"Like father, like son": Kevin Bieksa reacts to son Cole's on-ice scrap reminiscent of his own NHL days

Former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa sparked a wave of nostalgia on Sunday by sharing a humorous Instagram story featuring a side-by-side collage of himself and his son, Cole.

The top image showed Kevin in his prime delivering one of the physical gloves-off moments he became known for during his decade in Vancouver, while the bottom image captured Cole in a similar heated on-ice scrap during a junior game.

“Like father like son 😂,” read the caption of the story.

In February, the Coquitlam Express announced the signing of Cole for the 2025-26 BCHL season. Express General Manager Tali Campbell praised the young forward’s development, noting both the production and maturity in his game.

He had put up 73 points in 55 games with Fairmont Prep in California in a breakout campaign that had drawn increasing attention across junior hockey circles.

“He is a tenacious player with a lot of upside,” Campbell said at the time of the signing. “He’s a full 200-foot player who can score goals and make plays, but he’s also very defensively sound.” [HT/ coquitlamexpress.ca]

Cole’s rising profile has naturally drawn comparisons to his father. Kevin Bieksa, drafted 151st overall by the Canucks in 2001, appeared in 808 NHL games and earned a reputation as one of the most physical and dependable blueliners.

He spent 10 seasons with Vancouver before finishing his playing career with the Anaheim Ducks and later signing a ceremonial one-day contract in 2022 to officially retire as a Canuck. He is currently working as an analyst on Hockey Night in Canada.

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Kevin Bieksa calls out Oilers after historic 9-1 loss

Last week, the Edmonton Oilers suffered a humiliating home-ice collapse that tied the largest margin of defeat in franchise history. The 9-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Place matched Edmonton’s infamous 10-2 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres back on January 27, 2009.

Following the loss, Kevin Bieksa didn’t hold back as he questioned the players’ response, or lack thereof, to the Avalanche’s domination.

“If I was a fan and I went to that game and my team lost 9-1 wouldn’t you want to see some fighting or some confrontations at the end?” asked Bieksa on Hockey Night in Canada.

“I’d wanna see something.”

He also questioned the Oilers’ level of engagement and competitiveness in the dying minutes of the rout.