VANCOUVER Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced on Friday that the club has signed Surrey’s Arshdeep Bains to an entry level contract.
Bains, 21, has appeared in 55 games for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season collecting 82 points (30-52-82) and 46 penalty minutes. He leads the league in both points (82) and assists (52), becoming the first player of South Asian descent to lead the WHL in points.
This season, the 6’1″, 184-pound left winger collected 11 power play goals and 24 assists on the man advantage to help the Rebels boast the third-best power-play percentage in the league.
Arshdeep’s dad, businessman Kuldip Bains, was thrilled when he received the news on Friday morning. He told the VOICE: “It’s just amazing! I can’t believe this is happening! It’s great!’
He added: “I am very proud of him. He’s done an amazing job.”
He said Arshdeep has drive and determination and works hard.
Kuldip said that there were a few teams that were interested in his son, but the family just heard about the Canuck’s contract on Friday morning.
“There’s nothing more special than playing on your home team,” he added. “So, he’s so happy that it happened here and he’s with the Canucks and he’s very excited about that.”
Kuldip said: “He probably knew for a few days that something’s happening … and they [the Canucks] confirmed it this morning.”
Arshdeep becomes the fourth player of Punjabi descent to sign an NHL deal after Jujhar Khaira, Robin Bawa and Manny Malholtra.