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Tag: Hockey

  • WHL Final Heads to Prince Albert: Where, When, and How to Watch the Silvertips on the Road

    WHL Final Heads to Prince Albert: Where, When, and How to Watch the Silvertips on the Road

    Where do the Silvertips play next in the WHL Championship Final? Game 3 of the 2026 WHL Championship Final is Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. MDT — that is 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time for fans watching from Everett. Game 4 follows Wednesday, May 13 at the same venue. Game 5, if needed, is Friday, May 15, also in Prince Albert. The series returns to Angel of the Winds Arena for Games 6 and 7 if necessary, on Sunday, May 17 and Monday, May 18.

    Tied 1-1, the WHL Final goes to Saskatchewan: What it means for Everett’s run

    The 2026 WHL Championship Final has its perfect setup. Two No. 1 seeds, splitting the home games at Angel of the Winds Arena, going to Prince Albert tied at a game apiece. Now the series gets harder.

    For the next three games — Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday — the Silvertips do not get the building behind them. They get a 6,200-seat barn called the Art Hauser Centre, sitting in a hockey town of about 35,000 people that lives and dies on this team. Prince Albert was the Eastern Conference’s top regular-season team for a reason. The Raiders have lost just once at home in the 2026 playoffs.

    The good news for Tips fans: Everett earned the right to go on the road tied. The 6-2 Game 2 win at Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday — three first-period goals, a four-point night from Julius Miettinen, a power-play goal from Jesse Heslop with one second left — flipped the series from “Prince Albert is in control” back to “Everett is the team to beat.” That matters. Going 0-2 to Saskatchewan would have been a borderline emergency. Going 1-1 is the script everyone expected before the series opened.

    The Art Hauser Centre, briefly explained for Tips fans who have never been

    The Art Hauser Centre is the smallest venue still hosting a WHL playoff series in 2026. Capacity for hockey runs about 2,800 seated plus standing-room — and it is loud the way smaller buildings always are. The ice surface is the standard 200-by-85, but the rink sits closer to the crowd than at Angel of the Winds, and the Raiders’ building has a real hum to it on big nights. This will be a big nights kind of building.

    For Everett’s group, this is not an unfamiliar environment. The Tips spent all spring grinding through Memorial Cup-quality road buildings — Kamloops, Kelowna, the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton — and they are 8-0 on the road in the 2026 playoffs entering Game 3. That stat has earned the team the benefit of the doubt about whether they can handle the noise.

    What changes for Everett with the schedule shift

    The biggest practical change is the time zone. Mountain Daylight Time runs an hour ahead of Pacific in May, so a 7:30 p.m. local puck drop in Prince Albert is 6:30 p.m. for fans in Everett. That is friendlier than it sounds. You can be home from work, eat dinner, watch the whole game, and still be in bed by 9:30 PT.

    The second change is the format. In Games 3, 4, and 5, the Raiders get last line change. In a series that is already turning on matchups — DuPont and Bear against Pickering and Reschny, Miettinen-Cripps in the circle — that is a meaningful adjustment. Head coach Dennis Williams will need to lean on Carter Bear’s line to take the heaviest minutes against Prince Albert’s top defensemen and trust the Tips’ depth to win the lower-leverage shifts.

    The third change is the goalie call. Everett went with AJ Reyelts in net for Game 2 and got rewarded for it. With Anders Miller’s regular-season .948 save percentage in his back pocket, the Tips have one of the best goaltending tandems in junior hockey. Reyelts earned the Game 2 start by playing well in the Western Conference Final’s two overtime games and winning the night. Whether he gets Game 3 or Miller comes back is the storyline to watch in the team’s first-night skate Tuesday morning at the Art Hauser Centre.

    What changes for Prince Albert

    The Raiders have to win at home. They came into this series as the WHL Eastern Conference’s top seed, beating Medicine Hat in seven games in the East Final, and they have not lost a home game in this entire run. If they protect the Hauser, the series gets very long for Everett very quickly.

    What worried Prince Albert in Game 2 was the absence of two-way pressure from their top forwards. Owen Pickering, the Raiders captain and Detroit Red Wings prospect, finished without a point. Cole Reschny, the Calgary Flames first-rounder, was held off the scoresheet. Aiden Oiring, who terrorized the Tips’ defensive zone in Game 1, was a much smaller factor in Game 2. If those three play to their pedigree, Prince Albert wins this series. If they continue what we saw in Game 2, Everett is going to take this in five or six.

    What is at stake in each game

    Game 3 is for who wants the series first. The team that wins Game 3 in a tied 1-1 best-of-seven goes on to win the series 78 percent of the time historically. That is the leverage point.

    Game 4 is for survival or scoreboard pressure. The team that drops Game 3 cannot afford to drop Game 4 — that 3-1 series deficit ends roughly nine of every 10 series in the home team’s favor.

    Game 5 is for the door. Friday May 15 — if needed — is Prince Albert’s last home game in the 2026 season if the Tips have done their job in Games 3 and 4. It is also where the Raiders end their season at home if Everett can grab one of the first two and hold serve.

    Game 6 and Game 7 are scheduled for Angel of the Winds Arena Sunday, May 17 and Monday, May 18. Both are sold out as of Saturday night for the home opener segment of those tickets — anything left after the AOTW resale window closes goes to Ticketmaster’s verified resale.

    How to watch from Everett

    TSN carries the WHL Championship Final in Canada. Victory+ streams it in the United States — that is the official option for fans on the south side of the border who do not have a TSN subscription. Ticketmaster handles tickets for the home games at Angel of the Winds Arena.

    If you are watching at home, set the DVR for 6:30 p.m. PT both Tuesday and Wednesday. If you are watching at a bar in Everett, start with The Anchor Pub & Restaurant, the Independent Beer Bar at the arena, or McMenamins on Hewitt — they are all reliably running WHL Final coverage on the big screens during this run.

