The Abbotsford Canucks have unveiled a unique and inspiring addition to the Abbotsford Centre: the “Highway One Wall.”
The road to success starts in Abbotsford.
Introducing the Highway 1 Wall, which celebrates Abbotsford Canucks players and staff who have earned at least one game on Vancouver ice.
A nod to the 66km of Highway 1 that connects Abbotsford and Vancouver, it’s a daily reminder that… pic.twitter.com/0bfWuoWoLW
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) January 23, 2025
This dedicated space features photos of every player and staff member who has played at least one game for the Vancouver Canucks after spending time with the Abbotsford Canucks. It serves as a powerful visual reminder of the organization’s dedication to developing talent and providing opportunities for players to reach their full potential.
“The Highway One wall is a celebration of the community, of the players, of the organization,” describes General Manager Ryan Johnson in a promotional video showcasing the wall.
He emphasizes the Abbotsford Canucks’ core purpose: “to produce NHL players that give us a chance here to win a Stanley Cup.”
The wall symbolizes the culmination of hard work, dedication, and a buy-in to the team’s foundational principles. “It’s something I’ve always wanted the players to be able to celebrate,” Johnson explains. “When a player has come into Abbotsford, has done the work, has used the resources, has bought into the foundational pieces that we’ve been preaching.”
The photos represent a tangible achievement for those who have earned the opportunity to play in the NHL. “The photos on the wall represent any player or staff that has been a part of our Abbotsford group that has gone on to play just one game for the Vancouver Canucks,” Johnson says. “To come down the highway and be a part of the Vancouver Canucks is something that [we] felt it was important that we and that others kind of have something that they’re looking at as an organization that preaches that we love to promote from within.”
There is no question that the proximity of the Abbotsford Canucks to Vancouver has created a unique connection between the two teams and the fans. “When the opportunity came to move our team closer to the West Coast, the ability to have that be in Abbotsford created an ability for the province to be able to connect to our drafted players, our free agent signings, to see their growth and their process,” Johnson states.
The “Highway One Wall” is a testament to this connection, allowing fans to witness the development of players as they progress through the ranks and ultimately achieve their dreams of playing in the NHL. “To see them play one night in Abbotsford, go down the road and play the next night for our big team here in Vancouver, and being able to see that, I think, gives them a greater appreciation and more depth as a fan, for the organization as a whole,” Johnson concludes.
The wall serves as a constant source of inspiration for current and future Abbotsford Canucks players, reminding them that the path to the NHL runs through Abbotsford and that their hard work and dedication can lead them to achieve their dreams.
Considering the positives, which include emergency call–ups, development opportunities, or simply a quick promotional stint for a young developing prospect, it’s hard to imagine the American League affiliates being located across the continent, as we saw with the Utica Comets.
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