The Abbotsford Canucks have signed United Collegiate Hockey Cup champion Braden Birnie has signed a professional try-out agreement.
The 6-2 winger made his professional debut with the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush on March 12 and made an immediate impact with six points in nine games.
Birnie completed four seasons with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks and recorded 47 points in 114 games. This past season saw him record an NCAA career-high 18 points in 33 games. He also served as the team’s captain in 2024-25 and an assistant captain in 2025-26.
Birnie and the Nanooks captured the inaugural United Collegiate Hockey Cup, which saw the top independent Division 1 programs compete. He recorded an assist on the championship winning goal in overtime against Lindenwood on March 7.
Prior to his time in Alaska, Birnie played for the Steinbach Pistons of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. He played minor hockey in his hometown of Weyburn, Sask.
A PTO contract in the AHL is limited to 25 games, and the player can be released at any time. At its conclusion, the player has the right to sign a standard AHL contract or another PTO. The Rush continue to hold Birnie’s rights should he return to the ECHL.
The Canucks next host the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Friday (April 3) and Saturday (April 4). The pair of games the final two home games this season and are part of “Fan Appreciation Weekend”.
The final four games of the AHL regular season for the Canucks are on the road, with games on April 10 and 11 in Calgary against the Wranglers, a visit to Ontario to take on the Reign on April 18 and concluding the campaign with a rematch against the Firebirds in Coachella Valley.