    The fan-voice take on the road trip

    Here is the truth about this team going to Prince Albert tied: this is the run we earned. A 117-point regular season that was the best mark in the Western Conference in 12 years. Sweeping Kelowna in Round 2. Sweeping Penticton in the Western Conference Final. Twelve playoff wins on a 12-1 record. That entire body of work was about earning the right to play games like this — on the road, against another No. 1 seed, with a championship in front of you.

    Most franchises never get a Tuesday like the one Everett is about to play. Cherish it. Pull up Victory+. Have a pint. Yell at the TV. The Silvertips have not won the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 19 years, and the path to ending that drought runs straight through Prince Albert this week.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When is Game 3 of the 2026 WHL Championship Final?
    Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. MDT, which is 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

    How many home games does Prince Albert get in this series?
    Three. Games 3, 4, and 5 are all at the Art Hauser Centre. Games 6 and 7, if needed, return to Angel of the Winds Arena.

    How can I watch the WHL Final from Everett?
    Victory+ streams the games in the United States. TSN broadcasts in Canada. Both options are official.

    What is the series record between Everett and Prince Albert?
    Tied 1-1 after Game 2. Prince Albert won Game 1 4-2 at Angel of the Winds Arena. Everett won Game 2 6-2 at Angel of the Winds Arena.

    Has Everett been good on the road in the 2026 playoffs?
    Yes. The Silvertips entered Game 3 at 8-0 on the road in the 2026 WHL Playoffs.

    When was the last time the Silvertips won the Ed Chynoweth Cup?
    2007. Everett has not won the WHL Championship in 19 years entering the 2026 Final.

    Where is the Art Hauser Centre?
    Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Capacity is approximately 2,800. The venue has been the Raiders’ home rink since 1996.

    What time will Game 4 be played?
    Wednesday, May 13 at the Art Hauser Centre. Game time is set at the same 7:30 p.m. MDT puck drop.

  • Tips Even the Series in Style: Silvertips Crush Raiders 6-2 to Tie WHL Final 1-1

    Tips Even the Series in Style: Silvertips Crush Raiders 6-2 to Tie WHL Final 1-1

    What was the final score of WHL Final Game 2 on May 9, 2026? The Everett Silvertips beat the Prince Albert Raiders 6-2 at Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday, May 9, 2026, tying the best-of-seven WHL Championship Series 1-1. Three first-period goals — from Carter Bear at 3:20, Kayd Ruedig at 5:31, and Rylan Gould later in the frame — staked Everett to a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes, and the Tips never gave it back. The series now shifts to Prince Albert’s Art Hauser Centre for Games 3, 4, and 5.

    Bounce-back Saturday: The Silvertips needed this one and they got it three different ways

    Friday night Everett looked nervous. Saturday night Everett looked like Everett.

    The Silvertips evened the 2026 WHL Championship Series with a 6-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders at Angel of the Winds Arena on May 9, and the way they did it should reset the tone of the entire series. They scored three goals before the first period was over. They put a power-play goal on the scoreboard with one second left to drive the dagger home. And they got production from the people you would have hoped to see step up — Carter Bear, Julius Miettinen, and a 2OT Game 2 hero from Round 3 in Rylan Gould — plus a Game 2 goal from Kayd Ruedig, the defenseman acquired in trade specifically for moments like this.

    Series tied 1-1. Off to Saskatchewan. The Tips can breathe.

    The first period that swung the series back

    Carter Bear opened the scoring at 3:20 of the first by corralling a bouncing loose puck in the high slot and beating Prince Albert goaltender Michal Orsulak with a low shot. Two minutes and eleven seconds later, Nolan Chastko won an offensive-zone face-off, the puck slid to Kayd Ruedig in the left circle, and Ruedig’s shot beat a screened Orsulak to make it 2-0 at 5:31. By the time the first horn sounded, Everett had a 3-0 lead — Rylan Gould adding the third on a wide-open net after a play by 17-year-old phenom defenseman Landon DuPont.

    Three goals in the first period. After the way Game 1 went — losing the second period 3-0 and giving up the eventual game-winner from Justice Christensen on a play that felt unnecessary — that opening 20 minutes was the entire emotional reset the building needed. Game 2 stopped being about whether the Tips could match Prince Albert’s intensity and started being about whether the Raiders could climb back into a series where Everett was the one dictating terms.

    Prince Albert pushed back, Prince Albert ran out of room

    Brock Cripps got Prince Albert on the board with a power-play goal in the second period, and Justice Christensen — yes, the same Christensen who potted the Game 1 winner — added another with 9:46 to play in the third to make it 3-2 and briefly suggest a real comeback was on. It was the kind of stretch that, in Game 1, ended with the Raiders pulling away. Saturday night it ended with Everett locking it down.

    Julius Miettinen banged in an empty-netter for his 12th playoff goal — and his fourth point of the night — to push the lead to 5-2, and Jesse Heslop closed the scoring with a power-play goal with one second left in regulation for the 6-2 final. That last goal does not change anything on the scoreboard, but in the WHL it absolutely changes things in the locker room. Insurance goals at the end of WHL playoff games are a message. Everett was sending one.

    The fan-voice take

    Look, after Friday night a lot of us were doing math we didn’t want to do. Two-on-the-road for a series that was supposed to belong to Everett. Anders Miller’s historic regular-season .948 save percentage suddenly looking less like a shield and more like a ceiling. The crowd quiet by the third period. That was a real worry.

    What changed Saturday is exactly what should have changed Saturday. Carter Bear played like a Detroit Red Wings second-round pick should play. Landon DuPont made a defenseman-to-defenseman play to set up Gould that was the kind of thing that gets you drafted first overall. Julius Miettinen had four points and looked like the closer this team has been all season. And Kayd Ruedig — the trade-deadline addition from Kamloops — was on the scoresheet on a goal that was the kind of off-the-face-off play this team was supposed to win all spring.

    The series is now 1-1 and it’s going to Prince Albert. That is not a panic situation. That is the situation everyone expected before puck drop on Friday. Everett got back to being Everett, and they did it on a night when they had to.

