Former Surrey student who made NHL debut with Vancouver Canucks an inspiration for others, say teachers
Arshdeep Bains poses with a fan after his debut with the Vancouver Canucks. (Image: Vancouver Canucks Twitter/X)
A former Surrey Schools student has become a role model for others after recently making his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks and becoming only the fourth Punjabi player to play in the National Hockey League.
Twenty three-year-old Arshdeep Bains, who attended Hillcrest Elementary and Clayton Heights Secondary, made his debut with the Canucks on Feb. 20, facing off against the Colorado Avalanche.
Prior to his call up, Bains was playing with the Canucks’ AHL (American Hockey League) affiliate team in Abbotsford, which serves as the Canucks’ farm team. The opportunity for the big leagues arose when Canucks forward Dakota Joshua recently suffered an injury.
"It's every kid's dream to play for their hometown team,” said Bains during media availability following his debut. “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.
When he hit the ice in Colorado, two of Bains’ former teachers were watching.
Laura Hutchins and Anne-Marie Middleton both taught Bains during his time at Hillcrest Elementary and were thrilled to see their former student realizing the dream he’d been talking about since childhood.
“It was such a joy to see him in action,” said Hutchins, who taught Bains in Grade 3. “I remember him as being really determined at whatever he tried and his attitude was, he didn't have to be the best at everything, but you just had to try.”
A long-time Canucks fan herself, Hutchins said even from an early age, Bains showed a deep appreciation for the sport.
“I had a dedicated hockey corner in my classroom full of Canucks memorabilia and he used to joke that when he played, I’d have to put his picture up alongside it all,” she said, recalling Bains was always trying to improve his skills, be it in sports, academics or anything else he set out to do. “He was always working towards improvement and was never the type to give up on something if he didn’t make it the first time.” 
Arshdeep Bains (third from top right) in Grade 3 with teacher Laura Hutchins (far right). (Image: Laura Hutchins)
Middleton echoed Hutchins’ comments, having taught Bains for Grades 6 and 7.
“He was one of the most humble students I’d ever had the pleasure of teaching,” she said. “Even before his NHL debut, I would often bring him up as an example to students on the importance of working together, how it wasn’t about how good you might be as an individual, it was about how you make those around you look, and he really lived that.”
But it’s not just Middleton and Hutchins that recognized Bains’ qualities prior to his big-league debut.
Bains’ story has been shared by various sports media as one of determination and perseverance, from having been initially passed up during the drafts, to working his way back to become a leading scorer in the WHL (Western Hockey League), making it to the AHL and finally the NHL.
“These kids can see themselves in Arshdeep, many come from Indo-Canadian backgrounds and to know that somebody like them can do something like that is really an inspiration,” said Middleton. “It’s just been wonderful to see.”
Since his debut, Bains has played three games with the Vancouver Canucks, including two away games against Colorado and Seattle, and a hometown victory against Boston.
A dream come true for Arshdeep Bains.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 21, 2024
Welcome to the @NHL! pic.twitter.com/l6GkPxcYAv
