Who will the Silvertips face in the 2026 WHL Championship Final? The Everett Silvertips are awaiting the winner of the WHL Eastern Conference Final between the Prince Albert Raiders and Medicine Hat Tigers. Through three games, Medicine Hat leads 2-1. Games 1-2 of the Championship Final are scheduled for May 8-9 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.
The Everett Silvertips swept their way through two rounds of the 2026 WHL Playoffs and have been waiting since last Tuesday’s series-clinching win over Penticton for the Eastern Conference to sort itself out.
Now we know who’s left.
The WHL Eastern Conference Final is a best-of-seven between the Prince Albert Raiders (No. 1 seed, Eastern Conference) and the Medicine Hat Tigers (No. 2 seed, defending WHL champions). Through three games, the Tigers lead 2-1. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29 in Medicine Hat. Whoever wins the series will meet Everett in the WHL Championship Final, with Games 1-2 at Angel of the Winds Arena on May 8-9.
Let’s break down who the Silvertips might face — and what it means either way.
The Prince Albert Raiders: The East’s Top Seed
The Prince Albert Raiders were the best team in the WHL Eastern Conference during the 2025-26 regular season, and they made that clear in Game 1 of this series — an 8-3 statement win at the Art Hauser Centre that was fueled by a dominant power play. The Raiders scored three times on the man-advantage, and in front of 3,299 fans in Prince Albert, it looked like the East was theirs for the taking.
Then Game 2 happened. Medicine Hat shut them out 5-0 in their own building. Then the Tigers took Game 3, 2-1 in overtime in Prince Albert, with Raiders defenseman Daxon Rudolph opening the scoring before the Tigers clawed back. That OT loss was gut-punch hockey — PA outplayed Medicine Hat for stretches but came up empty when it counted most.
The Raiders have real weapons: their power play has been a weapon all season, and they’re deep up front. If they advance, the Silvertips’ special-teams units — which ranked among the WHL’s best this season — face a real test.
The Medicine Hat Tigers: Defending Champions
The Medicine Hat Tigers arrived at the Eastern Conference Final with something Prince Albert doesn’t have: a championship banner already hanging in their building. The defending WHL champions swept their previous round and are showing exactly the kind of resilience that defines successful title defenses.
Goaltender Jordan Switzer has been the backbone of this run. Shutting out the East’s top seed on the road in Game 2 isn’t an accident — it’s a compete level that medicine-hat teams have made their identity. Their ability to win in Prince Albert’s arena (they’ve done it twice in three games) is the most telling indicator of where this series is going.
If Medicine Hat comes out of the East, Everett gets a matchup against the defending champions — the ultimate proving ground for a Silvertips team that has played like the WHL’s best team over 13 playoff games.
What This Means for the Silvertips
Everett has been the clear class of the WHL Western Conference this postseason. Their 12-1 playoff record, two sweeps, and a double-overtime comeback win in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final against Penticton — this is a team playing championship-level hockey.
Whichever team comes out of the East will be road-tested, battle-hardened, and carrying playoff momentum. No soft landing for the Silvertips. That said, Everett’s advantages are significant:
- Anders Miller in goal, whose .948 save percentage through the playoffs has been the best in WHL playoff history for a goaltender with 9+ games played
- Landon DuPont and Jere Vanhanen leading the offense with 13 and 14 playoff points respectively
- Carter Bear adding a shorthanded goal dimension that makes the Silvertips dangerous in all situations
- Angel of the Winds Arena for Games 1 and 2 — one of the loudest buildings in the WHL when the Silvertips are rolling
Both opponents — Raiders or Tigers — present legitimate challenges. Prince Albert’s power play against Everett’s penalty kill. Medicine Hat’s battle-hardened goaltending against Anders Miller. It’s the kind of matchup that makes WHL Championship Finals memorable.
Championship Final Schedule (Games 1-2 in Everett)
Get these on your calendar now. The opponent will be confirmed as soon as the Eastern Conference Final concludes — possibly as early as tonight if Game 4 is decisive, or over the next several days if the series extends.
- Game 1: Thursday, May 8 — Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
- Game 2: Friday, May 9 — Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
- Games 3-4: Eastern finalist’s arena (dates TBD)
- Games 5-7: To be determined as series unfolds
Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com and the AOTW box office. If you’ve been watching the Silvertips’ playoff run, you know this building is going to be electric on May 8.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the WHL Championship Final 2026?
Games 1-2 are at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett on May 8-9. Games 3-4 shift to the Eastern finalist’s home arena. The full schedule will be confirmed once the Eastern Conference Final concludes.
Who will the Silvertips play in the WHL Championship Final?
The opponent is being determined in the WHL Eastern Conference Final between the Prince Albert Raiders (No. 1 East seed) and the Medicine Hat Tigers (No. 2 East seed, defending WHL champions). Medicine Hat leads the series 2-1 through three games, with Game 4 on April 29.
What is the Silvertips’ 2026 playoff record?
The Everett Silvertips are 12-1 through the first two rounds, having swept the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL West Second Round and defeated the Penticton Vees 4-1 in the Western Conference Final.
What is Anders Miller’s save percentage in the 2026 WHL playoffs?
Anders Miller’s save percentage is .948 through the 2026 WHL playoffs — the best recorded mark in WHL playoff history for a goaltender with nine or more games played.
Where can I buy Silvertips WHL Championship Final tickets?
Tickets for Games 1-2 (May 8-9 in Everett) are available through Ticketmaster.com and at the Angel of the Winds Arena box office at 2000 Hewitt Avenue, Everett.
Sources: WHL.ca, CHL.ca, Prince Albert Raiders official releases, OurSports Central, HeraldNet, Penticton Western News. WHL ECF Game 4 (April 29) result not yet available at run time — article reflects verified series state through Game 3.
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