    What to watch in Game 3

    The Game 3 question is whether Everett’s defensive structure holds in a barn that isn’t theirs. Art Hauser Centre is a small, loud, traditional WHL building, and the Raiders win there with a forecheck that is built to grind teams into mistakes. If the Tips can defend their own zone the way they did in Game 2, they will win Game 3. If they revert to chasing the puck around their own end the way they did in the second period of Game 1, they won’t.

    Where the series goes from here

    Game 3 is Tuesday, May 12 at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. MDT (6:30 p.m. PT). Game 4 is Wednesday, May 13 at the same venue. Game 5, if needed, is Friday, May 15, also at Art Hauser. The series then returns to Angel of the Winds Arena for Games 6 and 7 if necessary — Sunday, May 17 and Monday, May 18.

    The whole series is being broadcast on TSN in Canada and streamed on Victory+ in the United States. If you have any other plans Tuesday night, cancel them.

    Final lines and what they mean

    Carter Bear got the goal the entire arena needed. Julius Miettinen finished with four points, including the empty-net dagger. Rylan Gould scored on the wide-open net after the DuPont feed in the first. Landon DuPont continues to look like a 17-year-old who is going to play in the NHL very soon. Kayd Ruedig got on the board in his first WHL Championship Final appearance. Jesse Heslop’s late power-play goal felt like a closing argument.

    For Prince Albert, the worry list is real. Brock Cripps and Justice Christensen put up the only goals — Christensen now has goals in both games of this series — but the Raiders did not get the same kind of two-way pressure from their top line that decided Game 1.

    This is the kind of series these two No. 1 seeds were supposed to play. One game each, going home tied, with both teams now needing to prove they can win on the road. Everett goes back to Saskatchewan with a healthy Bear, a 17-year-old Norris-arc-in-the-making in DuPont, and a 12-1 playoff record that includes back-to-back sweeps of Kelowna and Penticton. The Raiders go back with home ice, a goaltender in Orsulak who has played to a series-leading clip in spurts, and a power play that has scored on both nights.

    Tuesday night decides whether this is going to be a series or a fight. Bring it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What was the final score of WHL Final Game 2?
    Everett Silvertips 6, Prince Albert Raiders 2. The series is now tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven 2026 WHL Championship Final.

    Who scored for the Silvertips in Game 2?
    Carter Bear opened the scoring at 3:20 of the first period. Kayd Ruedig made it 2-0 at 5:31 of the first. Rylan Gould scored later in the first period to make it 3-0 after one. Julius Miettinen had four points including an empty-net goal. Jesse Heslop scored a power-play goal with one second left in regulation.

    Who scored for Prince Albert?
    Brock Cripps scored a second-period power-play goal. Justice Christensen scored with 9:46 left in the third — Christensen has goals in both games of the series.

    When and where is Game 3?
    Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. MDT, which is 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

    How can I watch the WHL Championship Final?
    TSN carries the games in Canada. Victory+ streams the games in the United States.

    What is the rest of the series schedule?
    Game 4: Wednesday, May 13 at Art Hauser Centre. Game 5 (if needed): Friday, May 15 at Art Hauser Centre. Game 6 (if needed): Sunday, May 17 at Angel of the Winds Arena. Game 7 (if needed): Monday, May 18 at Angel of the Winds Arena.

    What is Everett’s playoff record now?
    12-1 in the 2026 WHL Playoffs after sweeping Kelowna in Round 2 and Penticton in the Western Conference Final.

  • 5 Keys to the 2026 WHL Championship Final: How the Silvertips Win the Ed Chynoweth Cup Starting Tomorrow Night

    5 Keys to the 2026 WHL Championship Final: How the Silvertips Win the Ed Chynoweth Cup Starting Tomorrow Night

    Q: Can the Everett Silvertips finally win the WHL Championship?
    A: The 2026 Silvertips are the most talented team the franchise has ever sent into a WHL Final. With a historically elite goaltender, two first-round defensemen, and a forecheck that doesn’t let you breathe, they have every tool to close out Prince Albert in this series. Game 1 is Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena.

    The Everett Silvertips have been to the WHL Championship Final three times. In 2004, they came close. In 2018, they came close again. Both times, the Ed Chynoweth Cup went somewhere else.

    Tomorrow night, they get a third shot — and this time, the roster has no excuses. The 2026 Everett Silvertips swept Portland in Round 1, beat Kelowna in five in Round 2, and swept the Penticton Vees in four games in the Western Conference Final, finishing the regular season with a league-best 54 wins and 111 points — their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s best team. They are 12-1 in the playoffs heading into the WHL Championship Series. Their goaltender has been the most statistically dominant postseason goalie in WHL history by at least one measure.

    Their opponent, the Prince Albert Raiders, got here by eliminating the defending WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers in a wild six-game series — winning the clincher 7-6 in hostile territory. They have two teenagers quarterarting their defense who are playing like veterans. They have a power play that fires at the worst possible times. They are not here by accident.

    This is the matchup. Game 1 is Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena. The series follows a 2-3-2 format, with Games 1 and 2 in Everett, Games 3-5 in Prince Albert, and Games 6 and 7 (if needed) back home. Here are the five things that will decide whether the Ed Chynoweth Cup finally comes to Everett.

    1. Landon DuPont Has to Be the Best Player on the Ice

    Let’s start with the big one. Landon DuPont is 16 years old and already widely projected as a potential top-five pick — possibly No. 1 overall — in the 2027 NHL Draft. He had 17 points in 13 playoff games heading into the Finals, leading all WHL defensemen in postseason scoring through the Conference Finals. He is the engine of Everett’s power play, distributing from the blue line with the reads of a player ten years older.

    On the other side, Daxon Rudolph has been the story of the WHL playoffs — 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in 15 games, leading the entire WHL in postseason scoring as a 17-year-old defenseman. He was named WHL Player of the Month for April and quarterbacked the Raiders’ power play through their entire run against Medicine Hat. Two elite teenage defensemen, playing the biggest games of their lives. Whoever wins that battle wins the series.

