CHL to NHL: Cootes makes NHL debut with Vancouver

Seattle Thunderbird’s Braeden Cootes made his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.

Cootes saw 17 shifts totalling 11:14 minutes of ice-time and registered a hit in a 5-1 Canucks win.

The Canucks made the Thunderbirds’ captain their first choice 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. Cootes led the Thunderbirds in scoring this past season with 63 points (26 goals) in 60 games adding another eight points in six playoff games.

The six-foot, 183-pound centre has suited up in 131 career WHL games, all with the T-Birds putting up 40 goals and 59 assists along the way.

The native of Sherwood Park, Alberta captained Team Canada to gold at the 2025 U18 World Championships, scoring six goals and 12 points along the way. Cootes also won gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.