In a post on social media this morning, the Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver's American Hockey League affiliate, celebrated Cole McWard, whose birthday is today and is turning 23-year-old.
The Fenton, Missouri native joined the Vancouver Canucks organization as an undrafted free agent in 2023 following his second season in the NCAA with Ohio State University. McWard appeared in five NHL games at the end of the 2022-23 season, scoring his first career goal against the Calgary Flames on April 8th of last year.
Other than one appearance with Vancouver, McWard spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign in the American Hockey League with Abbotsford, putting up 17 points (four goals, 13 assists), 16 penalty minutes and was a plus-16. He went on to add one assist in six Calder Cup Playoff games.
