Abbotsford finished the month of December with a 6-4-1 record.
The Abbotsford Canucks wrapped up their 2023 calendar year, picking up 13 points in December. It was an up-and-down month that featured both a four-game losing streak and a four-game winning streak. Here is a look back at the month that was for Abbotsford.
One of the biggest surprises for the Canucks was the point production of John Stevens. Playing in the bottom six, the 29-year-old recorded eight points in 11 games, which included his first three-point game since Feb 3, 2023. Now up to 13 points on the season, he should easily surpass the 19 he recorded during the 2022-23 campaign.
Another player who stepped up was Vasily Podkolzin. He averaged over four shots per game and looked on Abbotsford's first line. If he can continue generating chances and playing at this high level, a call-up to Vancouver could be in the cards later on in the season.
On defence, Matt Irwin had his most productive month as a Canucks. In 10 games, the 36-year-old had five points and averaged 2.2 shots per game. So far, this has been a beneficial signing as he continues to mentor the younger players in the organization.
As for in net, Artūrs Šilovs continued his strong start to the season. Abbotsford's starter played seven games and consistently kept his team in games. Posting a save percentage of over .900 in every game, he stopped 30 or more shots; he is on pace to be named team MVP for the second straight season.
From a big-picture perspective, this was a decent month for the Canucks. Among the highlights were beating the Ontario Reign 5-0 while on the road and picking up their second win of the season against the Calgary Wranglers. With a busy month of January ahead that includes two trips to California, Abbotsford did enough in December to remain near the top of the Pacific Division heading into 2024.
