Abbotsford Canucks captain Chase Wouters talks home crowd momentum, Jacob Trouba’s hit on Timo Meier, and more

The Abbotsford Canucks’ second-round series against the Calgary Wranglers hasn’t gotten off to an ideal start.

The AHL Canucks have managed to go toe to toe with Calgary through the first two games of the best-of-five series. Both games took place in Calgary, and both needed overtime to find a winner. The Wranglers won both games.

Now, facing elimination seemingly in the blink of an eye, Abbotsford returns home and will host game three on Wednesday night, along with games four and five if necessary. But before those games, they need to win game three tomorrow night.

Ahead of that game tomorrow, Chris Faber and I were joined by Abbotsford Canucks captain Chase Wouters on today’s episode of Canucks Conversation.

Abbotsford Centre was rocking for the Canucks’ two game sweep of the Bakersfield Condors, and Wouters is excited to return home once again.

“They’re going to be loud and they’re going to be supporting us, and I think that’s big,” said Wouters. “Obviously it’s us on the ice, but they’ve been great all year. It’s going to be fun and special to have them there. The crowds have been awesome. It’s momentum. We’ve been right there in every game and it’s important to dial in on the little things, that’s what it’s going to come down to.”

This is Wouters’ first season as captain and second with the Canucks and in pro hockey, and the 23-year-old described donning the C as a “learning curve” and painted the picture of a by committee leadership group.

Wouters also spoke about all anyone can seem to talk about right now — Jacob Trouba’s hit on Timo Meier in game seven between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

While technically legal in the rule book, Trouba’s hit has started debate among hockey fans wondering if the rule needs altering to keep these types of hits out of the game. It’s always interesting to get an impartial player’s perspective on these types of hits. Here’s what Wouters had to say.

“It’s kind of hard to tell,” said Wouters when I asked if he felt the hit was dirty. “What stood out to me with that hit was after the fact, when they talked in the handshake line. That’s part of it. They’re both competitors. I don’t think Trouba’s trying to hurt him, they’re both competitors. Sometimes that’s what you have to do against your opponent and obviously he got him in the middle with his head down, and that happens. That happens to everyone.”

Watch the full interview below!

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