can pro am Archives - Canucks Autism Network

The Canucks Autism Network (CAN) Pro-Am Hockey Tournament started four years ago from a dream. Building off our provincial community’s deep love of hockey, we envisioned a fundraising event that united NHL Alumni with rec players in support of the cause.

Our inaugural tournament in 2019 featured Canucks legend Daniel Sedin and raised a remarkable $575,000. Year after year, tourney supporters and participants raised more and more — with the top fundraising team earning their first choice of NHL Alumni. Now in its fourth year, the 2022 edition achieved another record-setting amount.

With 16 teams, 18 NHL Alumni & over 230 rec players, the 2022 CAN Pro-Am, presented by Dallas Watt Demo Ltd, raised an astounding $825,000+!

Todd Bertuzzi with top fundraising team, The Constructors.

Held November 18-20, players came from across the Lower Mainland community and beyond for a weekend of hockey, fun and camaraderie. Corporate teams like the Beyonders, Odlum Brown Bulls & Team Sportsnet were comprised of staff from local businesses who support the cause, while teams like the Port Moody Oldtimers and Team Bob Shanks filled their roster with hockey buddies from local rec leagues.

Interested in joining next year? Join the waitlist!

Regardless of their background, each team signed up in 2022 with a common goal — to raise vital funding for CAN programs, training and community engagement initiatives. With a minimum team goal of $20,000, our top fundraising squads absolutely went above and beyond.

For the second consecutive year, The Constructors topped the standings with a remarkable $132,331.

Led by captain Cam McClelland, The Constructors sold tables to the CAN Pro-Am Luncheon, sponsored by ICONIX Waterworks, donated items to the CAN Pro-Am Online Auction, sponsored by Odlum Brown Limited, and hosted a range of fundraising events to achieve their incredible total.

Meanwhile, the top fundraising individual should come as no surprise to anyone.

If you’ve been around any major CAN fundraiser in the past decade, then you know the name Bob Shanks. This past year, Bob achieved a remarkable milestone — $250,000 raised for CAN, all-time. In addition to being featured in The Province, Bob was awarded the BC Medal for Good Citizenship.

Bob with Canucks Alumni Mason Raymond and Brendan Morrison

So of course, when the individual fundraising standings were finalized, it was Bob Shanks who topped the list once again with $39,615 raised. With thanks to his longtime friend and CAN supporter Paddy Mahony, Bob hosted a pub night fundraiser at Mahony’s Tavern and was tireless in collecting donations from friends, family members and coworkers.

In total, the fundraising period lasted five months. The hard work of over 230 rec players culminated on Friday, November 18, as NHL Alumni from across North America united in Vancouver. Featuring Canucks fan favourites spanning multiple eras, top names included the likes of Todd Bertuzzi, Raffi Torres and Kirk McLean.

See the full list of participating NHL Alumni

The weekend kicked off with the CAN Pro-Am Luncheon, sponsored by ICONIX Waterworks, at The Westin Bayshore.

Hosted by Satiar Shah of Sportsnet 650, VIP guests were treated to an on-stage Q&A panel with members of the Canucks’ 2011 team — Torres, Jannik Hansen, Mason Raymond and Cody Hodgson.

In addition to the on-stage entertainment, all 18 participating NHL Alumni were seated among our VIP guests.

Despite that group of former pros on-stage, it was CAN hockey dad Gary Bryant who stole the show. Gary shared how he watched his son Mitch fulfill his dream of being a hockey player. Through CAN’s hockey program, Mitch gained the skills and confidence necessary to eventually graduate to the Chilliwack Minor Hockey Association, where he currently plays at the U18 level.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

“Canucks Autism Network allowed Mitchell to believe. [This tournament] plays an important role in writing the next story — in fulfilling the next dream. By supporting CAN, you can help ensure that more barriers are broken. And isn’t that beautiful thing?”

