Abbotsford to celebrate Canucks’ Calder Cup win
Posted June 24, 2025 10:12 am.
Last Updated June 24, 2025 1:02 pm.
The Abbotsford Canucks are returning home champions Tuesday.
The Vancouver Canuck’s farm team will be landing with the American Hockey League Calder Cup at Abbotsford International Airport around 2 p.m. after beating the Charlotte Checkers in Game 6 of the series Monday night.
“That last period … it took me a few hours to get my heart rate back down,” Mayor Ross Siemens said. “I didn’t sleep in the jersey. It was hung very close by, though, and came on first thing this morning.“
Abbotsford rallied from a 2-0 deficit in Game 6 against the Florida Panthers’ top farm club.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Sammy Blais, Danila Klimovich and Linus Karlsson scored for the Canucks after John Leonard and Jack Devine opened the scoring for the Checkers.
Arturs Silovs recorded the win in the net for Abbotsford. And for his efforts throughout the series, Silovs took home the Jack A. Butterfield trophy as the Calder Cup Playoffs MVP.
The mayor explains the city and team are working together on a community celebration in the days ahead.
“They have some pretty cool ideas planned. How that all works, logistically, time-wise, weather-wise, all of those things are being worked out. But I think people will be impressed,” he told 1130 NewsRadio on Tuesday.
Siemens says Abbotsford is in the national spotlight as they bring an American championship cup to Canada.
“I’d like to say we’re a championship city already. We’ve got some pretty significant athletes that have come out of Abbotsford — it really is a sports town,” he explained.
“I think this just again puts us on the map. Abbotsford is really a cultural and economic hub of the Fraser Valley, and people don’t realize we’re 170,000 people. We’ve got the most productive agricultural land per hectare in all of North America. And we also have a growing aerospace sector out of the international airport.
“It’s a happening city, a lot going on here, and I think it just really helps amplify the message that we’re part of the future,” Siemens said.
The city have always rallied behind the Canucks, Siemens says, especially this year considering the way the team progressed through the playoff series.
“Abbotsford is proud of them.”
Meanwhile, Abbotsford Police Department Sgt. Paul Walker tells 1130 NewsRadio that celebrations in the city following the winning game included “just good vibes.”
“Fans gathered along the South Fraser Way corridor near West Oaks Mall to show their team spirit. Roughly 300 pedestrians waved flags and cheered, while families drove by honking in support,” he explained.
“AbbyPD officers were on scene, maintaining a visible presence to ensure everyone could enjoy the celebration safely,” Walker said, adding that no issues were reported to police.
