors swept the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL Finals to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup and advance to the franchise’s first Memorial Cup.

The Warriors advanced to the Memorial Cup semifinal, but were blown out by the eventual champion Saginaw Spirit 7-1. O’Leary coached multiple NHL-drafted talent, highlighted by first-round picks such as Denton Mateychuk (12th overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022), Lynden Lakovic (27th overall to the Washington Capitals in 2025), Brayden Yager (14th overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023), and Matthew Savoie (ninth overall to the Buffalo Sabres in 2022).

Bourdon, 23, has spent the last two seasons as the video coach of the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL. The Vancouver, BC, native played for the Chiefs during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons before eventually earning a coaching role with the club.

Papaioannou’s bench now seems to be complete. O’Leary joins Harry Mahesh as Abbotsford’s Assistant Coach, Justin Pogge retains his role as Goaltending Coach, and Bourdon as the team’s Video Coach.