In the 1999–2000 season, Manny Malhotra and the Hartford Wolf Pack won the Calder Cup in six games against the Rochester Americans. 25 years later, Malhotra has a chance to win his first as a head coach alongside the no-quit Abbotsford Canucks. Last night, the AHL Canucks defeated the Texas Stars 4–2 in Game 6, sending them to the 2025 Calder Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.
“The biggest takeaway for me was the fact that being down in third period wasn’t a backbreaker for us,” Malhotra said last night after the team’s gutsy win. “It more galvanized our group in terms of wanting to push through and find a way, and the fact that we had contributions throughout the lineup, I was able to roll four lines and get the most out of guys, which was the biggest takeaway.”
Many describe Abbotsford’s style of play as “Malhotra-type” hockey. Every player throughout the lineup is relentless, committing to doing things such as blocking shots, winning board battles, or making timely hits in order to earn the puck. Throughout this playoff run, the AHL Canucks have been nothing short of resilient while sticking to their style of play.
“We’ve done it a number of times throughout the course of the season, throughout the course of the playoffs. Yes, it’s great that we have the resiliency to come back and wipe away those deficits, but obviously it’s not a situation we want to find ourselves in. Obviously, with Charlotte, the competition is only getting tougher, so we want to make sure we don’t put ourselves in that situation.”
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Of anyone who could guide Abbotsford to a Calder Cup, there are few — if any — better than Malhotra. While this season was his first as Abbotsford’s head coach, Malhotra’s first go-around with the Vancouver Canucks organization was back in the 2010–11 season. After retiring from playing, he rejoined Vancouver in 2016–17 as a development coach and was soon promoted to an assistant coach. After the 2019–20 season, Malhotra joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in the same role, ending his stint with them after the 2023–24 season. Having been part of the Canucks’ 2011 Stanley Cup team, he knows how special the crowds in BC can be.
“I’ll say it again and again. Our group gets so much energy for life from this building, the fans have been outstanding throughout the entire playoff run, they’re a big part of our success. This atmosphere here to play in front of has been really special for the guys, and we’re looking to continue that.”
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