Sports
Abbotsford Canucks Announce 2024-2025 Regular Season Schedule
The American Hockey League (AHL) has released its 2024-25 regular season schedule. The Abbotsford Canucks will kick off their campaign on the road, facing the Calgary Wranglers in a two-game series starting Friday, October 11. The team will then travel to Loveland, CO, to take on the Colorado Eagles on October 18 and 19.
Abbotsford’s home opener is set for Friday, October 25, at 7:00 PM, when they welcome the San Diego Gulls to the Abbotsford Centre. The two-game home series continues on October 26, followed by back-to-back matchups against the Tucson Roadrunners on October 29 and 30, both starting at 7:00 PM.
Click here for the full list of dates and opponents for the 2024-25 season.
Key Matchups & Schedule Highlights
- Season Opener & Finale on the Road: Abbotsford starts the season with four consecutive road games and wraps up with three in Southern California (Bakersfield, Coachella Valley, and Ontario).
- Divisional Battles: Of the team’s 72 games, 64 will be against Pacific Division opponents. The remaining eight will feature matchups against the Manitoba Moose and Laval Rocket (two home, two road games each).
- Wranglers Rivalry: Calgary will be Abbotsford’s most frequent opponent. The teams face off in the season opener on October 11 and will meet multiple times throughout the season, including Abbotsford’s final two home games on April 11 and 12.
Season at a Glance
- Familiar Faces: Former Vancouver Canuck Manny Malhotra returns as Abbotsford’s new Head Coach, while captain Chase Wouters is back for his fourth season, signing a two-year contract extension. Wouters and alternate captain John Stevens are both on track to reach 200 regular-season games played with the franchise (Wouters: 196, Stevens: 179).
- Extended Stays at Home: The Canucks will enjoy three season-long six-game homestands, the first beginning December 7 vs. Colorado and concluding December 21 vs. Tucson.
- Family-Friendly Sundays: Abbotsford will host six Sunday home games, all with 4:00 PM puck drops, offering the perfect opportunity for families to catch the action.
- Canadian Matchups: Nearly 28% of the schedule (20 of 72 games) will be against fellow Canadian teams: Calgary Wranglers, Laval Rocket, and Manitoba Moose.
- Road Warriors: The Canucks will embark on two six-game road trips, the first running from November 19 (Bakersfield) to November 30 (San Jose).
- AHL All-Star Classic: The 2025 AHL All-Star Classic will take place at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA, home of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, on February 2-3. Last season, Surrey, BC native Arshdeep Bains represented Abbotsford, leading all scorers with five points (2G, 3A) and earning All-Star Challenge MVP honors.
Sports
Toronto Tempo Bringing WNBA Action to Vancouver for Two-Game Series
WNBA basketball is coming to Vancouver this summer as the Toronto Tempo bring two regular-season games to Rogers Arena as part of their inaugural season.
The Tempo will face the Portland Fire on August 21 before taking on the Las Vegas Aces on August 23. The two games will give basketball fans across British Columbia a chance to see Canada’s WNBA team play on the West Coast.
The Vancouver series is part of the Tempo’s push to build a team that represents fans across the country. The franchise has already made its mark in its first season, including a record-setting stop in Montreal.
The Tempo’s regular-season showcase at Montreal’s Bell Centre drew 20,996 fans, setting a new WNBA regular-season attendance record. The Vancouver games continue that effort to bring the team closer to fans outside Toronto.
“From the beginning, our vision has been to build a team that represents all of Canada,” said Teresa Resch, President of the Toronto Tempo. “The support we’ve seen from fans across the country has been incredible, and we’re excited to bring the energy of the WNBA to Vancouver.”
Resch added that the games are a chance to celebrate basketball on the West Coast and connect with communities across the country.
Vancouver has a long history with basketball and has produced elite players at various levels. The Tempo’s visit gives local fans a chance to see professional women’s basketball in their own city, while providing young athletes with another opportunity to see the sport at its highest level.
The Tempo will stay in Vancouver beyond the court. The team will host Tempo Live at Rogers Arena on Saturday, August 22. The free community event will feature interactive basketball activities, clinics, exclusive merchandise and family-friendly programming.
Tickets for the Tempo’s August 21 game against Portland and August 23 matchup with Las Vegas are on sale now through Ticketmaster.
Sports
Toronto Tempo Could Make WNBA Attendance History in Montreal
The Toronto Tempo are on the verge of making WNBA history when they bring their Cross-Canada Series to Montreal next month.
The Tempo will face the Atlanta Dream at the Bell Centre on July 10, with the possibility of setting a new attendance record for a WNBA game. If the game sells out, more than 22,000 fans would fill the arena, surpassing the current WNBA regular-season attendance record of 20,711 set by the Washington Mystics at Capital One Arena in 2024.
A packed Bell Centre would also eclipse the WNBA playoff attendance record of 22,076, which was established during Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks before being matched in Game 5 of the 2007 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock. It would mark the largest crowd ever for a professional women’s basketball regular-season game, breaking the previous record of 21,490 set during an Unrivaled game in Philadelphia earlier this year.
The potential milestone comes during the Tempo‘s inaugural WNBA season and would add another chapter to the continued growth of women’s basketball in Canada.
“Playing two games in Montreal this summer is a huge moment for the Tempo and for basketball in Canada,” said Tempo President Teresa Resch. “From the beginning, we’ve said we want to be Canada’s team, and bringing the WNBA to Montreal is an important part of that vision. There is such a strong and passionate basketball community in Quebec, and we’re excited to connect with fans there in a meaningful way. We can’t wait to experience the energy inside the Bell Centre and continue growing the game across the country together.”
The Cross-Canada Series will offer more than basketball. Throughout the weekend, the Tempo will host community events, youth programs and fan experiences aimed at growing the sport across Quebec.
The team is partnering with Ball Her Way and the Mathurin Family Foundation to increase access to basketball for young athletes, including a girls’ 3-on-3 tournament presented by Canadian Tire featuring teams from Montreal and Quebec City. The Tempo say more community investments and programming in the Montreal area will be announced in the coming months.
Fans can take part in Tempo Live at the Bell Centre on July 11. The free event will include interactive basketball activities, community clinics, exclusive merchandise and family-friendly entertainment.
The weekend concludes on July 12, when the Tempo host the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty at the Bell Centre at 3 p.m. ET as part of the Cross-Canada Series.
Tickets for both Montreal games are available through Ticketmaster.