Months after a historic Calder Cup victory, players, coaches, and staff of the Abbotsford Canucks are still waiting for their championship rings. The Vancouver Canucks organization, which owns the American Hockey League affiliate, has faced growing criticism for the significant delay in recognizing the team's 2025 championship achievement.
A Belated Response to Public Scrutiny
The issue came to light through reports from CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal and the Abbotsford News' Ben Lypka. They revealed that despite measurements being taken months ago, no rings had been distributed. Following this public exposure, the Canucks issued a statement late on Friday, December 19, 2025, confirming that rings have now been ordered and will be distributed sometime in the New Year.
The team's statement emphasized the care put into the design, calling the rings "a piece of history the players will carry with them for the rest of their lives." However, the timing of the announcement, immediately following negative media reports, has led many to view it as reactive damage control rather than proactive celebration.
A Pattern of Delay and Minimal Investment
This incident is not an isolated one for the Aquilini-owned franchise. Journalist Patrick Johnston points out a recurring theme of being "late" in operations. A recent example includes the installation of new seats at Rogers Arena, which was completed so late that a section in the lower bowl remained unfinished for the start of the NHL season. Affected fans were offered a $50 credit, with the final replacements postponed until the Olympic break.
This pattern extends to other areas. The organization has long faced criticism for its lack of a dedicated practice facility for the NHL team, often framed as a reluctance to make necessary capital investments. Furthermore, years ago, the team was found to be below the NHL's minimum standard for certified athletic therapists, another example of cost-cutting that impacted player support.
How Other Professional Teams Operate
The standard practice across professional sports, including the AHL, is to present championship rings either during a public banner-raising ceremony at the start of the following season or in a private team gathering. While roster turnover in the minors presents a logistical challenge, other organizations successfully coordinate ring presentations with former players during subsequent road trips or special meetups.
The contrast extends beyond ring ceremonies. Other NHL franchises, even in non-traditional markets, often invest heavily in community hockey infrastructure, building and renovating rinks to grow the sport. In contrast, the City of Vancouver has not added a new sheet of ice in decades, a situation a committed NHL owner could help remedy.
The delay in delivering the Calder Cup rings symbolizes a broader criticism of the Canucks' ownership: a perceived "nickel-and-dime" mentality and a focus on the bottom line that sometimes overshadows the recognition of on-ice success and investment in the community. For the players and staff who earned the AHL's ultimate prize in June, the wait for their tangible symbol of victory continues into 2026.
