These 2011 Vancouver Canucks players have children playing high-level hockey
If the Vancouver Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final feels like yesterday, then you might be feeling rather old after reading the news the last couple of days.
That’s because some of their children are already making waves in the world of competitive sports.
First, it was Valter Sedin, the 18-year-old son of former Canucks captain Henrik Sedin, who was picked to play for Canada in international soccer at the U-18 level. Valter made his pro soccer debut last year with Whitecaps FC 2, the reserve team of Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He now plays for Hammarby IF for their U-19 club in Sweden.
A day later, it was announced that Kevin Bieksa’s son, Cole Bieksa, will be at Vancouver Giants training camp. Earlier this year, the 17-year-old forward signed with the Coquitlam Express of the BCHL.
Meanwhile, Caleb Malhotra is leaving the BCHL. The 17-year-old son of Manny Malhotra played for the Chilliwack Chiefs last season, but has since signed with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL. A centre, like his father was, Caleb has committed to Boston University beginning in 2026.
“Heās a dynamic talent with elite skill, character and drive. The type of player you build around,” Bulldogs GM Spencer Hyman said of Malhotra after acquiring him in June. “This is a huge day for our organization.”
The youngest player on this list is Ryker Kesler, son of Ryan Kesler, who is just 14 years old.
āMy play style is pretty much my dad,ā Ryker said last month while attending a USA Hockey development camp. āTwo-way forward, can score and play defence.ā
Ryker has been ripping it up, scoring 110 points in 82 games last season with the Little Caesars U-14 AAA team in Michigan — a team coached by his former Selke-winning dad.
āBeing a hockey dad has been great,ā Ryan said. āI always tell my son that he has to want this, and Iām not going to live through him.
āIām never going to yell at him across the ice or on the way home, but if he has questions, he can pick my brain all day. Itās been fun watching him develop and grow. I’m super proud of him, and even if he didn’t play hockey, I’d still be proud of him, but to have your kid have a goal and to see him striving for that goal daily is pretty special because I know what it was like to be him trying to make it to the NHL.ā
There’s just one 2011 Canuck with a son who has been drafted into the NHL. That distinction belongs to Mikael Samuelsson, whose 19-year-old son William Samuelsson was selected by the Dallas Stars in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Sami Salo’s son, Oliver Salo, played his first year of NCAA hockey last season with Bentley University. The 22-year-old forward also had a stint in the BCHL, with the Cowichan Valley Capitals in 2022-23, before playing a year in Alaska with the Anchorage Wolverines of the NAHL in 2023-24.
The most accomplished hockey player among the next generation of Sedins is actually the nephew of Henrik and Daniel. Olle Sedin, whose father is the twins’ older brother Peter, has played some high-level junior hockey in Sweden with MoDo as a defenceman.