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Blackfish: Diving into the shorthanded Abbotsford Canucks’ 13 game win streak
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Photo credit: Robert Munnich
Dave Hall
Apr 8, 2025, 13:17 EDT
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Welcome back to Blackfish: CanucksArmy‘s weekly Vancouver Canucks prospect report.
Half the pool has either been promoted to the big leagues or bounced from playoff contention, leaving us with a leaner—but no less thrilling—cast of prospects to cover.
This week, our spotlight swings between the CHL’s playoff run and the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, who are rewriting the script on what a depleted roster can achieve.
Let’s dive in.

Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Another weekend sweep over the AHL’s top team, the Laval Rocket, pushed their winning streak to a ludicrous 13 games. Thirteen.
With those two victories, they’ve vaulted into sole possession of second place in the Pacific Division, locking up home-ice advantage for the Calder Cup Playoffs’ first round.
Worst-case scenario? They slip to fourth. Best case? They’re just three points shy of first, and a bye straight into the second round is still very much in play. This isn’t just a remarkable run—it’s a glowing testament to rookie head coach Manny Malhotra’s wizardry behind the bench.
By now, you know the storyline: Vancouver’s injury bug has gutted Abbotsford’s roster, snatching away the likes of Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Elias Pettersson, Aatu Räty, Nils Åman, Max Sasson, and more—names that typically dominate these reports.
And yet, here they are, not just hanging on but steamrolling the competition.
So, what has been the secret sauce? Production by committee. This streak hasn’t been a one-man show, or anything close to it. It’s been a revolving door of names stepping up from every corner of the lineup. If it’s not high-level production on the scoresheet, it’s timely saves and strong defensive systems.
Even names like Kirill Kudryavtsev and Jett Woo, who haven’t put up huge numbers during this run, have contributed as plus-10s during these 13 games. Kudryavtsev did score a goal over the week, however, thanks to some tremendous work from Tristen Nielsen to find him alone at the netfront.
As for Woo, he sealed the game on Saturday with his first professional shootout goal, going five-hole on Cayden Primeau to seal their 12th straight win.
On the scoring front, Arshdeep Bains led the way this week with a goal (empty net), five points and a plus-6. Further to the assists, he was in “go” mode all week, providing strong energy and offensive looks for his squad.
He’s racked up 14 points through the team’s 13-game stretch and overtook Aatu Räty for the team lead with 41 points through 46 games. We’ve loved Ty Mueller’s game from the get-go, but with Räty, Nils Åman and Max Sasson playing with Vancouver, you must commend the work Mueller has been doing down on the farm.
He picked up three goals, including his second multi-goal game of his career, and four points on the week and jumped to third on this Abby squad with 38 points in his rookie season.
He’s hovering around the 52-percent mark for his yearly face-offs, and continues to be a significant catalyst for each one of their situations.
Between the pipes, Arturs Silovs and Nikita Tolopilo split two wins apiece last week, with the latter stopping 46 of 49 shots. Silovs is now on a five-game winning streak, dating back to March 8th, before he was promoted to Vancouver. As for Tolopilo, he stopped 58 of 64, which included his sixth consecutive victory on his 25th birthday. As if the crease wasn’t full enough, we’ve officially added a new goalie prospect to our AHL Blackfish list.
Aku Koskenvuo signed an ATO with Abbotsford. According to David Quadrelli, the plan is to spend some time with the club before returning to Harvard to wrap up some schooling commitments.
As announced on Tuesday morning, Lekkerimäki is heading back to Abbotsford.

Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)

The third member of that Abbotsford Streak is Ty Young, who was on the outside looking in once Silovs was reassigned.
Back in Kalamazoo, he started three games and went 1-1-1. His .931 save percentage leads all U21 netminders at the ECHL level.
Meanwhile, Josh Bloom continued his strong performance, adding another three goals and five points through four games. He’s now put up 33 points(18 goals, 15 assists) in 40 games.

Canadian Hockey League (CHL)

Most of the Canucks’ CHL represtnatives have sealed their fates, with most moving on to the second round.
Barrie Colts defeat the Niagara IceDogs 4-1
All eyes have been on Anthony Romani, who absolutely scorched the first round of the OHL playoffs. He co-leads the entire league with eight goals in five games while sitting in a tie for fourth with 11 points.
As for his teammate, Riley Patterson, he provided another goal and two assists over the week, wrapping up the first round with four points through five games.
As expected, the Barrie Colts ran through the Niagara IceDogs, defeating them in five games. They are set to face the Kingston Frontenacs in the second round, with game one coming on Thursday.
Brampton Steelheads fall to the Oshawa Generals 4-2
The bad news? Vilmer Alriksson’s Brampton Steelheads lost their series to the Oshawa Generals.
The good news? The door is now open for the towering 6-foot-6 Swede to cross the country and join Abbotsofrd for their final stretch. Whether he actually sees the ice or not is another conversation. But like last Spring, he could join the team to soak up the environment, as he prepares to turn pro (likely) next fall.
After all, he continues to work through an upper-body injury that has kept him out since mid-February, so his readiness to compete is still very much in question.
Calgary Hitmen sweep Saskatoon Blades 4-0
Sawyer Mynio and the Calgary Hitmen had their way with the Blades, sweeping the series to advance to the next round. They will now take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes, with game one coming Thursday.
Mynio picked up four assists in the four games, while playing tons of minutes as usual.
Off the ice, he was picking up accolades and was named one of the team’s two defenders on the CHL Team of the Month for March.
With three goals and nine assists over nine games, only four defenders produced more than Mynio across the entire nation (all of CHL). Within the WHL, he shared the lead for points by a defenceman, remarkably being held off the scoresheet just once throughout the month.
Edmonton Oil Kings heading to game 7 with Prince Albert Raiders
Parker Alcos and his Oil Kings are the last to remain fighting in the first round. To advance, they will play in a game-seven do-or-die match on Tuesday. There won’t be any professional implications with Alcos, as the 18-year-old is Junior-bound for the next two seasons.
Alcos has contributed two assists, including a beautiful cross-ice feed in game 3.
Rimouski Oceanic sweep Charlottetown 4-0
Basile Sansonnens Rimouski Oceanic enjoyed a sweep of their own, taking down Charlottetown in four games. Sansonnens picked up an assist and a plus-3 through the series.

NCAA

We’ve arrived. By week’s end, we’ll have clarity on Tom Willander’s next step.
The Canucks’ blue-chip stalwart is set to take the ice with Boston University in the Frozen Four, facing Penn State on Thursday (5:30 PM PT).
Win, and they’re off to Saturday’s National Championship game. Lose, and the season’s over.
Either way, a decision looms: does he sign his pro contract and join Vancouver’s system? If so, he could be a Canuck—or an Abbotsford reinforcement—by our next Blackfish drop.
Of course, Aiden Celebrini is along for the ride as well. However, he’s already confirmed to be returning to school for his Junior year.
Matthew Perkins, who spent two years with Minnesota Duluth, has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. He’ll land at a new school for his junior season in hopes of rekindling his game after a disappointing sophomore season.
That’s all, folks. We will see you next week for another edition of our report.
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