Max Sasson Bio
Max Sasson (born September 5, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 181 pounds, Sasson is recognized for his two-way play, hockey sense, and steady development through both the college and professional ranks. He played two seasons of college ice hockey for the Western Michigan Broncos and made his NHL debut in 2024.
An undrafted free agent, Sasson signed with the Vancouver Canucks organization in 2023 and worked his way up through the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL). His path from Birmingham, Michigan, to the NHL has been built on patience, perseverance, and consistent production at every level of the game.
Early Life and Background
Max Sasson was born on September 5, 2000, in Birmingham, Michigan, to Alan and Ellen Sasson. Growing up in a family that supported his athletic interests, he was introduced to hockey at a young age and developed his skills in the youth hockey system of southeastern Michigan. Birmingham, a suburb of Detroit, has long been associated with the sport of ice hockey, and the region’s deep hockey culture helped shape his early love for the game.
Before reaching the college level, Sasson played his junior ice hockey career with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL), one of the premier junior leagues in North America. Over two seasons with the RoughRiders, he recorded 19 goals and 23 assists in 107 regular-season games, establishing himself as a reliable two-way center. Sasson is Jewish, and he celebrated his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, a milestone in his personal upbringing that reflects his family heritage.
Path to Hockey
Sasson’s path to professional hockey gained clarity during his time in the USHL. When the August 2020 Midwest derecho caused severe damage to ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids, Sasson was temporarily dispersed to the Waterloo Black Hawks for the 2020–21 USHL season. With Waterloo, he thrived offensively and led the team with 20 goals and 49 points in 49 games, demonstrating the offensive ceiling that would later define his college career.
Following his junior career, Sasson joined the Western Michigan Broncos of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). His early college experience included a slow start, but he quickly emerged as one of the team’s most important players. By his sophomore season, he had become a cornerstone of the Broncos program and a player ready for the next step toward professional hockey.
Max Sasson Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
During his freshman season with the Western Michigan Broncos in 2021–22, Sasson recorded only three points in his first 18 games before finding his offensive rhythm. He finished the year with nine goals and 22 points in 37 games and was named the NCHC Rookie of the Month for January 2022 after recording two goals and five points in a four-game span. He was also recognized on the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team for maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.50.
In his sophomore season of 2022–23, Sasson was elevated to the Broncos’ top-line center role, playing alongside linemates Ryan McAllister and Jason Polin. He finished the year third on the team with 42 points, including 15 goals, and helped lead Western Michigan to its best NCHC finish in program history. He was named the NCHC Player of the Month for March 2023 after posting ten points in five games, including a hat trick against the Miami RedHawks. Across two college seasons, he totaled 24 goals and 64 points in 75 games.
Vancouver Canucks Organization Breakthrough (2023–2024)
On March 26, 2023, Sasson signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks and was assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL for the remainder of the 2022–23 season. Playing on a line with Kyle Rau and Nils Höglander, he posted three goals and one assist in seven regular-season games and six playoff contests for Abbotsford.
He entered the 2023–24 season as a key part of Abbotsford’s roster and recorded 18 goals and 42 points in 59 regular-season games, with his strongest play coming after returning from injury in April 2024. He added another goal and two assists in six games during the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs, helping Abbotsford continue its postseason run.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2024–Present)
Sasson began the 2024–25 season in Abbotsford, where he led the team with nine points through the first 16 games. With Brock Boeser and J. T. Miller unavailable, he was called up to Vancouver and made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on November 23, 2024. He recorded his first NHL point in a 4–3 victory, assisting on Teddy Blueger’s second-period goal. After recording two assists in five NHL games, he was returned to Abbotsford on December 5, 2024. Sasson then scored his first career NHL goal against the Boston Bruins on December 14, 2024, in a 5–1 loss for Vancouver.
On June 23, 2025, Sasson won the Calder Cup championship as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks, a major milestone in his professional career. He began the 2025–26 season in Abbotsford before being called up to Vancouver on October 14 to replace Braeden Cootes, who had been returned to the Seattle Thunderbirds. On December 15, 2025, Sasson signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with the Canucks organization, securing his place in the team’s long-term plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sasson is regarded as a smart, two-way center with strong hockey IQ, reliable faceoff work, and a willingness to compete in all three zones. His development has emphasized increased physicality and defensive responsibility, traits that complement his offensive instincts. His ability to play a responsible 200-foot game has made him a trusted depth center for the Vancouver Canucks when called up from Abbotsford.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Sasson’s most notable moments are his NHL debut and first NHL point against the Ottawa Senators in November 2024, his first NHL goal against the Boston Bruins in December 2024, and his Calder Cup championship with the Abbotsford Canucks in June 2025. He also represented the United States at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, where he played on the third line with Paul Cotter and Mathieu Olivier, recording a goal and an assist in seven preliminary round games.
Max Sasson Career Wins
Although Max Sasson is a center known more for his two-way play and steady development than for prolific goal-scoring totals, he has accumulated meaningful victories at every level of his career. His most prominent team accomplishment is the 2025 Calder Cup championship with the Abbotsford Canucks, the first AHL title in franchise history.
AHL and NHL Highlights
In the AHL, Sasson has been a consistent contributor for the Abbotsford Canucks since signing his first professional contract in 2023. He posted 18 goals and 42 points in 59 regular-season games in 2023–24 and continued his strong play into the 2024–25 campaign, helping Abbotsford capture the Calder Cup. In the NHL, he has recorded his first NHL point and first NHL goal during limited appearances with the Vancouver Canucks, marking the early highlights of his top-level career.
Other Wins and Performances
At the junior level, Sasson helped the Waterloo Black Hawks reach competitive standing in the USHL during the 2020–21 season, leading the team with 20 goals and 49 points in 49 games. In college, he played a central role in leading the Western Michigan Broncos to their best NCHC finish in program history during the 2022–23 season.
Max Sasson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Max Sasson is the son of Alan and Ellen Sasson, who raised him in Birmingham, Michigan. While his family is not from a professional hockey lineage, his parents supported his development through the youth and junior hockey systems that ultimately shaped his path to the NHL.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Sasson is Jewish and celebrated his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, reflecting his family’s faith and community ties. He has largely kept his personal life private, focusing his public profile on his hockey career and ongoing development within the Vancouver Canucks organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked a turning point in Max Sasson’s professional career. He began the 2024–25 AHL season as one of Abbotsford’s top offensive contributors, leading the team in scoring through the early months of the campaign. His consistent play earned him an NHL call-up in November 2024, where he notched his first NHL point and later his first NHL goal, giving the Canucks organization confidence in his readiness for the next level.
The biggest highlight of his 2025 came on June 23, 2025, when Sasson won the Calder Cup as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks, capping a successful development season with a championship. He opened the 2025–26 season in Abbotsford before earning another NHL opportunity with Vancouver in October 2025, and on December 15, 2025, he signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with the Canucks. With his NHL foothold established and his role in the organization secure, Sasson enters the rest of 2025 and beyond as a rising depth center to watch in Vancouver.
