Color of Hockey: Bains' path to Canucks inspiring South Asian community

William Douglas has been writing The Color of Hockey blog for the past 10 years. Douglas joined NHL.com in March 2019 and writes about people of color in the sport. Today, as part of the NHL's celebration of Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, he profiles Arshdeep Bains, a Vancouver Canucks prospect who became the first player of South Asian heritage to lead the Western Hockey League in scoring in 2021-22.

Arshdeep Bains entered his final season with Red Deer of the Western Hockey League with one goal.

"I know I could be a good player in this league, I could be one of the best 20-year-olds, and hopefully come in and hopefully I can get a chance at the next level," Bains said. "I kind of had that idea in the summer, but to make that happen is pretty special."

Now 21, the left wing from Surrey, British Columbia, who was bypassed by WHL and NHL teams in their drafts, achieved his goal by scoring a lot of points this past season.
Bains is the first player of South Asian heritage to win the WHL scoring title, with 112 points (43 goals, 69 assists) in 68 games.

He led the WHL in assists and was tied for sixth in goals with right wing Connor McClennon of Winnipeg, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect.

Bains finished the 2021-22 regular season with 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) during a 14-game point streak from March 5-April 16, and he had 35 multipoint games.

The Vancouver Canucks signed Bains to an entry-level contract March 11, a dream come true for someone who used to regularly take the SkyTrain from Surrey to Rogers Arena with his older brothers, Amrit and Harvir, to attend Canucks home games.

"'Bainsey' came in with the right mindset all year to work hard and accomplish his goals, and he did that," said Red Deer coach Steve Konowalchuck, who played 790 games for the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche from 1991-2006. "And I think it's going to be very satisfying for him to be an undrafted guy that persevered, stuck with it to get an NHL contract. He should be very, very proud of that."

Bains said signing with his hometown team also is special because of the potential impact he could have within the large South Asian community, whether it's in Vancouver or Abbotsford, where the Canucks' American Hockey League affiliate plays.

"Obviously when I signed I got a lot of messages coming from all sorts of people saying how proud they are of me, how they look up to me, so it was really special when that happened," he said. "If somebody has to look up to me, I take pride in that and I always want to be there for somebody. If I can help kids from Surrey, or any ethnicity, play hockey, that's super special, and I'll keep trying to be a role model for anyone who wants to."

Robin Bawa, a retired forward who became the first NHL player of Indian descent when he debuted with the Capitals against the Flyers on Oct. 6, 1989, said Bains' potential imprint on hockey in the Vancouver area and beyond can't be overstated.

There have been four players of Indian heritage to reach the NHL: Chicago Blackhawks forward Jujhar Khaira; Bawa, who played for Washington, Vancouver, the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks from 1987-99; Manny Malhotra, a Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach who was a forward for the Canucks, Sharks, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens from 1998-2016; and Andreas Martinsen, who was a forward for the Canadiens, Avalanche and Blackhawks from 2016-19.

"'Arsh' is now a role model," Bawa said. "A lot of minor hockey kids, their parents will really be taken because they'll see one of their own playing. It gives them hope, 'Hey, there's one of our kind playing in the American Hockey League or even in the NHL.'"

Bains developed a passion for hockey from his father, Kuldip, who quickly fell in love with the sport when he immigrated to Terrace, British Columbia, from India in July 1982.

"He loved soccer, he loves field hockey and he played ball hockey when he came here," Bains said. "He put all his sons into hockey. Everybody started at a young age. He just loved watching us play and he loved playing hockey."

Bains said his parents and brothers encouraged him to become the best player he could be and gave him strong moral support when he wasn't chosen in 2017 WHL bantam draft.

He signed with Red Deer as a free agent in 2017. Brent Sutter, the team's former coach and current general manager, said there was something special in Bains (6-foot, 184 pounds).

"He didn't get drafted in the WHL or at the NHL Draft, but you could see the commitment he was making off the ice with training and working out in the gym," Sutter told the Canucks website in March. "Him leading the WHL in scoring this season isn't a fluke. Every year he's gotten better and better. I've always had a lot of confidence in him because of the person he is."

Bains credits his family and Sutter for his trajectory toward the NHL.

"Mr. Brent Sutter, he's always been there for me, always pushing me, he'll always be a mentor to me," Bains said. "Just working with him, working with my parents, working with my trainers just trying to see if I can get a contract, get a chance to go to (an NHL) camp.

"Now I've got that opportunity and I've got people pushing for me, and I'm super excited to see what I can do," he said.

Photos: Red Deer Rebels/Rob Wallator