Read Gary’s full speech >

Father and son pose at hockey rink for a photo. — Gary and Mitch Bryant several years ago in the CAN hockey program in Surrey

The Luncheon was immediately followed by an All-Star Reception where Gary and Mitch were welcomed as special guests. Sponsored by NOX, El Santo and Casamigos, the private reception was held exclusively for our top 24 individual fundraisers to enjoy a tequila tasting and tapas experience with all 18 NHL Alumni in attendance.

The evening was finally was topped off by Draft Night, sponsored by Sportsnet 650. The draft order was set based on the final team fundraising standings. With The Constructors holding the top spot, Bertuzzi became the first repeat first overall selection in tournament history (he was previously selected first in 2020). Rounding out the top three, the Beyonders selected Martin Gelinas, while the Ice Grizzlies welcomed Raymond onto their team.

“We need events like the CAN Pro-Am,” Bertuzzi shared. “I was fortunate to play in Vancouver for 10 years and it’s always so great coming back and seeing guys like Brendan Morrison and Brad May. The fundraisers are always so awesome to play with and the amount of money that has been raised is going to such a great cause.”

Heading across the Fraser, we finally dropped the puck on the 2022 tournament the following morning at the North Surrey Sport and Ice Complex.

With support from the City of Surrey and Sport Surrey, each team played two games on Saturday and one game on Sunday.

Canucks Alumni Kirk McLean alongside a pair of fundraisers at the CAN Pro-Am All-Star Game.

To cap off the on-ice action, our top 24 fundraisers were treated to a bonus game on Sunday afternoon with six NHL Alumni joining each team. The ceremonial puck drop was preceded by a couple of key Autistic voices from the CAN community. Ryan Chilton was back at the PA mic introducing each player, while CAN & Sarah McLachlan School of Music student and CAN hockey participant Kaiden esang the national anthem.

And with Gary and Mitch kicking off the weekend with their incredible story about CAN’s impact, it was only appropriate that Mitch was invited onto the ice for the feature game. Suiting up for Team Blue, he was joined by former CAN hockey teammate Brandon Carinha. Both Mitch and Brandon scored a goal while skating alongside the likes of Brad May, Brendan Morrison, Hansen and Torres.

John Craighead (NHL Alumni & Surrey Knights owner), Brayden Bradbury (CAN participant & staff member), Christian Aquilini (the inspiration behind CAN), Martin Gelinas & Geoff Courtnall (NHL Alumni), Brandon Carinha (CAN participant)

NHL Alumni Cody Hodgson & CAN Hockey Alumni Mitch Bryant

It was a meaningful end to an unforgettable weekend. Participating rec players and NHL Alumni got to see first-hand how CAN helps our participants achieve their dreams. And to quote CAN hockey dad Gary, “Isn’t that a beautiful thing?”

Huge thanks to all the players, coaches, donors, sponsors and supporters who make this tournament possible each and every year.

See you in 2023?

Learn more about the tournament: canproam.ca

Thank you to all our CAN Pro-Am sponsors

My nana registered me and told me that I had to raise the money myself – and I did.

There were 19 rec and corporate teams signed up for the 2020 CAN Pro-Am, presented by Hudson Pacific Properties. CAN helped organize a team comprised of CAN parents, staff, volunteers and supporters, called the Healthy Scratches. Brayden joined this team for the 2020 tourney.

Instead of asking for money for Christmas, I asked my relatives to make a pledge to my fundraising campaign. They helped a lot, and I am grateful for their support.

My nana and I also attended a Lions meeting in December. We made an oral presentation and were surprised at the generosity of the people at the meeting; I doubled my fundraising total in just one night.

Sometimes I even took bottles and cans to the recycling depot to add more to my total.

Lastly, I was also volunteering with the new CAN Hockey program in Coquitlam. Imagine my surprise when I found out that my volunteer hours gave me a fundraising bonus too!

After months of fundraising, Brayden absolutely smashed his fundraising goal of $1,500, bringing in $2,250.

As a team, the Healthy Scratches raised an incredible $43,369. Ranking 6^th among the 19 teams, they earned the right to play a pre-tournament exhibition game at the home of the Vancouver Canucks.

