In a career that’s seen it all, LaBate has long known the value of hard work and of knowing your role<\/p>\n
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Published Sep 23, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n There is 100 per cent one thing left to do on Joe LaBate\u2019s professional hockey to-do list: score a goal in the NHL.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cYes, absolutely,\u201d he says with a knowing smile, his eyes lighting up as well. And, yes, he\u2019s come home.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah man, full circle,\u201d he laughed about signing with the Canucks seven years after he left. \u201cThey feel like the right fit. They\u2019ve got some openings and they need what I bring. Some grit. Some sandpaper.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s not a name that jumps off the page, and he\u2019s likely headed for Abbotsford to start the season. But there\u2019s little doubt that if he does make it back to Rogers Arena<\/a>, he\u2019ll quickly remind everyone why he was a bit of a cult figure in his first NHL go-round with the Canucks, nine seasons ago.<\/p>\n In a career that\u2019s seen it all, that\u2019s one thing that stands out about LaBate. He\u2019s long known the value of hard work and of knowing your role.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Long ago he worked his tail off to make the NHL. Along the way he suffered a near-career-ending hip injury in the AHL. He also learned to be a fighter, figuring that would help him stay in the league.<\/p>\n Then he spent eight years away from the show, including a season in the KHL. A season in Russia for a team that won 14 games \u2014 but at least he got to be a first line centre for a bit.<\/p>\n Wait, what?<\/p>\n \u201cThat was really fun,\u201d he recalled, of his one season playing for Barys Astana in Kazakhstan. The team wasn\u2019t good, but he got to play a ton and experience the world.<\/p>\n To say the 32-year-old LaBate has been around the block and is more than happy to be back where it all started is a bit of an understatement. The Canucks drafted the 6-foot-5 Minnesotan in 2011. Then he spent four years playing collegiate hockey with the University of Wisconsin before beginning to chase the NHL dream in 2015. It took him just over a season to make it to the NHL: 13 games over three call-ups for Willie Desjardins\u2019 Canucks in 2016-17.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t pick up a point but he did drop the globes and skate his tail off. It\u2019s the wheels that got him to the NHL.<\/p>\n And then near disaster struck. A hip injury in February 2018 nearly ended his career.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right there, trying to make yourself into an everyday NHLer, and then your body just fails and you got to kind of climb back,\u201d he said, looking back at the hip injury. \u201cAnd it makes you realize how quick things can change. It turned me into an everyday, very detailed professional. And I\u2019ve grown a lot from it.\u201d<\/p>\n But he found his way back to health and signed on with the Belleville Senators. He played three years there, then started to bounce around a little: a season in Milwaukee, then one with the Chicago Wolves. Then he tried out Kazakh cuisine.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI got to play 20 minutes a night. First line centre. Power play,\u201d he said of his time with Astana. \u201cThat was really good for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Then the Columbus Blue Jackets came calling, looking for exactly what the Canucks are looking for this year: a guy who has some miles on his resume, who knows the meaning of everyday professional.<\/p>\n His hard-working season earned him a late season call-up and six more games in the NHL.<\/p>\n \u201cI just love hockey. I\u2019m obsessed with it. I love the chase,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it was 2,886 days between games? It was pretty special to get back in it.\u201d<\/p>\n He admitted to having some tears in his eyes when he got the call last spring. He called his fianc\u00e9e Clara, then his parents. He got to play for a team that was dealing with all kinds of emotional trauma, but one that found unity in the wake of the Johnny Gaudreau tragedy.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIt was obviously a very hard year. But I think as an organization, as a group, everyone came together, and it made them stronger. Once I got there. Everyone was super welcoming,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n For the record it was 2,888 days between games, but that\u2019s impressively close enough. And in a sport where the word \u201cspecial\u201d gets overused, this was a very good use of the word.<\/p>\n Special, indeed.<\/p>\n And now he\u2019s back where it started. He\u2019s playing for a team run by Ryan Johnson, a guy he\u2019s known since he was just a prospect. Johnson was hired by the Canucks to work as a development coach in 2013, when LaBate was starting his third year at Wisconsin. And now-Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra was in his first season as a development coach when LaBate made his NHL debut. He\u2019s pumped to work with the defending Calder Cup champion.<\/p>\n \u201cI know he\u2019s a phenomenal coach, so that\u2019s a huge plus. And then obviously the organization as a whole, you know, the Sedins are here; I used to play with them! RJ and me, we go way back. Yeah, a lot of ties here. So it just felt right.\u201d<\/p>\n And yeah, he wants to get that first NHL goal.<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Canucks: Why heavy hit from former linemate was good news for Filip Chytil<\/p>\n![\"Seattle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cp175050000_298891133-1.jpg\")
Seattle Kraken left wing Eduard Sale (82) and Vancouver Canucks centre Joe LaBate (14) collide as they battle for the puck during the second period of a pre-season NHL action on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Seattle. Photo by John Froschauer \/APArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.6.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Kraken centre John Hayden and Joseph LaBate of the Canucks scrap in the first period on Sunday in Seattle. Photo by John Froschauer \/AP<\/p>\n![\"Joe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/xpng0919svancal-27_50785839.jpg\")
Joe Labate (62) in the middle of the action against the Calgary Flames during third period 2016 NHL Young Stars Classic action at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO \/PNG<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2202762094_293312218.jpg\")
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