BCHL Alumni Profile: Abram Wiebe

BCHL Alumni Profile: Abram Wiebe

Presented by Prestige Hotels & Resorts +++ For former Chilliwack Chiefs standout Abram Wiebe, last spring was a bit of a blur. After his team at the University of North Dakota won the Penrose Cup as the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) regular season champions, they eventually made it to the Frozen Four in the NCAA’s national tournament, but lost 2-1 in the semifinal to Wisconsin. The 22-year-old Wiebe spent that night reflecting on the season that was with his teammates, but only a few short hours later, it was time to turn the page. The following day, it was announced that Wiebe had signed his entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames, who had traded for his rights from the Vegas Golden Knights in January, and he would be making his NHL debut a night later. “It was kind of a whirlwind,” said Wiebe. “I finished my college career and then had to flip that page quickly and sign my first contract, which you work your whole life towards.” Wiebe’s debut was set for April 11 with Calgary on the road to face the Seattle Kraken. Being from Mission, B.C., Seattle is just a few hours down the I-5 highway, so a huge contingency of family and friends was able to make the trip and be there in person to watch him accomplish this milestone. “It was so cool,” he said. “Being able to tell my parents my first NHL game was only a couple hours away from home, they were excited. I had around 50 people come down. My parents were there, so were my uncles, aunts, my grandmother, my girlfriend and her family, my old billet family from Chilliwack, my cousins. I remember coming out for my rookie lap and they were all standing behind the glass. It’s something that I’ll remember forever.” To say it was a rollercoaster of emotions would be an understatement. Wiebe went from the highs of playing a semifinal at the Frozen Four, the realization that your college career has come to an end after the loss and then signing and making your NHL debut 48 hours later. Despite all of that, once the puck dropped in Seattle, he was able to settle into his game, which carried over into the three other games he suited up for to close out Calgary’s season. “I didn’t think I would get the chance to play all four games,” said Wiebe. “The first night in Seattle was quite an adjustment after not practicing with the team and then just playing a game right away. It’s such a big adjustment, but I believe that college prepared me very well for that. The more I played, I just felt more calm and comfortable out there. I thought I got better the more I played.” After his debut on the road against Seattle, the Flames finished the season with three straight home games against the Utah Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings. According to Wiebe, that game against Colorado really provided him with his ‘welcome to the NHL’ moment. “I just remember skating around and seeing Nathan McKinnon and guys like that, guys I grew up watching,” he said. “They’re the best players in the NHL and you just admire their game so much, and the next thing you know, you’re playing against them. That was such a cool moment.” Prior to his time with North Dakota, Wiebe spent three full seasons in Chilliwack from 2020 to 2023. In his final season in the BCHL, after being named team captain to start the year, he won the league’s Top Defenceman Award after finishing the campaign with 53 points in 54 games to lead his team in scoring. “Chilliwack was unbelievable for me,” he said. “I’m super thankful that I got the opportunity from [Chiefs head coach] Brian Maloney and Brad Rihela [former Chiefs assistant and current head coach of the Langley Rivermen]. They gave me a chance when I was 17 years old to come in and be the seventh defenceman and to just work my way up.” “I got the opportunity to commit to North Dakota in my second year and wore the C my third year. Just playing in that league and playing in Chilliwack really developed me and helped build my game. Heading into college, it made the transition a lot easier. I’m so happy that I went that route through the BCHL, to play college hockey and pursue my dream of making it to the NHL.” Looking ahead to next season, Wiebe plans on using his four games of NHL experience to his advantage. “I was really able to get a feel for the game and what it’s like,” said Wiebe. “It’s a huge advantage heading into next season. I can come in being more confident in my game, knowing what the speed of the game is like. Now I have a better idea of what I need to do in order to make that team next year.” Whether it’s with the big club in the NHL or in the American Hockey League with the Calgary Wranglers, Wiebe has a gameplan this offseason to help him accomplish his goals. “I want to be someone that the team can rely on in all areas,” he said. “Going to a new team next season, a big part of my game is my play in the defensive zone. I want to be trusted there. I take a lot of pride in that side of the game. Being in a new league with guys that are stronger and faster, I know that I also need to also get stronger and faster. That’s something that I’m focusing on a lot this summer. I’m looking forward to grinding all summer and working towards that.”