    The edge goes to DuPont. He plays with composure that defies his age, and in the Penticton series, he was the one who consistently solved defensive zone problems before they became crises. But Rudolph is no afterthought — and if Prince Albert wins two games in Everett, his name will be part of the reason.

    2. Anders Miller Is Not Just Good — He’s Historic

    If you want one reason to feel genuinely confident about Everett’s chances, look at the guy in goal. Anders Miller, a mid-season acquisition, is carrying one of the most statistically dominant postseason runs in WHL history. Through the playoff rounds leading into the Finals, he went 12-0-1 with a 1.79 GAA, a .936 save percentage, and one shutout — ranking among the WHL playoff leaders in wins, GAA, save percentage, and shutouts simultaneously.

    No goaltender who has played nine or more games in a single WHL playoff has ever posted a higher save percentage than Miller did through the conference finals, per QuantHockey. That is the sentence coach Steve Hamilton gets to walk into this building with on Friday night.

    Prince Albert’s Michal Orsulak is fine — he made the saves he needed to make in a wild six-game series that sometimes produced 13 combined goals in a game. He is not in Miller’s statistical neighborhood right now. For the Silvertips, goaltending is the one position where they have a significant advantage entering this series, and that advantage can cover a lot of ground.

    3. The Power Play Battle Could Decide It in Four-Minute Swings

    Both teams run dangerous power plays. Everett’s man advantage runs through DuPont at the half-wall, with Matias Vanhanen (19 playoff points, the WHL’s scoring leader among Western Conference teams through the conference finals), Julius Miettinen (18 playoff points), Carter Bear, and Rylan Gould rotating around him. Gould has four power-play goals in these playoffs. When everything is clicking, this unit is one of the most dangerous man advantages in recent WHL playoff history.

    Prince Albert answers with Rudolph quarterbacking a unit that includes 16-year-old rookie Brock Cripps — who had three goals and 10 assists in 11 playoff games with a plus-8 rating — plus Braeden Cootes, who scored his sixth playoff goal in the clincher against Medicine Hat. The Raiders’ top power-play unit has been converting at a high rate all postseason.

    Discipline matters enormously here. Everett showed one exploitable tendency in the conference finals: the Silvertips allowed three empty-netter goals when opponents pulled their goalie late. If Prince Albert finds themselves trailing by one late in a game, they have the composure to make it interesting. Both teams need to avoid taking bad penalties early — power plays in tight WHL Final games can redirect an entire momentum shift.

    4. Can Prince Albert’s Young D Handle Everett’s Forecheck?

    Everett’s forecheck is the thing that opponents have struggled with all season. Bear, Miettinen, and Vanhanen are not finesse players — they are physical and relentless on pucks, and they generate sustained offensive zone time that wears defenses down. The Silvertips create turnovers in the offensive zone regularly, and once they have zone time, they cycle with patience until the right opportunity opens up for DuPont or one of their high-skill forwards.

    Rudolph’s offensive instincts mean he can turn a defensive-zone retrieval into a scoring chance with a single pass — giving the Raiders a quick-exit option that neutralizes sustained pressure better than most teams their age. Cripps alongside him means there’s always a second option out of the zone. But the Silvertips have faced experienced forechecks all playoffs and have only lost once in 13 games. Getting outworked in the corners isn’t something Everett’s opponents have been able to do consistently.

    In a long series, Everett’s forecheck may grind the Raiders’ young D into mistakes late in games. In Everett, in front of 8,000 fans at Angel of the Winds Arena, that forecheck pressure is going to feel different than anything Prince Albert has experienced this playoffs.

    5. The Weight of History — And Why This Time Is Different

    Everett has been here before, and that is either the motivating chip or the weight that breaks a team. In 2004 and 2018, the Silvertips reached the WHL Championship Final and came away without the trophy. That scar shapes the narrative heading into this series. The Raiders, meanwhile, have won the title twice — 1985 and 2019 — and they know what it takes to close.

    But this Silvertips group has something the 2004 and 2018 teams didn’t: a head coach who has been here before. Steve Hamilton, named WHL Coach of the Year this season, served as an associate coach on the 2013-14 Edmonton Oil Kings team that won the Memorial Cup. He understands high-leverage moments. He has managed this roster through adversity — including a blown 3-0 lead in Game 4 of the Kelowna series that required a third-period comeback — without the wheels coming off. Two Scotty Munro Trophies in two years says something about how this organization approaches the regular season. It is time to find out if that translates to the Final.

    The honest assessment from outside the green-and-silver glasses: Everett is the better team. Home ice, elite goaltending, the deepest offensive roster in the series, and a coaching staff that has been building toward this moment. Prince Albert is capable of stealing games — they eliminated the defending champions — but they need Orsulak to be considerably sharper than he was in a high-event Medicine Hat series, and they need Rudolph to keep performing at the level that has made him the most talked-about teenager in the WHL this spring.

    Prediction: Everett Silvertips in 5. The Silvertips are simply too deep, too well-coached, and too experienced in high-leverage games to let this one slip away. Get to Angel of the Winds Arena tomorrow night. This is what Everett hockey has been building toward.

    Game 1 Details

    • When: Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PT
    • Where: Angel of the Winds Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA
    • TV: TSN (Canada) / Victory+ (streaming)
    • Tickets: Available at everettsilvertips.com/playoffs
    • Series format: 2-3-2 (Games 1-2 in Everett; Games 3-5 in Prince Albert; Games 6-7 in Everett if needed)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What time does WHL Final Game 1 start?

    Game 1 of the 2026 WHL Championship Series starts at 7:00 PM PT on Friday, May 8 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

    Where can I watch the WHL Final if I can’t attend?

    Games are broadcast on TSN in Canada and streamed on Victory+ in the United States. Check everettsilvertips.com for the latest broadcast info.

    Have the Silvertips ever won the WHL Championship?

    No. This is Everett’s third WHL Championship Final appearance — they appeared in 2004 and 2018 without winning. This is the first time the Silvertips have faced the Prince Albert Raiders for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

    Who are the key players to watch for Everett?

