The Abbotsford Canucks have re-signed forward Ben Berard to a one-year AHL contract extension.

The 27-year-old Duncan, BC native was a fixture on the 2025-26 Abbotsford team, leading the team with 20 goals. He also finished second on the team in points (37) and set career highs in every statistical category in his third full-time season at the professional ranks. Berard’s breakout campaign earned him a spot at the AHL All-Star Game, where he turned heads with a viral shootout goal that quickly made the rounds across the hockey world.

The 2025-26 season proved to be Berard’s big break, after spending the majority of the previous season in the ECHL. With a laundry list of injuries and early call-ups, he was handed a prominent spot on the team’s top-six offensive rotation. He capitalized immediately, scoring in his season debut and maintaining consistent production throughout the year. Armed with a quick, dangerous release, he established himself as one of the team’s most reliable offensive threats and was recognized with the club’s Unsung Hero Award.

Prior to this season, Berard had just 36 AHL games under his belt, with four career points (one goal, three assists) sitting as his previous career high. Much of his 2024–25 campaign — his first within the Canucks organization — was spent with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings, where he co-led the team with 20 goals and finished second in scoring with 40 points.

In total, Berard has now recorded 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists) and 25 penalty minutes across 99 career AHL games, along with seven Calder Cup Playoff appearances since turning pro in 2023.

Before entering the professional ranks, Berard spent four seasons at Cornell University, registering 68 points (32 goals, 36 assists) in 87 NCAA games. He also logged significant time in the BCHL, where he produced 115 points (53 goals, 62 assists) in 135 games, primarily with the Powell River Kings, where he served as team captain in his final season.