The Abbotsford Canucks have filled out the coaching staff for the 2026-27 season.
General manager Richard Seeley announced the hiring of Mark O’Leary as assistant coach and Lucas Bourdon as video coach on Friday (July 31) morning.
“We’re excited to finalize our coaching staff by welcoming Mark and Lucas to the Abbotsford Canucks,” Seeley stated. “Mark brings valuable head coaching experience from the WHL, along with international experience through Hockey Canada. He has a proven track record of developing players and leading competitive teams, and his ability to adapt to different environments will be a tremendous asset to our group. Lucas brings strong ties to the Fraser Valley, great energy, and a keen attention to detail that will complement our staff. We’re confident both will make a positive impact on our organization.”
The 41-year-old O’Leary has been the head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors since the 2019-20 season and helped that team capture the WHL title in 2024. He finished with a record of 145-127-24 during his tenure in Moose Jaw. The team made the playoffs three times and his best season was 2023-24 when the Warriors had a record of 44-21-3. Last season saw Moose Jaw post a record of 15-45-8 and miss the postseason.
O’Leary also served as an assistant coach for the Warriors starting in 2012-13 and was also an assistant coach for the Canadian U18 team at the 2026 U18 World Junior Championships in April. The Owen Sound, Ont. product played 16 games in the AHL for the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2007-08 and also suited up in the ECHL for the Reading Royals, Trenton Devils, Phoenix Roadunners, Johnstown Chiefs and Cincinnati Cyclones. He played junior hockey for the OHL’s Guelph Storm and Mississauga IceDogs. O’Leary scored a professional high of 10 goals for the Roadrunners in 2008-09.
Bourdon joins the Abbotsford Canucks after spending the past two seasons as video coach with the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs. The 23-year-old played for the Chiefs and Powell River Kings of the BCHL and he also made stops with the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm and the MJHL’s Niverville Nighthawks. Bourdon spent one season with the Abbotsford-based Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the BCEHL.
He was in the video coach role when the Chiefs played new Abbotsford Canucks head coach Ryan Papaioannou’s Brooks Bandits in the 2025 BCHL Championship. The Bandits won that series 4-2.
Please join us in welcoming Mark O’Leary as our new Assistant Coach and Lucas Bourdon as our new Video Coach!
#ProudlyAbbotsford | https://t.co/Nv2lRMqmXj pic.twitter.com/TIVVtciwtY— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) July 31, 2026
O’Leary and Bourdon complete the Abbotsford coaching roster and the 2026-27 staff consists of:
• Ryan Papaioannou – head coach
• Harry Mahesh – assistant coach (returning)
• Mark O’Leary – assistant coach
• Justin Pogge – goaltending coach (returning)
• Lucas Bourdon – video coach
Abbotsford opens the season in Calgary against the Wranglers on Friday, Oct. 2. The team’s home opener sees them welcome the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Saturday, Oct. 17.