Aku Koskenvuo's Rollercoaster Rookie Season Across Multiple Hockey Leagues
In a whirlwind first professional campaign, Vancouver Canucks goaltending prospect Aku Koskenvuo has experienced the unpredictable nature of hockey's minor league system firsthand. The 2021 fifth-round draft pick has already suited up for teams in three different leagues this season—the NHL, AHL, and ECHL—without ever knowing where he might be playing the following week.
Organizational Injuries Trigger Constant Movement
The constant roster shuffling began when starting goaltender Thatcher Demko suffered an injury in early November. This created a domino effect throughout the Canucks organization, forcing nearly every netminder to move between different levels. Koskenvuo found himself making his American Hockey League debut during Abbotsford Canucks' challenging 11-game losing streak.
"Obviously the organization has been pretty unlucky with the number of injuries, so I've been moving around a lot," Koskenvuo told The Hockey News. "You don't know where you're going to be the next week, but you've just kind of got to embrace it and be a goalie whose game moves."
Making an Impact Amidst Adversity
When Koskenvuo arrived in Abbotsford, the team had yet to win a home game. His strong mindset and performance helped snap both the home losing streak and the team's overall slide, as Abbotsford finally collected that elusive first home victory. His most recent appearance came on January 30, when he recorded his first professional shutout with the Abbotsford Canucks.
Despite the constant uncertainty, Koskenvuo maintains a clear focus on what he can control. "I guess, and just try your best wherever you are, and focus on the controllables," he explained. "As long as you've got some sheet of ice under you, you can do your thing."
Valuable NHL Experience and Mentorship
During the Olympic break, Vancouver brought Koskenvuo up to practice with the NHL team. Although the assignment lasted less than a week, the young goaltender valued every moment working with NHL players and coaches.
"I think it's been exciting," Koskenvuo said about the experience. "It's been fun out there to have the opportunity to practice with these guys, be around these coaches, and be around Marco [Torenius]. It's been a lot of fun and I'm really grateful for this opportunity."
In Abbotsford, Koskenvuo has spent significant time with veteran goaltender Jiří Patera, whose experience across multiple leagues provides valuable lessons for the prospect.
"First of all, I think Jiří is a great human being," Koskenvuo explained. "I just love being around him off the rink too. Just such a great guy. Obviously he's seen a lot, so I try, I look up to him and see what he does on and off the ice, and how he kind of handles himself when either he has success or some sort of adversity, and try to learn from him how to be a professional and how to grow as a person, and also how to grow as a goaltender."
Maintaining Mental Edge Through Uncertainty
Koskenvuo's approach to navigating professional hockey's uncertainty involves controlling what he can and staying present in each moment. He focuses on playing every puck as if the score sits 0-0, rather than worrying about external goals or results.
This mindset serves him well as he continues stacking good days wherever the organization needs him next. Despite the Vancouver Canucks sitting last in the NHL standings heading into the final 25 games of the season, Koskenvuo remains eager to make his mark with the organization that drafted him.
Since his last game appearance in January, Koskenvuo has experienced additional movement—practicing with the NHL team during the Olympic break before getting reassigned to the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL. Through all these transitions, his goal remains clear: to develop into an NHL-caliber goaltender while embracing every opportunity that comes his way in this unpredictable rookie season.
