The Canucks have wrapped up the AJHL pre-season with a win going 1-1-0 in a two-game series with the Drumheller Dragons.Β
Coming into a new season, Calgary have added two new assistant coaches to their staff.
The organization is gearing up for another busy season, they will host the AJHL Showcase this month for the second straight season and have secured a spot in the 2025 Centennial Cup, after winning the host bid this past summer.Β
βWe want to earn our way back there,β said Head Coach Brad Moran, βThere’s an expectation to win now and they have to raise the bar to where they were last year.β
Even with the tournament appearance guaranteed, the Canucks are determined to prove themselves, show they belong and aim for a national championship after coming close last season.Β
The Canucks are coming off a tenth AJHL championship and finished in the top four last May at the 2024 Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ontario.Β
Exhibition Season 2024 Recap:
September 6th at Drumheller Dragons
The Canucks travelled to Drumheller to open the exhibition season on the road. Calgary scored first, with Jack Schierau netting the first goal of the preseason from Wade Wallace and Jack Sears. After allowing the opening goal, the Dragons answered with two goals to take a 2-1 lead into the second period. Canucks battled hard in a scoreless second period, outshooting the Dragons 11-4, but were unable to find an answer for Drumhellerβs goaltender, Sean Cootes. The Dragons added two more goals in the third, earning a 4-1 victory over the Canucks.
September 7th vs Drumheller Whitecourt Wolverines
The Canucks jumped out quickly from Nolan DuPont making it 1-0, 58 seconds into the game. Calgary would add two more in the opening frame from Matthew Paszkiwicz and Diego Cazac to lead 3-0 after 20 minutes. Another quick start to the period as Paszkiwicz put his team up 4-0 at the 1:40 mark into the second, with his second of the night. The Dragons scored two goals, narrowing the lead to two. After exiting the penalty box, Paszkiwicz swiftly skated down the ice and scored his third goal, completing the hat trick. Once again, the Dragons scored two goals to narrow the lead, making it a 5-4 game after two periods. In the final period, Carter Cunningham scored twice, including a powerplay goal, leading to a 7-4 victory to conclude the Canucks pre-season.
Player Spotlight β #23 Matthew PaszkiewiczΒ
Matthew Paszkiewicz scored a hat trick in the second and final game of the pre-season to help his Canucks pick up a 7-4 win over the Drumheller Dragons. Paszkiewicz joined the Canucks last January and put up one goal and seven points in nine games. In the playoffs, he added three goals and nine points in 12Β games en route to a AJHL championship.Β
Upcoming Home Games:
- Sat, Sep 14th vs. Canmore Eagles: 5 PM puck drop
- Sun, Sep 22nd vs. Lloydminster Bobcats, 2 PM puck drop
- Wed, Sep 25 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs, 7:15 PM puck drop – AJHL Showcase
- *Fri, Sep 27th at. Fort McMurray Oil Barons, 7:15 PM puck drop – AJHL Showcase
- *Fort McMurray is designated as the home team
Upcoming Events:Β
- 2024 AJHL Showcase Presented by Nutrien: September 25th – 27th, Max Bell Centre
- An Evening with Legends: September 26th, Champions Ballroom: BMO Centre
Mackenzie Grafton
Lead, Marketing Content
Calgary Canucks Junior A Hockey Club
mgrafton@calgarycanucks.ca
www.calgarycanucks.ca
