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Abbotsford Weekly: Canucks’ Braeden Cootes a point-per-game player through 6 AHL games

Photo credit: Abbotsford Canucks

By Jacob Fraser

Oct 19, 2026, 15:45 EDTUpdated: Oct 19, 2026, 15:43 EDT

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The Abbotsford Canucks got some home ice action this past weekend at Rogers Forum, kicking off a four-game homestand with back-to-backs against the Seattle Kraken affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds.

In the team’s home opener on Saturday night, the Canucks put on a show for the Abbotsford fans, finishing the game with a 7-3 win. They followed that stellar performance with a 5-4 shootout win over the Firebirds.

Six different Canucks recorded a multi-point night in one of the two games. Ty Mueller’s goal-scoring streak to start the year came to an end; however, he managed to finish the weekend with two assists, maintaining his point-per-game pace through the first six games.

The Canucks newest acquisition, Jacob Quillan, lined up down the middle with Bennett Schimek and Mueller on his wings. Quillan recorded his first two points as a Canuck, with one in each game.

Kirill Kudryavtsev continues to miss time; after missing the second game last weekend, he didn’t suit up for either home game against Coachella. After Sunday’s game, Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou didn’t give much of an update on Kudryavtsev’s availability, saying only that he hopes the Russian defenceman will be available next weekend.

Game One

Game one was all Canucks but was definitely a great show for the fans in Abbotsford’s home opener. Both teams combined for 10 goals and 108 penalty minutes between them. Schimek got things going early for the Canucks on the power play. The second unit had been creating a ton of chances and finally found the back of the net after a great pass from Ilya Safonov threading the needle to find Schimek back door.

That was all she wrote in terms of scoring through the first period; Schimek, however, continued to create chances and dominate in the offensive zone. The line of Kole Lind, Braeden Cootes and Trey Fix-Wolansky was also creating offensively, though no one was able to add to the Canucks lead.

The second period had all the scoring action; Abbotsford scored six, and Coachella scored two. Gavin White and Riley Patterson scored their firsts of the season. Vilmer Alriksson made an excellent play to get his second of the year, driving wide on the defender using his size and speed to get to the net, finishing things off on the backhand.

Abbotsford Canucks

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RICKY BUSINESS!

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3:39 AM · Oct 18, 2026

Game Two

The second game of the weekend started with the Canucks picking up right where they left off. Fix-Wolansky got things going with his first of the season, picking off a pass in the offensive zone, moving it to Lind cross-ice for a one-timer that missed the net, but Fix-Wolansky was able to capitalize on a wrap-around.

Quillan then got his first goal of the season, scoring on the rebound. Schimek made a great play entering the zone, driving wide on the Firebirds defenceman, curling low in the corner and finding Mynio for a point shot leading to Quillan’s first.

Abbotsford Canucks

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NEW GUY, WHO DIS?

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11:32 PM · Oct 18, 2026

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Mynio and Cootes would then set up Fix-Wolansky for his second of the period on a five-on-three power play opportunity after two Firebirds delay-of-game penalties for putting the puck over the glass, burying a one-timer on the cross-ice feed from Mynio.

Early in the second period, Jimmy Schuldt had a golden scoring opportunity off the same faceoff play that led to a goal from White in the first game. Schuldt managed to cut to the front of the net but wasn’t able to stuff it home.

The Firebirds did manage to get themselves back into the game in the second period before things got out of hand, getting two past Ty Toung. While the Canucks weren’t able to create much as far as dangerous chances go, outside of a great opportunity from the third line of Safonov, Chase Wouters, and Ben Berard, who had a great shift dominating the puck down low, leading to a Rego pass backdoor to Berard, who tipped the puck just wide.

Patterson got the Canucks ‘ two-goal lead back early in the third period, scoring on a backdoor feed from Alriksson, who once again used his size to shed the defender and get the puck to the net.

Dave Hall

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A pretty play by Vilmer Alriksson leads to Riley Patterson's second goal in as many nights. Alriksson made some very nice defensive plays earlier in the seqeunce to set this up. The kids are alright.

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1:06 AM · Oct 19, 2026

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The Firebirds, however, did fire back, scoring two in the third, including a late power play goal off a questionable goaltender interference call to tie the game and force overtime.

Overtime, being the possession game that it is, didn’t amount to much. Cootes had the best scoring chances of the extra time, after Mynio wheeled the puck through the neutral zone and found Cootes with a pass for a breakaway, but he couldn’t get it past Nikke Kokko for the win.

The game would ultimately end in a shootout; Young stood tall in net, stopping two of three shots. Cootes led things off for the Canucks and was stopped, but a couple of beautiful goals from Berard and Fix-Wolansky would end the game in favour of the Canucks.

Abbotsford Canucks

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No better feeling! 🥳

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2:31 AM · Oct 19, 2026

Standouts

Schimek came into this weekend with just one point through four games, but left with five points now in six games. It was an outstanding weekend for him offensively. With new linemate Quillan, the two found some early chemistry as Schimek created a ton of chances using his speed and playmaking ability to create multiple scoring chances for both himself and his linemates in both games.

White continues to impress on the backend; with Kudryavtsev out, his minutes have seen an increase taking on second-unit power play duties. His three-point night in the first game was certainly impressive, but the biggest thing that has popped with him has been his skating ability. He’s at times been able to be a one-man breakout, taking the pressure off in the defensive zone, picking up pucks in his own end and skating them out himself.

Alriksson and Patterson impressed a ton again this weekend. Neither are necessarily the flashiest players, but Alriksson has continually been able to use his frame to fend off defenders and create scoring chances. We always knew he could do this, but what was missing was consistency. At the six-game mark, we’ve seen four straight very good games from him; if that continues, he could earn some NHL consideration next season.

Patterson, on the other hand, is just so solid all over the ice. He keeps hounding pucks in both the offensive and defensive zones. He’s now up to five points in six games, finding the back of the net in both games against the Firebirds. His playmaking and two-way ability have stood out in every game this season, and he’s trusted on the penalty kill and in many defensive zone situations, but his first two goals of the season should be a big confidence boost moving forward.

What’s Next?

The Canucks continue on their four-game homestand next weekend with back-to-backs against the Calgary Wranglers.

This will be their third and fourth time matching up with the Wranglers this season, after losing both games 4-2 in Calgary to start the season.

The first matchup takes place on Saturday, October 24th at 5:00 PM, with the second game being on Sunday, October 25th at 3:00 PM at the Rogers Forum in Abbotsford.

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