On Monday, Abbotsford Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson, a University of North Dakota alumnus, announced the signing of Jackson Kunz to a one-year contract that will run through the 2025-26 season.
Kunz, a Grand Forks, North Dakota native, was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fourth round (113th overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He will join the Abbotsford Canucks immediately, starting on a professional try-out basis before his official contract begins.
He has spent the past four seasons playing NCAA hockey with his hometown, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. As a senior, he took on a leadership role, serving as an alternate captain.
Over his collegiate career, Kunz appeared in 128 games, amassing 45 points with 24 goals and 21 assists while accumulating 66 penalty minutes. He helped the Fighting Hawks secure a Regular-Season Championship in the 2023-24 season.
At 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, Kunz brings a commanding physical presence to the ice. Known for his rugged style, he excels as a front threat, using his size and strength to box out opponents, create scoring opportunities, and cause havoc inside the blue paint.
His addition is expected to bolster Abbotsford’s bottom-six forward group, providing depth and tenacity as they push toward the playoffs.
The Abbotsford Canucks are currently in the midst of a six-game road trip, which will see them in San Jose later in the week for a pivotal divisional doubleheader against the Barracuda.
Kunz joins a team riding an impressive wave of momentum. They have won seven consecutive games, propelling them up the standings to third place in the Pacific Division — just three points shy of second.
Now signed, Kunz remains the lone player from the 2020 entry draft to remain within the Canucks’ system. The rest of the names, which include Joni Jurmo, Jacob Truscott, Dmitri Zlodeyev, and Viktor Persson, have all gone in separate paths.