In April of last year, while the Cranbrook Bucks continued to prepare for their inaugural season, they announced a commitment from Christian Lowe.
Lowe, a 2002-born forward from Port Moody, BC, joined the Bucks from the Vancouver NE Chiefs of the BC U18 AAA League. He spent the last three seasons with the Chiefs and was team captain last year.
After previously developing with the Burnaby Winter Club, Lowe began his Chiefs career during the 2017-18 season. He played 40 games that campaign and registered a goal and three assists as a first-year player. In five playoff games, he contributed one assist.
In the 2018-19 season, Lowe saw a massive jump in production. He scored 15 goals and added 16 assists for a total of 31 points in 39 games. He again chipped in with an assist in five playoff games that year.
Last season, while wearing the ‘C’ for the Chiefs, Lowe was nearly a point-per-game player. He scored 13 goals and added 14 assists for 27 points in 28 contests.
🚨 PP GOAL 🚨 We've done it! Christian Lowe is the Overtime Hero and the Chiefs win in extra time to sweep the Rockets!
🍏 Hanzel, Berrettoni pic.twitter.com/9oMTMhRO18
— Vancouver NE Chiefs U18AAA (@NEChiefsU18AAA) March 8, 2020
Lowe and the Chiefs also participated in the Mac’s U18 AAA tournament in Calgary last year. He scored three goals and added an assist for four points in four games played in the tournament.
For his efforts during the 2019-20 season, Lowe was named the Chiefs’ most valuable player.
His strong season at the BC U18 AAA level led to being signed in the BC Hockey League as an affiliate player with the Coquitlam Express. In five games with the Express, Lowe contributed four points, including his first and only BCHL goal.
Lowe’s continued progression, which includes his most productive season in 2019-20, ultimately led him to the expansion Cranbrook Bucks.
Bucks add Lowe for the inaugural season
Following his strong final season with the U18 AAA Chiefs, Lowe had an opportunity to join the Bucks, who are building their inaugural roster.
With Cranbrook being an expansion team looking for quality players, the connection between Lowe and the Bucks was mutually beneficial.
Cranbrook Bucks Commit Forward Christian Lowe #BCHL #jointheherdhttps://t.co/v7o5IxrOXR
— Cranbrook Bucks (@CranbrookBucks) April 16, 2020
When his signing with the Bucks was announced on April 16, head coach and general manager Ryan Donald had high praise for Lowe.
“We are pleased to be able to add another exciting young player to our roster for the 2020-21 season,” said Donald. “Christian is a player that our staff identified as one who will fit the Bucks’ brand as a player and person. Christian was pursued by a number of other BCHL clubs but chose to come to Cranbrook and be a part of our birth as a program. He will be a great asset for both our team and the community of Cranbrook, and we look forward to helping him achieve his goals.”
Lowe entered the extended exhibition season trying to make an early impact with his new team. He did just that in his first game in a Bucks jersey on October 10, when he scored the game’s opening goal.
Lowe finished the exhibition season with a goal and an assist in eight games. His contributions go beyond the scoresheet, though. Lowe is a dependable depth player for the Bucks, taking faceoffs and playing on both special teams.
He will only get better as he gains more confidence playing in the BCHL. Watch for Lowe and the Bucks to take big strides in 2021.
