Arshdeep Bains (#20) is seen here in a puck battle against the Prince Albert Raiders on Nov. 20, 2021. (Red Deer Rebels/Rob Wallator)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

inked

Rebels’ Arshdeep Bains signs with Vancouver Canucks amid spectacular season

Mar 11, 2022 | 12:39 PM

The WHL’s leading scorer — Red Deer Rebel Arshdeep Bains — is now a part of the Vancouver Canucks system, after signing his first pro deal with the NHL club, the Canucks announced Friday.

Bains, 21, wasn’t available for interview ahead of the Rebels’ Friday night match-up against the Medicine Hat Tigers at the Centrium, but there was early reaction on social media, including from the young man himself.

“Truly honoured & grateful to sign a contract with my childhood team the @Canucks It’s a dream come true,” Bains tweeted. “I would like to thank the @Rebelshockey for helping me reach my goal, thank you to my family, teammates, billets & @LiveSportsEnter for everything they’ve done.”

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A native of Surrey, B.C., the left-winger has appeared in 55 games for the Rebels this season, collecting 82 points (30-52-82) and 46 penalty minutes. He leads the league in both points (82) and assists (52), becoming the first player of South Asian descent to lead the WHL in points.

Bains, who’s gone undrafted, is also 10th in goals with 30, 30th in shots with 170, 12th in power play goals with 11, 5th in power play assists with 24, and is tied for 3rd with seven game-winning goals.

Bains has been held off the scoresheet only 13 times this season, leading the Rebels to a likely second-place finish in the WHL’s Central Division this season.

Previous career regular season highs were 18 goals and 33 assists for 51 points in 63 games in the slightly shortened 2019-20 season, just before COVID-19 caused another shortened 2020-21 campaign.

Bains has nine WHL playoffs games to his credit, the last time coming in 2019. He has been with the Rebels since the 2017-18 season

rdnewsNOW will have more on this story coming soon.