    Landon DuPont (17 pts in 13 playoff games, potential 2027 #1 NHL draft pick), Matias Vanhanen (19 playoff pts), Julius Miettinen (18 playoff pts), Carter Bear (13 assists through conference finals), and goaltender Anders Miller (12-0-1, .936 SV%, 1.79 GAA) are the names to know.

    Who are the key players for Prince Albert?

    Daxon Rudolph (23 pts in 15 playoff games, WHL playoff scoring leader) and Brock Cripps (3G-10A in 11 games, plus-8) form a precociously talented defensive pair. Braeden Cootes is the key forward. Goaltender Michal Orsulak has made big saves in big moments all playoffs.

    What is the WHL Final series format?

    The 2026 WHL Championship Series is best-of-seven with a 2-3-2 format. Games 1 and 2 are in Everett, Games 3-5 are in Prince Albert, and Games 6 and 7 (if needed) return to Everett.

    Does the WHL Championship winner go to the Memorial Cup?

    Yes. The winner of the 2026 WHL Championship advances to the Memorial Cup, hosted in Kelowna, B.C., from May 22 to May 31.

    Related Everett Sports Coverage

  • How to Watch the Silvertips WHL Championship Final: TSN, Victory+, Game Times, and Tickets

    How to Watch the Silvertips WHL Championship Final: TSN, Victory+, Game Times, and Tickets

    Q: How can I watch the Everett Silvertips in the 2026 WHL Championship Final?
    Games 1 and 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena (May 8 at 7:00 PM PDT and May 9 at 6:00 PM PDT) are available in person via Ticketmaster. All games are broadcast live on TSN in Canada and streamed globally for free on Victory+. Games 3 and 4 in Prince Albert (May 12–13) are streaming-only for most Everett fans.

    The Everett Silvertips are in the WHL Championship Final for the first time since 2018 — and this time, the broadcast setup means every fan in the world can watch for free. Here is your complete guide to catching Games 1 and 2 at home or in the arena this Friday and Saturday, and tuning in for the road games in Prince Albert when the series shifts east.

    The Full Schedule

    Game 1: Friday, May 8 — 7:00 PM PDT — Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
    Game 2: Saturday, May 9 — 6:00 PM PDT — Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
    Game 3: Tuesday, May 12 — Art Hauser Centre, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
    Game 4: Wednesday, May 13 — Art Hauser Centre, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
    Game 5 (if needed): Friday, May 16 — Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
    Game 6 (if needed): Sunday, May 18 — Art Hauser Centre, Prince Albert
    Game 7 (if needed): Tuesday, May 20 — Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett

    How to Watch on TV (Canada)

    TSN carries the full 2026 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien in Canada, alongside RDS for French-language coverage. Every game in the series will be telecast live. If you’re a Canadian fan or know someone in Canada, the TSN stream via TSN Direct is the cleanest broadcast option with the full pre-game and intermission coverage.

    How to Stream for Free (Victory+)

    This is the big news for Everett fans who won’t be at Angel of the Winds Arena in person: Victory+ is streaming every game of the 2026 WHL Championship Series globally, for free. No subscription required. No paywall. Every game — including the road games in Prince Albert — is available anywhere in the world on the Victory+ platform.

    Victory+ is the CHL’s official streaming partner. You can find the stream at victoryplusapp.com or through the Victory+ app on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire. Just search “WHL Championship” once Game 1 goes live at 7:00 PM PDT Friday.

    The Broadcast Team

    The telecast features Peter Loubardias handling play-by-play duties, joined by longtime WHL analyst Kelly Remple providing color commentary, and Cami Kepke — an award-winning sports reporter — working the rinkside. It’s a polished broadcast team for a championship-caliber series.

    Tickets for Games 1 and 2 at Angel of the Winds

    Games 1 and 2 are at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and through the Silvertips box office at silvertips.com. This is the first WHL Championship Final in Everett since 2018, and the arena will be loud. If you’ve been waiting for the right playoff game to attend in person, this is it.

    A note for Friday night: the Everett AquaSox are also playing at Funko Field at 7:05 PM against the Hillsboro Hops. Everett has two simultaneous playoff and championship-level events happening Friday night — two different venues, two different sports, both with something real on the line. Plan your night accordingly.

    What the Silvertips Bring Into This Series

    The Silvertips enter the Final with a 12-1 playoff record, having swept the Kelowna Rockets in Round 2 and the Penticton Vees in the Western Conference Final. Goaltender Anders Miller has posted a .948 save percentage — the best mark in WHL playoff history for goaltenders with nine or more games played. Landon DuPont and Carter Bear have each scored 10 or more playoff goals. The Silvertips allowed just 12 goals in their 12 wins. They are not built to lose.

    The Prince Albert Raiders won the Eastern Conference Final to earn their spot. This is the first time these two franchises have met in the WHL Championship Final. Everett is seeking its first Ed Chynoweth Cup and its first Memorial Cup berth in franchise history.

    Friday at 7:00 PM. Victory+. Free. No excuses not to watch.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where can I watch the Silvertips WHL Championship Final online for free?

    All games are available free globally on Victory+ (victoryplusapp.com and the Victory+ app). No subscription required.

    What time is Silvertips WHL Final Game 1?

    Game 1 is Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PDT at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.

    What time is Silvertips WHL Final Game 2?

    Game 2 is Saturday, May 9 at 6:00 PM PDT at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.

    Where are Games 3 and 4 of the WHL Championship Final?

    Games 3 and 4 are Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13 at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Both will be streamed free on Victory+.

    Where can I buy tickets for the Silvertips WHL Final?

    Tickets for Games 1 and 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena are available at Ticketmaster and through silvertips.com.

  • Your Complete Fan Guide to Silvertips vs. Raiders WHL Final: Game 1 Is Friday at Angel of the Winds

    Your Complete Fan Guide to Silvertips vs. Raiders WHL Final: Game 1 Is Friday at Angel of the Winds

    Q: When is the Silvertips WHL Championship Final Game 1?
    A: Game 1 is Friday, May 8, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, with Game 2 on Saturday, May 9. The Silvertips face the Prince Albert Raiders in what is the first-ever WHL Championship matchup between these two franchises.

