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Agent Neil Sheehy tweeted this afternoon that the Canucks are bringing the rugged 23-year-old forward up from Utica in advance of Wednesday’s game in Arizona. LaBate has six points and 34 penalty minutes in 12 games with the Comets this season.

LaBate, a fourth-round 2011 draft pick from Minnesota, showed what John Tortorella might call a “stiff” game during the preseason. He got a long look from head coach Willie Desjardins before starting the season in the American Hockey League. He has not played an NHL game.