The Abbotsford Canucks begin defending the Calder Cup like any great champion should – in the big fight state of Nevada.
The AHL announced home openers for all 32 teams and it was revealed the Canucks open the 2025-26 season on the road against the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday, Oct. 10.
The Canucks hosted Henderson in the first-ever home game in franchise history on Oct. 22, 2021, a game that saw Abbotsford score a 3-2 overtime win. Abbotsford went 4-0 against Henderson in 2024-25, including a 4-2 win the last time the two teams met on Jan. 11.
Abbotsford will also be the guest for the home opener of the Laval Rocket on Friday, Oct. 17.
The Rocket advanced to the AHL's Eastern Conference Finals, but were then swept by the Charlotte Checkers. Abbotsford went on to defeat Charlotte 4-2 in the Calder Cup Finals. Charlotte mayor Vi Lyles was then forced to wear an Abbotsford Canucks jersey and post a photo of her donning it on social media after losing a bet to Abbotsford mayor Ross Siemens.
Abbotsford and Laval split the four games they played in 2024-25, with Abbotsford beating Laval 4-3 the last time the two teams met on April 6.
The Canucks' home opener sees them welcome the Ontario Reign to the Abbotsford Centre on Friday, Oct. 24.
It marks the first time in franchise history that the Reign are in town for the home opener, as previously the club has hosted the Henderson Silver Knights (2021), the San Diego Gulls (2022 and 2024) and the Calgary Wranglers (2023).
The Canucks and the Reign have a storied rivalry and Ontario was the last team to defeat Abbotsford in a playoff series. The Reign swept the Canucks 3-0 in the 2024 Pacific Division semifinals, but Ontario was then eliminated in the 2024 Pacific Division finals by the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Abbotsford won three of the four meetings the two teams had in 2024-25, including a 5-3 win the last time they played each other on April 19. The Reign were swept 2-0 in round one of the 2025 AHL playoffs by the San Jose Barracuda.
The full AHL schedule is expected to be released next week.
