"You Never Forget Your First One, And To Do It Here Was Special.": Arshdeep Bains Breaks Down His First AHL All-Star Game And Learning From The Sedin Twins
Bains leads the Abbotsford Canucks this season with 40 points in 40 games.
From undrafted to AHL All-Star, Arshdeep Bains has become one of the Vancouver Canucks top prospects this season. He has more assists than anyone on the Abbotsford Canucks has points, and was named MVP of the 2024 AHL All-Star Challenge after leading all players with five points in four games. If he can keep up the pace he is on, not only could he set a new franchise record for points in a season, but he should get a look at the NHL level sometime in 2023/24.
What makes Bains' story extra special is that he is having success so close to home. Born in Surrey, B.C., he grew up cheering for Vancouver and is proud to call himself a Canuck. As he explains, the opportunity to play less than an hour away from his hometown and be cheered on by family and friends is something he does not take for granted.
"It's really nice to play for a team that I can live at home from and that I've been at that rink many times I was younger," said Bains in conversation with The Hockey News' Max Miller. "Being able to be on that team and playing for them, it's really nice. Having all the fans still supporting, and I know what it's like to be a fan, so it's really nice to play there."
One benefit of playing in Abbotsford is that Bains gets to learn from Henrik and Daniel Sedin. The Hall of Famers are part of the team's player development staff and are usually spotted at the Abbotsford Center when the Canucks are playing at home. As Bains describes, building a relationship with two players he looked up to as a child has been special and one that has helped his development since joining the organization.
"It's really special. I think that every time I get asked that question, it doesn't really change. I still look up to them, and they're always there for me. I see them at most games, so I'm able to talk to them after and get their input. It's really nice to have them around, and I still get starstruck."
Thanks to his successful start to the season, Bains was selected to represent Abbotsford at the 2024 AHL All-Star weekend. Unfortunately, due to a game on Saturday night and poor weather in San Jose, he could not make it in time for the skills part of the event. Despite the difficult travel, he made it to California in time for the tournament portion of the event, joining Christian Wolanin as the only players in franchise history to represent the Abbotsford Canucks at the All-Star festivities.
"We had a game Saturday night, and we got we got the win, so that was nice. Then, I was just trying to get ready for the flight and had some travel trouble. At the end of the day, I got help from the team, so we're able to find a way to get me here today, so I'm happy to be here."
The decision to attend the event paid off, as he helped the Pacific Division win the All-Star Challenge while being named MVP. While he was impressive in the three round-robin games, his biggest moment came in the final, where, with 13.4 seconds remaining, he scored the game-winning goal. Even though the event didn't start as he had hoped, it will remain a special moment he will always be able to look back on fondly.
"It's pretty fun. You don't know what to expect when you play three or three with a bunch of super-skilled hockey players, so it was a blast out there. It was awesome to play with a lot of guys I play against. You never forget your first one, and to do it here was special. A lot of guys that I kind of knew, so just being able to spend time with guys I play against and guys that I don't get to play against on the other side. So it was really nice, and it's a great city here. "
Bains is the perfect example of a player being rewarded for their hard work. He continues to improve at both ends of the ice and has become a fan favourite in Abbotsford this season. Based on his development over the past two seasons, he has a bright future ahead of him that should include an opportunity to make his NHL debut with the Canucks over the next few months.
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