Hometown kid Arshdeep Bains makes Vancouver Canucks debut

Arshdeep Bainsof Surrey, B.C., made his debut for the Vancouver Canuckson Tuesday night.

Bains suited up for hishometown teamin their game against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.

The 23-year-old forward was called up to the NHL clublast weekfrom the Canucks' American Hockey League affiliate in Abbotsford, B.C.,but did not playin Saturday's home game against the Winnipeg Jets, or in Monday's game against the host Minnesota Wild.

Bains, who grew up a Canucks fan, became one of only four Punjabi players to play in the NHL, the others being Robin Bawa, Manny Malhotra and Jujhar Khaira.

Family and hockey analysts say Bains' Canucks debutis a positive step for Metro Vancouver's growing South Asian community.

"What can you say? It is a dream come true for him," said Arshdeep's father Kuldip Bains, who was waiting to board a bus to Denver's Ball Arena when reached by CBC News on Tuesday evening before the game.

"We are so proud. The whole town is behind him, everyone is calling it's unreal."

Bains is having a career-best season with the Canucks' AHL affiliate in Abbotsford,B.C. He has nine goals and 39 points in 42 games.

"For my whole life, I've tried to put my foot in the door at every level I've been to and it's no different here. It's been a heck of a journey," Bains said during a media availability in Denver.

"It's every kid's dream to play for their hometown team."

Surrey is B.C.'s second largest city by population and is located just southeast of Vancouver.

The Canuckslost31 to the Avalanche Tuesday night. Bainshadtwo shots on goal, three hits anda block in just over 13 minutes of ice time.

Prior to the game, Bainstooka rookie lap during warmups, part of a long-standing hockey tradition that sees players making their NHL debut lead their teamonto the ice and skate around soloas their teammates look on.

"First stepping out there, it just feels like a dream," Bains said after the game. "And then when you get into your first shift ... it's just like another hockey game. It was really cool."

'This isn't an overnight story'

For the past two years, Bainshas played for the Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver'sAHLaffiliate.

Before that, he played in the Western Hockey League for the Red Deer Rebels, where hebecamethe first South Asianplayerto lead the major junior hockey leaguein points.

Bains wasn'tdrafted by aWHL or NHL team.

The Canucks signedhim to an entry-level contract in 2022.

Nilesh Patel, who helped create a documentary aboutyoungSouth Asian NHL hopefuls, said he couldn't help but root for Bains and his story.

"Without being drafted, both at WHL and NHL, what he's done to get there ... such a great story of perseverance and hard work to get to your dreams," Patel told Amy Bell, guest host of CBC'sOn The Coast.

The filmmaker says that Bains' NHL debut is significant for the South Asian community in B.C.

"This isn't an overnight story," he said. "Hey, we've known this. This guy should be in the NHL.The community's now seeing what they felt and that's huge, right?

"When you feel under-represented ... you want to see those opportunities when somebody should be there happen."

Gurpreet Sian, an analyst for Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi, said Bains' debut would give confidence to South Asian youth who appreciate the forward's hard work.

"It's been nine years since Jujhar Khairamadehis NHL debut," he said. "It's a huge accomplishment for the community."

Sian acknowledged that Bains may not see significant icetime withthe Canucks, who currently sit atop NHLstandings, but may be part of the squad if established players get injured.

When asked if Bains could suit up for an eventual playoff run, the analyst said Bains' future would come down to luck and head coach Rick Tocchet.

"It is a huge, huge accomplishment just making it to the NHL and getting an opportunity to play with one of the NHL clubs," he said.