Rebels’ star Arshdeep Bains talks ‘dream come true’ signing with hometown Canucks

Bains spoke to media post-game about the experience of signing an NHL contract and what it truly means to him.

“It’s honestly been a little stressful the last week or two. It’s a big relief to get it done. They showed trust in me (through the process) and it’s pretty exciting what they got going on,” the 21-year-old left-winger remarked.

“Honestly, it really just hit me when they announced it publicly. When I actually signed it, I didn’t feel (anything specific) too much in the moment.”

Bains is a Sikh, and touched on potentially becoming the next on a fairly short list of players of South Asian descent to play in the NHL.

“It’s the reason I keep going. I want to make this sport for everyone, and if I can be a role model for kids who are chasing their dreams, that’d be really special to me,” he said. “This is a dream come true. Ever since I started playing with my dad, I’ve loved hockey, and the Canucks are his favourite team, so it’s a really special moment.”

Bains was not drafted in any of his eligible years, something he said doesn’t really matter anymore.

“That’s just kept me motivated. That’s the best way to take it,” said Bains, a 6’1″, 184 pound left shot who’s been held off the scoresheet in just 13 of 56 games this season. “(This season), I’ve obviously believed in myself, my teammates believed in me, my coaches did too, and with the environment here, I knew I could give myself a chance (at being signed).”

“It’s great for him. He’s worked hard all year, he’s a super quality person, and he leads by example,” said Rebels head coach Steve Konowalchuk, a veteran of 790 NHL games himself with Washington and Colorado. “He enjoys being at the rink every day, we’ve seen the skill, and he’s put pressure on himself to put together a complete, professional type game. He deserves it, and of course he went out and led tonight too.”

An alumnus of the Burnaby Winter Club, Delta Hockey Academy and Surrey Minor Hockey, Bains added that his focus is on finishing his final season with Red Deer strong and hard.

“I’m going to come into Canucks camp and they just want to see where I might fit in. Nothing’s set in stone.”

What is set in stone is a Red Deer Rebels WHL playoff series, which they clinched Friday. Bains has only been able to get into nine playoff matchups over two seasons despite five seasons and 245 games with the Alberta-based club.

With 12 regular season games to go in his WHL career, Bains sits 13th on the Rebels’ all-time points list with 182 — one behind Connor Bleackley, two behind Craig Reichert, three behind Colby Armstrong, 11 behind Jon Zukiwsky, 23 behind Greg Schmidt, and 25 behind Boyd Gordon in 7th.

Bains also has 65 regular season goals for Red Deer, 21st all-time, and 117 assists, 8th in franchise history, both lists where he is likely to climb a few more spots.

In his last 12 games, Bains has 26 points (11G, 15A).

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19) and Alessia Proietti

Rebels’ star Arshdeep Bains talks ‘dream come true’ signing with hometown Canucks

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