Vasily Podkolzin Returns to the Ice for Abbotsford After Stints in Vancouver
Russian winger Vasily Podkolzin reached a notable milestone when he found the back of the net in a game played after his assignment to the Abbotsford Canucks, the Vancouver Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate. The matchup ended with a 6-3 victory for Abbotsford over the Bakersfield Condors, and Podkolzin sealed the win by scoring in the closing moments into an open net. Fellow Canucks prospect Jack Rathbone, who accompanied Podkolzin to the farm, also took the ice for the game.
During this season, Podkolzin appeared in 16 regular season NHL contests for Vancouver, contributing three assists and finishing with a minus two rating. He spent multiple stretches in the minors before being recalled as needed by the parent club, a common path for young players developing their pro game.
Looking back to the previous season, Podkolzin made his NHL debut in 79 regular season appearances, recording 14 goals and 12 assists for a plus-seven efficiency rating. He also suited up for two playoff games with Abbotsford, contributing a goal and an assist in that brief postseason run.
In another note from the hockey world, a clip featuring Alexander Ovechkin circulated online, showing the star winger celebrating a major achievement as he surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s record for away goals. The moment was welcomed with fanfare across the sport, underscoring Ovechkin’s place among the game’s all-time greats.