The Abbotsford Canucks have signed 23-year-old defenceman Isaac Belliveau to a one-year American Hockey League contract, the club announced Aug. 11.
Depth addition to the defensive corps
The Quebec-born defender arrives after spending last season with the Rochester Americans, where he recorded six points in 36 games. The move was confirmed by the Canucks' front office as the club fills out its blue-line options ahead of training camp and the regular season.
Belliveau’s professional track record includes parts of three AHL seasons with Rochester and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, amounting to 60 AHL games and 13 points overall. He also has two seasons of ECHL experience with the Wheeling Nailers, where he produced 54 points in 95 games.
"The Abbotsford Canucks have added another defenceman to the fold."
The 23-year-old was drafted in the fifth round, 154th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2021 NHL Draft. His junior career was spent in the QMJHL with the Rimouski Oceanic and the Gatineau Olympiques, where he served as an assistant captain for two seasons and earned a spot on the league's all-rookie team in his first QMJHL year.
What it means for Abbotsford
Belliveau joins an Abbotsford defensive group that includes established names such as Joe Artnsen, Guillaume Brisebois, Cole Clayton, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Sawyer Mynio, Jimmy Schuldt and Jack Thompson. The addition gives head coaches more options in pairings and on the penalty kill as the team pushes for consistency in the upcoming AHL campaign.
Abbotsford opens the AHL regular season on the road against the Calgary Wranglers on Oct. 2; the club’s home opener at Abbotsford Centre is set for Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Coachella Valley Firebirds visit.
- Player: Isaac Belliveau — 23 years old
- Contract: One-year AHL deal announced Aug. 11
- Last season: Rochester Americans — 6 points in 36 games
| League | Games | Points |
|---|---|---|
| AHL (Rochester, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) | 60 | 13 |
| ECHL (Wheeling) | 95 | 54 |
| Draft | 5th round, 154th overall (Pittsburgh Penguins, 2021) | |
For Abbotsford, the signing is part of a broader pattern of AHL clubs blending younger prospects with seasoned minor-league players. Belliveau’s size, junior leadership experience and steady point production at the ECHL level provide a particular type of depth that coaches often rely on during the long AHL grind.
With the regular season less than two months away, the Canucks’ coaching staff will use training camp and pre-season opportunities to evaluate how newcomers like Belliveau fit alongside returning defencemen. Depth on the blue line will also be important should NHL call-ups affect the roster during the season.
Local fans can monitor roster moves as the team finalizes its lineup; season-ticket holders and supporters will get their first look at the 2026-27 group at the home opener in mid-October.
Reporting for WE NEWS in Abbotsford, this local signing underscores the club’s incremental approach to assembling a competitive AHL roster while continuing to develop players with NHL aspirations.
