Thu 2 Jul 2026 - 6:00PM

DEFENCEMAN HANSEN-BUKATA JOINS PANTHERS

Nottingham Panthers have signed Canadian offensive defenceman Aiden Hansen-Bukata for the 2026/27 season.

The 26-year-old joins the Panthers on the back of a hugely successful first professional season.

The Vancouver-born blueliner spent the majority of 2025/26 with Utah Grizzles in the ECHL where he scored 46 points (6+40) in 64 regular-season matches.

He also spent time last season in the AHL with Colorado Eagles, the affiliate of NHL side Colorado Avalanche, having previously had an Amateur Tryout Contract in March 2025 with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch.

Hansen-Bukata spent four seasons with RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) in the NCAA where he scored 78 points in 132 matches.

He was named Defenceman of the Year and selected to the First All-Star Team in 2022/23. In 2023/24, he was named RIT's Alternate Captain and helped the side to the Conference title.

With his university studies being interrupted by the covid pandemic, he was able to have a fifth year in the NCAA and moved to Ohio State University. He was named Alternate Captain in Ohio and returned 31 points (2+29) in 38 games

Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: "​Aiden is a very exciting signing for us. He is an offensive d-man who is coming off a very impressive rookie season in the ECHL.

"We think his upside is very high and he brings us a dangerous threat from the back. He skates so well and sees the ice even better.

"He makes us better on both sides of the puck and will play a big role for us next season."

Hansen-Bukata said: "I am so excited to come to Nottingham and play for the Panthers. I am looking forward to experiencing the culture and experiencing hockey in the UK.

"The thing about hockey that's really awesome is that it's a team sport. It's not just one guy, it's a full team effort.

"I pride myself on being a good team-mate and a team-mate that likes to see his other team-mates succeed.

"I love coming to the rink and being with the guys. It really is just one of the best things you can do."

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