    Game 1 Is Friday Night at Angel of the Winds

    Two nights from now, Angel of the Winds Arena will be rocking for the biggest game in Everett hockey since the 2018 WHL Championship. The Silvertips are headed to the WHL Final — 12-1 in the 2026 playoffs, two sweeps and a statement 4-1 series in their rear pocket — and Friday night, May 8, Game 1 tips off against the Prince Albert Raiders. Game 2 follows Saturday, May 9, before the series shifts to Saskatchewan.

    This is the moment Everett hockey fans have been watching build all year. Here is everything you need to know heading into the weekend.

    Series Schedule

    The 2026 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien follows this format: Game 1 (May 8, Everett), Game 2 (May 9, Everett), Game 3 (May 12, Prince Albert), Game 4 (May 13, Prince Albert), Game 5 if needed (May 15, Prince Albert), Game 6 if needed (May 17, Everett), Game 7 if needed (May 18, Prince Albert). That means Everett gets Games 1, 2, and potentially 6 at home — the opener and a possible series-clincher.

    Tickets for Games 1 and 2 are available at silvertips.com and Ticketmaster. Do not sleep on these — a 12-1 team playing for the Ed Chynoweth Cup is a once-or-twice-a-generation event in this building.

    Why the Silvertips Are a Legitimate Cup Contender

    The 2025-26 Silvertips had one of the best regular seasons in franchise history — a 57-8-2-1 record, first in the WHL Western Conference by a country mile. In the playoffs, they have been dominant: a first-round sweep, a 4-1 series win over the Kelowna Rockets, and a second-round sweep of the Penticton Vees in the Western Conference Final. They have outscored opponents 51-12 across all playoff games entering the Final, and goaltender Anders Miller has been nothing short of spectacular.

    Miller’s playoff numbers are historic. He is posting a .948 save percentage — the best mark in WHL playoff history for a goaltender with nine or more games played. The defense in front of him, anchored by 16-year-old Landon DuPont, has been the backbone of everything that works about this team.

    This is the Silvertips’ third appearance in the WHL Championship Final, following runs in 2004 and 2018. They have never won the Ed Chynoweth Cup. That is the storyline hanging over everything this week.

    5 Silvertips to Watch

    Landon DuPont, D — The first defenseman in WHL history to receive Exceptional Status, DuPont has 17 points (4G-13A) in 13 playoff games. He is 16 years old. He is the best player on the ice most nights and one of the best defensive prospects in North America. His skating and poise under pressure have defined the Silvertips’ playoff run.

    Matias Vanhanen, F — The Silvertips’ playoff scoring leader with 19 points (10G-9A). He provides the offensive engine that DuPont enables from the back end. When Vanhanen is scoring, Everett wins games.

    Carter Bear, F — A Detroit Red Wings prospect with 16 points in 13 games, Bear plays a two-way game that makes Everett’s depth dangerous. You cannot key on DuPont and Vanhanen without Bear making you pay.

    Anders Miller, G — .948 playoff save percentage. WHL record for a goaltender with 9+ GP. The rest of the team could play well enough to win most series; with Miller, they can win them convincingly. He has been the backbone of the most dominant playoff run in recent Silvertips history.

    Landon DuPont (again) — Yes, he deserves two entries. He has 13 assists in 13 playoff games. He is a generational talent playing on the biggest stage junior hockey has. Watch him every shift.

    Know Your Opponent: The Prince Albert Raiders

    The Prince Albert Raiders won the WHL Championship in 1985 and 2019, and they are coming to Everett having just knocked off the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Eastern Conference Final. This is a dangerous, well-coached team with the best individual scorer remaining in the 2026 WHL Playoffs.

    Daxon Rudolph, D — Raiders’ 18-year-old defenseman who leads the ENTIRE WHL Playoffs in scoring with 23 points (9G-14A) in 15 games. He is ranked fifth among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final 2026 NHL Draft rankings. Rudolph is a 6-foot-2, 202-pound blueliner who reads the ice like a veteran. This is the matchup within the matchup: Rudolph versus DuPont, two generational defensive prospects competing for a championship.

    Owen Corkish — Corkish had a hat trick in the Raiders’ ECF Game 5 win over Medicine Hat. He can score in bunches and will be looking to carry that momentum into the Final.

    The Raiders are appearing in their third WHL Championship, and they have won both previous trips. Everett needs to be aware of that institutional experience and match it with the confidence of a team that has been the best in the WHL all year.

    History: Everett Has Never Won This Trophy

    The Silvertips first reached the WHL Final in 2004, losing to the Kelowna Rockets. In 2018, they returned, losing to the Swift Current Broncos. Both times: close, but not there.

    This is year three of what fans hope is different. The roster is better, the goaltending may be the best in Silvertips playoff history, and a 16-year-old defenseman is leading the way. It is not a stretch to say this is the best team the franchise has fielded heading into a WHL Final. The Cup belongs in Everett. Friday night, the Silvertips get their first shot at proving it.

    How to Watch and Attend

    Tickets: Available at silvertips.com and Ticketmaster for Games 1 (May 8) and 2 (May 9) at Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett. Buy before they’re gone — this is a playoff Final at a 10,000-seat arena and demand will be high.

    Broadcast: Check silvertips.com and CHL.ca for streaming and TV options. The WHL Championship is typically available on TSN for Canadian viewers. U.S. streaming options will be listed on the Silvertips’ official channels.

    Angel of the Winds Arena: 2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201. Doors open approximately 90 minutes before puck drop. The building will be electric.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: When is Silvertips WHL Final Game 1?
    A: Game 1 is Friday, May 8, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. Game 2 follows Saturday, May 9.

    Q: Who are the Everett Silvertips playing in the 2026 WHL Championship Final?
    A: The Silvertips are facing the Prince Albert Raiders. It is the first time these two franchises have met in the WHL Final.

