Q: Who are the Everett Silvertips playing in the 2026 WHL Championship Final?
A: The Silvertips face the Prince Albert Raiders, who defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 7-6 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final on May 3, 2026. Games 1 and 2 are at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett on May 8 and May 9.
The Wait Is Over: Everett Silvertips vs. Prince Albert Raiders — 2026 WHL Championship Final Starts Friday
It’s official. The Everett Silvertips now know who they’re playing.
Sunday night in Medicine Hat, the Prince Albert Raiders outlasted the Tigers 7-6 in a wild Game 6 to win the WHL Eastern Conference Final four games to two. Riley Boychuk scored twice for the Raiders — including the go-ahead goal in the third period — and Jonas Woo and Aiden Oiring also factored into the scoring. The Tigers made it interesting with a 6-on-5 goal from Liam Ruck with just seven seconds left, but the final buzzer put it away.
The Raiders are coming to Everett. Games 1 and 2 of the 2026 WHL Championship Final are at Angel of the Winds Arena on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. The series then shifts to Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert for Games 3 and 4.
The Silvertips have been waiting since April 28, when they swept the Penticton Vees in four games to advance. Ten days off. Rested. 12-1 in these playoffs. And now they have a target.
Who Are the Prince Albert Raiders?
If you haven’t followed the Eastern Conference Final, here’s what you need to know about the team coming to AOTW next Friday.
The Raiders were the No. 1 seed in the East and beat Medicine Hat in six hard-fought games. This wasn’t a sweep — the Tigers gave them everything, including a 7-6 Game 6 that went down to the wire. Prince Albert is a team that wins ugly, wins on special teams, and grinds you out. They are not going to be awed by a big building and a loud crowd. That makes this series interesting.
Key names to know on the Raiders roster:
Daxon Rudolph has been one of the most productive players in the WHL playoffs overall. He’s a physical, two-way center who generates in transition and makes the Raiders harder to defend. Owen Corkish had a hat trick in Game 5 against Medicine Hat, including the empty-netter. He’s hot heading into this series and lives around the net. Riley Boychuk came up huge in the Game 6 clincher with two goals, including the go-ahead in the third — he’s a late-game player who steps up when it matters. Goaltender Michal Orsulak has been steady all playoff long — not flashy, but reliable, allowing fewer than three goals per game while facing good competition.
Andrew Basha contributed throughout the ECF and has been a consistent secondary scorer for Prince Albert. Expect him to be a factor against Everett’s blue line.
Silvertips: A 12-1 Playoff Machine
Let’s reset what Everett has done this postseason, because the numbers keep getting more remarkable.
The Silvertips swept the Kelowna Rockets in four games, then swept the Penticton Vees in four games. Twelve games in, one loss. They’ve outscored opponents by a wide margin and have done it with depth — different heroes every night, elite goaltending, and a blue line that collapses on anything in the slot.
Anders Miller in net has been historically good. His .948 save percentage and under 1.60 goals-against average over 12 games puts him in conversation for the best goaltending performance in WHL playoff history for a goalie this deep into a run. Goalies get tired. Miller has gotten sharper.
Matias Vanhanen leads Everett in playoff scoring with 14+ points through the first two rounds. Landon DuPont has been the clutch-goal guy — his overtime winner against Kelowna in the series-clincher remains one of the signature moments of this playoff run. Carter Bear has been a two-way force all spring. The Silvertips don’t depend on any one player, which is what makes them so difficult to scheme against.
The Historical Context: What This WHL Final Means
This is not a common occurrence. The Silvertips have been to the WHL Championship Final before, but it’s rare — and a Final played at home, in front of Everett fans at Angel of the Winds Arena, is something this city hasn’t experienced in years.
The prize is the Ed Chynoweth Cup. The WHL champion also earns a berth in the Memorial Cup — the national junior hockey championship across the CHL. This is as big as it gets for a WHL franchise. The players on this roster understand that. The way they’ve played suggests they’ve been building toward this.
Prince Albert is a legitimate test. But the Silvertips are 12-1, playing at home first, and have a goaltender operating at a level rarely seen this deep into a playoff run. If you’ve been curious about what this Silvertips team is all about, Games 1 and 2 at AOTW are your answer.
WHL Championship Final Schedule — Everett Home Games
Game 1: Friday, May 8 — Prince Albert at Everett — Angel of the Winds Arena (time TBA, pending TSN broadcast confirmation)
Game 2: Saturday, May 9 — Prince Albert at Everett — Angel of the Winds Arena
*Game 5 (if needed): Friday, May 15 — at Everett
*Game 7 (if needed): Tuesday, May 19 — at Everett
Games 3-4 are in Prince Albert (May 11-12). Games 3-7 dates subject to scheduling confirmation. Check the Silvertips’ official website for confirmed start times as they’re announced.
How to Get Tickets
Playoff Ticket Central is live at the Silvertips’ official site and Ticketmaster. Available promotions include playoff fan packs, ticket-and-drink bundles, and group discounts starting at 8 tickets. Given what this moment represents for Everett hockey, demand is real — get your seats for Game 1 or Game 2 before they’re gone.
Season ticket holders should check their email for priority access information.
The Take
Prince Albert is not here to make up the numbers. A team that grinds through a 7-6 Game 6 on the road to clinch a series — clinging on in the third period with the other team pulling their goalie — is a mentally tough opponent. They won’t fold just because they’re walking into AOTW as the road team.
But the Silvertips are 12-1. Anders Miller is playing out of his mind. Vanhanen and DuPont and Bear are all firing. They’ve had ten days to rest and prepare while Prince Albert spent those days fighting through six games.
The WHL Championship Final starts Friday. Be there.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Game 1 of the Silvertips WHL Championship Final?
Game 1 is Friday, May 8, 2026, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. The start time is pending TSN national broadcast confirmation — check the Silvertips’ official website for the confirmed time.
Who are the Silvertips playing in the 2026 WHL Final?
The Prince Albert Raiders, who defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-2 in the WHL Eastern Conference Final. The Raiders won Game 6 on May 3, 2026 by a score of 7-6.
Where can I get tickets to the WHL Championship Final in Everett?
Tickets are available through the Silvertips’ Playoff Ticket Central page and Ticketmaster. Promotions include playoff fan packs, ticket-and-drink bundles, and group options starting at 8 tickets.
What is Everett’s record in the 2026 WHL playoffs?
The Silvertips are 12-1 in the 2026 WHL playoffs entering the Championship Final, having swept Kelowna in Round 2 and Penticton in the Western Conference Final.
Who are the key players to watch for Prince Albert?
Daxon Rudolph (two-way center), Owen Corkish (hat trick in ECF Game 5), Riley Boychuk (two goals in Game 6 clincher), and goaltender Michal Orsulak are the names to watch for the Raiders.
Previously on the Silvertips playoff run: Silvertips Are Going to the WHL Championship Final: Tickets, Dates, and What This Moment Means for Everett | Owen Corkish Hat Trick Lifts Prince Albert Past Medicine Hat 6-3
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