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Vancouver’s 2025 first‑round selection has been training alongside Ben Berard and Bennett Schimek during Abbotsford Canucks practice this week.
Published Oct 01, 2026 • 3 minute read
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Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes is expected to open his AHL campaign centering a line with veteran Ben Berard and newly signed college free agent Bennett Schimek.
Abbotsford Canucks head coach Ryan Papaioannou has been evaluating this forward combination in practice as he prepares the team for its season‑opening road game against the Calgary Wranglers.
The Abbotsford squad will remain in Calgary for a Saturday contest before traveling to face the Colorado Eagles on October 9‑10. The team’s home opener is scheduled for October 17 against the Coachella Valley Firebirds at Rogers Forum.
Abbotsford is slated to release its season‑opening roster on Friday morning; ticket details are available on the club’s website.
The 19‑year‑old was selected 15th overall by Vancouver in the 2025 NHL Draft. The club reassigned the right‑shot centre to Abbotsford last week, and under new AHL eligibility rules he can remain a full‑time regular this season—previously, players under 20 who didn’t crack the NHL had to be returned to junior hockey.
A native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Cootes appeared in three games with Vancouver last season before being returned to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.
The 27‑year‑old Berard is entering his fifth professional season. A Duncan, British Columbia native, he re‑signed with Abbotsford last April after leading the team with 20 goals and finishing second in points at 37.
Schimek, 23, secured a one‑year contract for 2026‑27 with Abbotsford in March after wrapping up his senior year at Arizona State. He finished the season on a professional tryout, recording five goals and 11 points in 13 games.
Vancouver general manager Ryan Johnson has emphasized patience since his summer arrival, stating that when he assigned Cootes to Abbotsford he wanted the prospect to concentrate on development rather than shuttling between the NHL and AHL.
“My conversation with Braeden was very complimentary of everything — how he’s approached it mentally, physically, how he’s handled everything,” Johnson told reporters. “Braeden is going to go to Abbotsford and — you guys are going to hate me for this — but there’s no timeline.”
“When he learns to battle through challenging AHL situations, the experience will make him even stronger when he returns to a more structured NHL environment,” Johnson added. “At 19, I pointed to several players a year older who spent time in the minors, earned a recall, and never returned.”
Cootes finished pointless in his three NHL appearances last season. Seattle traded him to the Prince Albert Raiders at the WHL deadline, where he accumulated 24 goals and 63 points over 45 regular‑season games and added seven goals and 23 points in 24 playoff contests before the Raiders fell in five games to the Everett Silvertips in the league final.
He also suited up for Canada at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota, contributing two goals in seven games.
It remains to be seen whether Vancouver will loan Cootes to Hockey Canada for this year’s World Junior Championship, hosted by Edmonton and Red Deer with an opening date on Boxing Day. He previously attended Canada’s summer development camp in Windsor.
@SteveEwen
SEwen@postmedia.com
