Arshdeep Bains

Arshdeep Bains (born January 9, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger playing for the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Bains was born on January 9, 2001, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, to father Kuldip, an immigrant from India. He began playing ice hockey after playing mini-sticks and road hockey with his older brothers.

Amateur

While growing up in Surrey, Bains began playing AAA ice hockey with the Burnaby Winter Club Bruins. In 2012, he was the top scorer in the Bell Capital Cup tournament as he led the team to a championship win. He was also a member of the BC Junior Canucks that competed at the 2011 Brick Hockey Invitational Hockey Tournament. Following the Bruins, Bains enrolled at Delta Hockey Academy where he played on their U15 Prep team in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. After being passed over in the Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft, Bains was recruited to attend the Red Deer Rebels rookie camp. When he failed to make the team, Bains played one season with the Vancouver North East Chiefs U18 AAA team during the 2016–17 season. The following season, he again attended the Rebels training camp but was returned to the Valley West Hawks. However, he was named to the Rebels' 50-player protected list in 2017 which allowed them to call him up to the WHL if needed. After accumulating 16 goals and 41 assists for 56 points through 22 games, Bains joined the Rebels for the remainder of the season. Prior to joining the Rebels, Bains was recognized as the BCMML's ‘Player of the Month’ for the month of November. He finished his rookie season with the Rebels with seven points through 40 games. Bains returned to the Rebels for the 2018–19 season where he set new career-highs in goals, assists, and points.

Although the 2019–20 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bains broke numerous personal records by setting career highs in goals, assists, and points. After working to improve himself over the summer, Bains began receiving more responsibility on the ice as he also found chemistry with linemates Ben King and Chris Douglas. He finished the season with 18 goals and 51 points through 63 games before the season was cancelled.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bains and his Red Deer Rebels teammates lived in the Rebels’ home arena, the Westerner Park Centrium, for the entirety of the 2020–21 season. In March 2021, Bains was named an alternate captain for the Rebels alongside King, Douglas, Josh Tarzwell, and Zak Smith.

In his final season with the Rebels, Bains broke out offensively and set career-highs in goals, assists, and points. Bains was the WHL Scoring Champion for the 2021–22 season, finishing the season with 43 goals and 69 assists, becoming the first player of South Asian descent to win the Bob Clarke Trophy.

Professional

On March 11, 2022, Bains signed an entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks. After participating in the Canucks' training camp and pre-season games, Bains was reassigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, for the 2022–23 season. He scored his first professional goal in his first career AHL game in Abbotsford's season opener against the Ontario Reign. Bains then quickly tallied 13 points in his first 24 games by January 3, 2023.