Abbotsford Canucks Rise as Tocchet Exits NHL Canucks

Troy Tyrell | Tsquared Personal Training & Local Sports Fanatic | May 12, 2025

Vancouver, BC - In one of the more entertaining plot twists this side of the Fraser River, the Abbotsford Canucks — the so-called “baby brothers” of the Vancouver Canucks — have turned into the more mature, disciplined, and dare we say, entertaining version of professional hockey in British Columbia.

Meanwhile, big brother Canucks have not only missed the 2025 playoffs but also just lost their Jack Adams Award-winning coach, Rick Tocchet — who decided family, peace, and probably fewer press conferences were more appealing than another season of managing bench chaos at Rogers Arena.

Rick Tocchet: Coach of the Year… and Then Gone

On April 29, 2025, the Vancouver Canucks confirmed that Rick Tocchet is stepping down after two seasons — including a breakout 2024 where he took the team to the top of the Pacific Division. While the franchise offered him a new contract, Tocchet gracefully declined, citing family time and "the right moment to step away."

That’s coach-speak for: “This was fun, but not that fun.”

Meanwhile in Abbotsford: Real Hockey Happens

Over in the Valley, Manny Malhotra’s Abbotsford Canucks are proving that you don’t need million-dollar contracts or downtown condos to play like contenders. These guys — captained by Chase Wouters and driven by a core that includes Jett Woo and goalie Arturs Šilovs — have their sights set on the Calder Cup and are delivering high-speed, high-grit, no-nonsense hockey.

Watching Abbotsford’s precision and chemistry, it’s hard not to ask:
“Can we just swap jerseys and call it a day?”

Fans are seriously buzzing that the AHL squad plays a tighter game than their NHL counterparts, and with each playoff win, that argument gains more weight than a full beer at Rogers Arena (which, to be fair, is like $17).

Manny Malhotra: Jedi Master Behind the Bench

Let’s not sleep on what Manny Malhotra is doing here. The former NHL center has transformed a group of “development players” into a legitimate playoff threat. His system works, his players buy in, and — judging by their hustle — most of them are gunning for a spot up the ladder.

He’s got them playing like rent’s due, the lights are off, and the puck is their last hope.

Crowds, Culture, and the Abbotsford Effect

The Abbotsford Centre is packed with fans who just want to see hard-working hockey. No drama. No power play slumps. No expensive popcorn. Just results. It's become a culture of underdogs overdelivering — and fans are loving it.

While Vancouver figures out who’s coaching next, Abbotsford’s just focused on winning games. A solid plan, really.

Final Shift:

As a longtime Vancouverite and personal trainer who’s seen more comeback stories in the gym than I have at Rogers Arena lately, let me say this: the Abbotsford Canucks aren’t just a good hockey team — they’re a damn good story.

The NHL club may have the name, but right now, Abbotsford’s got the game. And if someone doesn’t call up a few of these young studs soon, they might just end up taking over the province on their own — one wrist shot and one backcheck at a time.

#Abbotsford Canucks #Vancouver Canucks #Rick Tocchet #Canucks Nation #AHL Playoffs #Manny Malhotra #BC Hockey #Tocchet Out #Hockey Humor #WBN News Vancouver #Troy Tyrell

Troy Tyrell
WBN News Contributor | Certified Personal Trainer
Founder, Tsquared Personal Training
Vancouver, BC
Helping BC move better — in the gym and on the page.
Instagram: @tsquaredpersonaltraining
Phone: (604) 250-9784