The Abbotsford Canucks first - and likely only - road trip to Seattle resulted in a split with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
The Canucks made the trip south down Interstate 5 because the expansion Firebirds home arena is not ready and they decided to use the parent club in Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena for Sunday (Oct. 23). The Canucks and Firebirds met at the Kraken Community Iceplex on Friday (Oct. 21).
Abbotsford managed a 4-3 win on Friday and forward Tristan Nielsen scored the game winner.
GET SOME 💪
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 22, 2022
Tristen Nielsen's shot over the shoulder of Daccord was tonight's difference maker in Seattle pic.twitter.com/GWTBtzsyej
After a scoreless first period, Firebirds forward Alexander True opened the scoring at 4:51 of the first. Abbotsford’s Carson Focht tied the game up at 10:18 with his second of the season, but six and a half minutes later the Firebird took back the lead on a goal from Jesper Froden.
The third period was all Abbotsford, with Sheldon Dries and Noah Juulsen scoring early into the frame to put the Canucks up 3-2 and Nielsen’s goal followed. True scored a late goal but four goals was enough for the win.
"I thought we used the power play to get ourselves back into it"
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 22, 2022
Jeremy Colliton when asked about the role that the man advantage played in tonight's win
The full post game interview is available on our Youtube channel here 👉 https://t.co/1OSMpqjXXG pic.twitter.com/DOpZ7gZuBZ
Dries had a three point night and Nielsen had two points in the win. Goalie Arturs Silovs made 23 saves for the win. The Abbotsford power play scored twice and head coach Jeremy Colliton said that was key to the win.
“The power play came through with a couple of big goals there, and we got some big saves from Arty [Silovs], and sometimes you have to win when it doesn’t look perfect,” he stated after the win.
Friday’s game has a reported attendance of 700 in the smaller confines of the KCI.
📍Climate Pledge Arena pic.twitter.com/rxCMRoQXp3
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 23, 2022
The two teams shifted to the CPA on Sunday and the bright lights of Seattle’s new home seemed to bring out the offence for both teams. Coachella Valley earned the 7-4 win, but the offensive fireworks started early.
Both teams scored three goals in the first period, with Yushiroh Hirano, Christian Wolanin and Danila Klimovich all scoring their first goals this season. The Firebirds responded with goals from Jimmy Schuldt, Tye Kartye and Carsen Twarnyski.
Yushiroh Hirano on a nice set-up from Phil Di Giuseppe makes it a 1-1 game pic.twitter.com/fsQP9xxEb9
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 24, 2022
Nice individual effort by Christian Wolanin makes it 2-1 for Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/frvqroXHyU
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 24, 2022
Great shot by Danila Klimovich makes it 3-2 Canucks pic.twitter.com/8LOadnK0Mp
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 24, 2022
The goals continued in the second, but it was the Firebirds who maintained that torrid offensive pace. Froden scored just 40 seconds into period two and Surrey’s Michael Regush scored his first professional goal at 2:12. The Firebirds yanked their starting goalie Christoper Gibson after that fourth goal and replacement Callum Booth was perfect in relief to earn the win.
Michael Regush with a nice shorthanded effort ties the game back up at four pic.twitter.com/IHRQ4z9KLt
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 24, 2022
Booth stopped all 19 shots he faced in the second and third periods. Silovs struggled at times for the Canucks and allowed six goals on 27 shots. Klimovich and Nielsen led all Canucks with four shots on goal and it was the first game back for Phil Di Giuseppe - who recorded one assist and three shots on goal. Di Giuseppe was dangerous all night, but couldn’t solve Booth.
Sunday’s game saw a significant crowd of 8,724 take in the game, including a handful of Abbotsford Canucks season ticket holders who took in the game as part of a contest.
150 of our season ticket members are making some noise 📣
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 24, 2022
Our #AbbyStormsSeattle contest gave members an opportunity to watch tonight’s game from a suite here at Climate Pledge Arena
Way to bring the noise everybody! 😀 pic.twitter.com/Pl1fVcTNro
Abbotsford’s record stands at 2-2 after four games and they sit in seventh place in the 10-team Pacific Division. The club’s home opener occurs on Friday (Oct. 28) when the San Diego Gulls come to the Abbotsford Centre.
The night will feature Canuck alumni appearances, a meet and greet with Abbotsford Canucks players, performances by Greg Neufield, a special pre-game ceremony, and a free smokie courtesy of Grimms Fine Foods to the first 1,000 fans.
The Canucks and Gulls meet again on Saturday (Oct. 29) for Diwali Night. Diwali themed activations such as Henna artists, a South Asian marketplace, performances by DJ Heer, the Bhangra Dancing School, Dhol drummers, and more will be on display at the Abbotsford Centre.
Come and celebrate Diwali with the Abbotsford Canucks Saturday night 🪔
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 22, 2022
Come for the hockey, stay for the experience with all of our activities both on and off the ice 🥳
Read all about it here 👉 https://t.co/s2xwYqjOz1 pic.twitter.com/PhvYR8boHf
For more on the team, visit abbotsford.canucks.com.