    Q: What is the Silvertips’ 2026 playoff record?
    A: 12-1 entering the WHL Final, with two series sweeps and a 4-1 series win over Kelowna.

    Q: Who leads the Silvertips in playoff scoring?
    A: Matias Vanhanen leads with 19 points (10G-9A). Landon DuPont has 17 points (4G-13A) from the blue line. Carter Bear has 16 points.

    Q: Has Everett ever won the WHL Championship?
    A: No. The Silvertips reached the WHL Final in 2004 and 2018 but did not win either time. The 2026 Final is their third chance.

    Q: Where can I buy tickets for the Silvertips WHL Final?
    A: Tickets for Games 1 and 2 are available at silvertips.com and Ticketmaster.

  • The Opponent Is Set: Everett Silvertips vs. Prince Albert Raiders in the 2026 WHL Championship Final

    The Opponent Is Set: Everett Silvertips vs. Prince Albert Raiders in the 2026 WHL Championship Final

    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

  • Owen Corkish Hat Trick Lifts Prince Albert Past Medicine Hat 6-3: Raiders Lead WHL East Final 3-2

    Owen Corkish Hat Trick Lifts Prince Albert Past Medicine Hat 6-3: Raiders Lead WHL East Final 3-2

    Q: Who won WHL Eastern Conference Final Game 5 on May 1, 2026?
    The Prince Albert Raiders beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 6-3 at Art Hauser Centre on Friday, May 1, 2026. Owen Corkish scored a hat trick (including an empty-netter), and Prince Albert now leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final 3-2. Game 6 is Sunday, May 3 at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat at 6:00 p.m. PT. The Everett Silvertips, already through to the WHL Championship Final, are still waiting on an opponent for Games 1-2 at Angel of the Winds Arena on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9.

    Owen Corkish Goes Off, Raiders Take a 3-2 Series Lead

    The wait keeps going for Everett — and the show keeps getting better.

    Friday night in Prince Albert, the Raiders did exactly what they had to do on home ice, beating the Medicine Hat Tigers 6-3 in Game 5 of the WHL Eastern Conference Final. Owen Corkish dropped a hat trick on Medicine Hat — including the dagger empty-netter — and Prince Albert now leads the best-of-seven 3-2.

    If you’re an Everett Silvertips fan, this is starting to feel like the longest week-and-a-half of the spring. The Tips have been waiting on a championship opponent since they swept Penticton in four to win the Western Conference Final back on April 28. They watched Game 4 swing to Prince Albert (6-3) on Wednesday. They watched the Raiders stretch the series Friday. And now they wait again — for Sunday night.

    How Game 5 Played Out

    Prince Albert came out punching. Alisher Sarkenov got the Raiders on the board in the first five minutes after a Medicine Hat turnover, and from there it was the kind of game that gets won in the second period. The Raiders scored three in the middle frame — the second straight game they’ve put up a three-goal second period on the Tigers.

    Medicine Hat fought back. Cam Parr got one back in the third to make it interesting, but Corkish ended the suspense with an empty-net goal to seal his hat trick and the 6-3 final.

    The face-off circle was a disaster for the Tigers — the Raiders won the dot 49-21. When you’re down a goal in your own zone trying to climb back, that number is the one that quietly buries you.

    Goaltending: Michal Orsulak stood tall for Prince Albert. Carter Casey got the start for Medicine Hat in front of a building that needs to find its bounce-back.

    What Happens Sunday Night in Medicine Hat

    Game 6 is Sunday, May 3 at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat. Puck drop is 6:00 p.m. PT (7:00 p.m. local). The Tigers are playing for their season — lose this one and Prince Albert is on its way to Everett. Win it, and Game 7 goes Tuesday in Prince Albert.

    Either way, the WHL Championship Final opens at Angel of the Winds Arena on Friday, May 8 (Game 1) and Saturday, May 9 (Game 2). Tickets for both are on sale now through Ticketmaster — and if you’ve been waiting to grab seats, the AOTW listing currently has Game 1 start time as TBA, which usually means it’ll lock in once the opponent is decided.

    Why Everett Should Want Either Opponent

    Look — this Silvertips team is 12-1 in the playoffs, swept Kelowna, swept Penticton, and is averaging better than four goals a game while giving up fewer than one. Anders Miller is sitting on a .948 playoff save percentage, which is the best in WHL playoff history for any goalie with nine or more games played. Landon DuPont and Carter Bear have been driving offense from both ends of the ice. This team is built for a long series and built for short ones.

    But there’s something fun about the matchup math here. Prince Albert is a two-way team that wins on speed and possession (those face-off numbers tell you everything). Medicine Hat plays a heavier, more physical game — they were 50-15-3-2 in the regular season, second-best in the East. Either one would test a different part of Everett’s identity.

    And honestly? After watching Penticton tie a game with 56 seconds left in regulation in the WCF and almost steal one in double-OT, this Silvertips team has already proved it can absorb a punch. Bring whoever.

    What Everett Fans Need to Know This Weekend

    • Sunday May 3, 6:00 p.m. PT: Game 6, Prince Albert at Medicine Hat (Co-op Place). Watch on WHL Live or follow CHL.ca for updates.
    • If Game 7 is needed: Tuesday, May 5 at Art Hauser Centre, Prince Albert.
    • Game 1 of the WHL Championship Final: Friday, May 8 at Angel of the Winds Arena. Time TBA. Buy tickets.
    • Game 2: Saturday, May 9 at Angel of the Winds Arena. Buy tickets.

    If the series goes back East, Games 3-4 (and 5 if needed) are at the road opponent’s barn. If Everett wins both at home, this thing is over fast. If it goes long, the deciding game would land back at AOTW around mid-month.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What was the final score of WHL Eastern Conference Final Game 5?

    Prince Albert Raiders 6, Medicine Hat Tigers 3, on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert.

    When is Game 6 of the WHL Eastern Conference Final?

    Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. PT (7:00 p.m. local) at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat. The Raiders can clinch with a win.

    When does the WHL Championship Final start in Everett?

