AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks to Debut Anniversary Patch This Weekend

The traditional gift for a fifth anniversary is wood, but it seems the Abbotsford Canucks are going with the modern option: silverware.

The American Hockey League affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks are already the defending Calder Cup champions, and they’ll be adding more silver to their uniforms this weekend in the form of a new fifth anniversary patch.

The centerpiece of the patch is a large beveled silver V — yes, the Roman numeral for five, but also perhaps a nod to their parent club? — inside a navy blue shield that’s bordered by tan hockey sticks. A green banner with the years 2021 and 2025 runs behind the V, and the team’s Johnny Canuck primary logo sits at the bottom of the shield.

The Canucks will wear jerseys with the anniversary patches for the first time when they host the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Sunday, December 7, at the Rogers Forum in Abbotsford. After that, the patches will remain on their sweaters for the rest of the season.

“We are looking forward to celebrating the 5th anniversary of Abbotsford Canucks hockey with all our dedicated fans and staff. It has been incredibly rewarding to see our team grow alongside our supporters and to look back on the amazing memories and moments we have created together. We have accomplished so much in the past five years, including our first ever Calder Cup Championship, and we could not have done it without our fans’ support.”
— Jim Kozak, COO and alternate governor, Abbotsford Canucks

The Abbotsford Canucks celebrate their 2025 Calder Cup championship. (Courtesy @CalderCup / Twitter)

The Abbotsford Canucks franchise is technically one of the oldest pro hockey franchises still in operation today, having started as the Quebec Beavers in 1932. Since then, it has been known as:

1935-1951: Springfield Indians
1951-1954: Syracuse Warriors
1954-1967: Springfield Indians
1967-1974: Springfield Kings
1974-1994: Springfield Indians
1994-2005: Worcester IceCats
2005-2013: Peoria Rivermen
2013-2021: Utica Comets

Canucks Sports and Entertainment (CS&E) has actually owned the franchise since 2013, and had intended to move it to a market close to Vancouver much earlier than they ultimately did. Abbotsford was home to the Abbotsford Heat, the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate, at the time, though, and that led to a six-year agreement to place the team in Utica, New York. The Heat only played one more season in Abbotsford, though, before moving to Glens Falls, New York.

Prior to the 2021-22 AHL season, CS&E finally got their wish and moved the team into the Rogers Forum. They won the 2025 Calder Cup by defeating the Charlotte Checkers in six games.