Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Thursday, November 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

By The Canadian Press

Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen to miss road trip for personal reasons

Nov 25, 2025 | 10:38 AM

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks will be down yet another player for their upcoming four-game road trip.

General manager Patrik Allvin announced Tuesday that goalie Kevin Lankinen will not travel with the team “due to personal reasons.”

Vancouver has called up netminder Jiri Patera from the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks under emergency conditions. He’ll join fellow AHL goalie Nikita Tolopilo on the trip.

Lankinen has been Vancouver’s default starter in recent weeks after the Canucks placed Thatcher Demko on injured reserve with a lower-body ailment he picked up against the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 11.

Head coach Adam Foote said Monday that Demko will join his teammates on the trip, which begins with a visit to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, but may not play.

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Supporting small businesses in B.C.

57m ago

The Creative Edge

PEARCE: Beyond fear - how schools can support safety

Mar 31, 2026

Question of the Week

Will the election of Avi Lewis as NDP leader improve the party's chances in the next federal election?

Mar 30, 2026

Lankinen has struggled this season and has a 4-7-2 record with a .880 save percentage and a 3.63 goals-against average.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2025.

The Canadian Press