The tournament experience started on my birthday, January 22. Who would ever imagine playing in Rogers Arena on their 19th birthday? It was a funny game for me. I was wearing gloves that were too big for me, but I still managed to get two assists in that game. I felt like I got some of my old groove back.

Two days later, the official tournament weekend began with Draft Night, sponsored by Odlum Brown Limited. Teams selected NHL Alumni in the order of their fundraising rankings. Brayden and the Healthy Scratches owned the 6^th overall pick.

It is difficult to describe my pure enjoyment at Draft Night in a single emotion. My team came up with a vote for drafting. We eliminated Todd Bertuzzi and the Sedins as possibilities, because we knew they would be the first three drafted. We narrowed it down to two players: Canucks Alumni Brad May and Mason Raymond.

After Bertuzzi and the Sedins were chosen, Brendan Morrison and May went 4^th and 5^th. So our decision was made for us. We welcomed former Canucks winger Mason Raymond onto our team. Based on how the tournament eventually went, I believe that we may have come out with the best pick in the draft.

The next morning, it was time to drop the puck! The 2-day tournament took place at UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Each team gets two games on Saturday and one game on Sunday.

The whole tournament was one big highlight. On day one, Raymond kept setting me up, but I just could not score. Although we lost both of our Saturday games, we were all having fun, and that is what mattered most. We got a laugh out of Kyle Wellwood’s cherry-picking against us. And taking a faceoff against Geoff Courtnall was something I never thought would happen.

When we weren’t playing, I hung out with a few members of the team in the player’s lounge overlooking the main rink. We watched the Sedins face off against each, and it was a blast. They went one-on-one at the start of each period. I felt bad for the goalies!

We had our last game the next day. It was something else. While we were getting ready, we made a few trades with our opponents from First Brew – a team of first responders and microbrewery staff from Port Moody. Taylor Pyatt ended up joining Mason Raymond as a second NHL Alumni on our team.

The second period was where the game really took off. I never thought in my life that I would score a goal assisted by both Raymond and Pyatt, but the CAN Pro-Am makes scenarios like this possible. I do not miss wide open nets often.

After scoring another goal, Brayden had the opportunity to score a hat trick goal on a penalty shot!

Any penalty in this tournament results in a penalty shot. And during the third period, a call was made. I went wide-right and put it five-hole. Everyone cheered.

After the game, I was asked by CAN for an interview and to my surprise, both Brad May and Henrik Sedin walked up to congratulate me. When Brad May says you scored the goal of the tournament – well, I just could not stop smiling all day.

But the fun was not over yet.

One of the highlights of the tournament is the All-Star Game. The top 22 fundraisers get to compete in the showcase match alongside 12 NHL Alumni.

Before the game, one of our top fundraisers told us he couldn’t play anymore. He wanted to give his spot to a deserving player. Naturally, we offered it to Brayden!

I had to race to the All-Star teams’ dressing room. I was surprised when Canucks coaches Travis Green and Nolan Baumgartner came in to give us a speech.

One of the kids on the CAN youth hockey team in Coquitlam, Michael, also came in to thank us for our fundraising. He dropped the ceremonial puck for the game, which was very nice to see. If you are reading this, Michael, I hope you enjoyed the game, buddy!

There were a lot of great moments in this game. I had a very short board battle with Henrik Sedin, which I knew I would lose. But it was still great. Watching former Canucks goalie Corey Hirsch take a penalty shot was awesome as well; no one expects a goalie to pull off a one-handed shot!

I happened to score another goal during the game. This one resonated with me more than any of my previous goals, because my team was down by two. We still lost 4-3, but plenty of memories were already made.

I have been to the U.S. for a Peewee tournament. I have played against teams from Alberta. And I have been on a tournament-winning Bantam team. But this was easily one of the best weekends of my life.

I want to say thank you to everyone who made this tournament so amazing: the NHL Alumni, my teammates, and especially the volunteers and staff. Without these people working so hard and taking the time out of their days, it would not have been so amazing.

I can’t wait to be back next year.

– Brayden Bradbury

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