40 | AUGUST 24 • 2023 

SPORTS

M

ax Sasson is one step 
away from living his 
dream of playing in 
the NHL.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound 
center from Birmingham was 
signed by the NHL’s Vancouver 
Canucks to a two-year, 
entry-level contract in May, and 
he reported to the Abbotsford 
Canucks for Abbotsford’s play-
off push.
Abbotsford is the Canucks’ 
affiliate in the American 
Hockey League, the top minor 
league for NHL teams.

Sasson, 22, signed with 
Vancouver as a free agent after 
two stellar seasons playing for 
Western Michigan University.
“
After seeing what I was able 
to do at the collegiate level, I 
decided it was time for me to 
move on to the next step in my 
career: professional hockey,” 
he said. “I’d had good conver-
sations with Vancouver, so I 
felt comfortable signing with 
them.”
The Canucks are happy to 
have Sasson on board. 
“Max has shown continual 
improvement in his game in the 

Former Western Michigan University 
hockey star Max Sasson signs with 
the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. 

Maximum Effort

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Max Sasson works out 
this summer at Phyx 
Performance in Troy.

MAX SASSON

Max Sasson is 
introduced to the 
Abbotsford Canucks 
crowd as the No. 1 
star of the game 
following a win 
over the Bridgeport 
Islanders. 

DARREN FRANCIS