Building Blue: Max Sasson Adapted Quickly in Rookie AHL Season and Ready to Build in Year Two

In his first full season as a champion, Max Sasson learned many valuable lessons at center ice with the Abbotsford Canucks and looks to build on those gains as he enters year two.

The 23-year-old, left-handed player brings two versatility to his game that he feels help him create clean breaks in defense and spring teammates running oddballs in the middle.

When Sasson looks back on the season, the first thing that comes to mind is the amount of hockey he played and how that was different than his time in the NCAA.

“I knew going into my first full pro year that it was going to be a lot of hockey. I mean in college, we played 30 games. Here, through the preseason, the Young Stars tournament, the season, and the playoffs; I probably played 70-80 games. “I knew it would challenge my body and I learned more about the challenges of the mental side of the game,” said Sasson.

Sasson is focused on getting fit in time for the off-season heading into the summer of 2023. He had just played in the AHL after being drafted out of the NCAA and was looking to get fit before his first full season as a pro.

He quickly learned that while the physical side is important, the mental side is just as important when going through the trials and tribulations that come with a season as a professional.

“I learned how important it is to build relationships with your teammates and coaches to make every day a fun experience at the rink. Most games look different than others. In some games, you get a bunch of chances, and your line doesn't score and in other games, you get two or three chances and you score on all of them. You have to learn to stay on the keel and know that the year will be even if you keep working. ”

Although the jump from the NCAA to the AHL is difficult, Sasson quickly found confidence in the new league. He credits the puck-moving ability of one of the Abbotsford Canucks defensemen as he found it easier to work in the neutral zone when given tape-to-tape passes.

Finishing fifth in scoring against the Canucks was a remarkable achievement for Sasson as he finished his rookie season in the AHL with 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points in 56 games.