    Game 1 is Friday, May 8 at Angel of the Winds Arena (start time TBA). Game 2 is Saturday, May 9. Both are on sale now through Ticketmaster.

    Who scored the hat trick for Prince Albert?

    Owen Corkish, including the empty-net goal that sealed the 6-3 final.

    What’s the Silvertips’ playoff record so far?

    12-1, with sweeps of Kelowna in Round 2 and Penticton in the Western Conference Final. Anders Miller’s .948 save percentage is the best in WHL playoff history for goalies with nine or more games played.

    Where can I watch Game 6 if I can’t make it to Medicine Hat?

    WHL Live is the official streaming home of the league. Updates and box scores are available at CHL.ca.

  • WHL Eastern Conference Final Heads to Game 5 in Prince Albert Tonight — and the Silvertips Are Still Watching for an Opponent

    WHL Eastern Conference Final Heads to Game 5 in Prince Albert Tonight — and the Silvertips Are Still Watching for an Opponent

    WHL Eastern Conference Final Goes to Game 5 in Prince Albert Tonight — and the Silvertips Are Still Watching to See Who They Get in the Final

    The Everett Silvertips have been on the couch since April 28, when Hayden Vanhanen scored the game-winner and Adam Miettinen tacked on an empty-netter to finish a four-game sweep of the Penticton Vees in the Western Conference Final. Twelve playoff games. One loss. Three series wins. A WHL Final berth and home-ice advantage in the bag.

    Now they wait — and Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday, May 1, may or may not deliver them an opponent. The Prince Albert Raiders host the Medicine Hat Tigers tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT (5:00 p.m. PT) at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert with the best-of-seven series tied 2-2.

    If the Raiders win, the series goes to a best-of-three. If the Tigers win, they head home with a chance to close it out at Co-op Place.

    Either way, the Silvertips’ WHL Final opens at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett next Friday, May 8. The opponent’s just the variable.

    Where the Series Sits

    The Eastern Conference Final hasn’t been the runaway some predicted when the No. 1 Raiders met the No. 2 Tigers. Prince Albert tied things up Wednesday night with a 6-3 win at Co-op Place, scoring three straight in the second period after going into the intermission tied 2-2. The series now stands 2-2 with three games left to play if needed.

    Medicine Hat coach Willie Desjardins didn’t sugarcoat it after Game 4. “We have to play better,” he told Medicine Hat News. Tigers forward Ethan Neutens said the team was “pretty lackadaisical in some areas of our game” and “weren’t winning our battles.” When you let the No. 1 seed in the East score three unanswered to take a swing series, that’s the kind of postgame quote you give.

    The remaining schedule:

    • **Game 5:** Friday, May 1 — Medicine Hat at Prince Albert, 7:00 p.m. CT (Art Hauser Centre)
    • **Game 6 (if necessary):** Sunday, May 3 — Prince Albert at Medicine Hat, 6:00 p.m. CT (Co-op Place)
    • **Game 7 (if necessary):** TBD if needed

    Why It Matters for Everett

    The Silvertips earned the right to host the WHL Final by going 12-1 through the West playoffs and finishing the regular season as the Scotty Munro Trophy winners (best regular-season record in the league at 57-8-2-1, 117 points). That means Games 1 and 2 of the WHL Final are both at Angel of the Winds Arena on May 8 and May 9 — regardless of which Eastern team comes out.

    But the matchup matters from a strategic standpoint, and from a fan-narrative standpoint:

    If it’s Medicine Hat

    The Tigers are a Top-2 seed with elite depth and a goaltender, Harrison Meneghin, who’s putting up sharp numbers. Medicine Hat plays a structured, neutral-zone-pressure style that has given Penticton-style transition teams trouble all year. They’d be the more rested matchup, too — they finished off Calgary in five and only got their fourth ECF game on May 1. The Tigers are the analytics darling.

    If it’s Prince Albert

    The Raiders are the higher seed and the physical mismatch favorite. They have the league’s best regular-season defensive rating, deeper experience at every position group, and Prince Albert plays a heavy, structured game that typically slows down high-flying Western Conference teams. Anders Miller’s 8-0 / 1.55 GAA / .948 SV% playoff resume gets stress-tested by a team built to grind possessions and win in tight.

    Either matchup is a real series. Neither team is going to be intimidated by the Silvertips’ 12-1 playoff record.

    What Tips Fans Are Watching For Tonight

    1. **Special teams.** The Raiders’ power play has carried them in this series. If Prince Albert keeps converting, they take this series in six.

    2. **Goaltending.** This Eastern Final has been a goaltending-deciding series — the team with the better third-period save percentage has won three of the four games so far.

    3. **The East’s third-period play.** Whichever team holds a third-period lead has won every game in this series. So when the puck drops at the Art Hauser Centre tonight, watch the second-intermission scoreboard. If a team’s up after 40, they’re probably winning.

    What’s Confirmed for the WHL Final at Angel of the Winds Arena

    • **Game 1:** Friday, May 8 at Angel of the Winds Arena
    • **Game 2:** Saturday, May 9 at Angel of the Winds Arena
    • **Games 3-4:** At the Eastern team’s home rink (Prince Albert’s Art Hauser Centre or Medicine Hat’s Co-op Place)
    • **Games 5-7 (if necessary):** Alternate between Everett and the Eastern host

    Tickets for Games 1-2 of the Final are on sale through the Silvertips’ website and Ticketmaster. Demand has been heavy ever since the Penticton sweep — the Tips are 12-1 in the playoffs and back in the WHL Final for the first time in a generation.

    The Silvertips Squad That’s Waiting

    Quick refresher on the team that Game 5 winners will face:

    • **Anders Miller:** 8-0, 1.55 GAA, .948 SV%. The best playoff save percentage among WHL goalies with 9+ games played, ever.
    • **Landon DuPont:** Already at 13 playoff points despite being a defenseman. Shooting from the point with NHL-prospect confidence.
    • **Hayden Vanhanen:** Game-winner Game 4 vs. Penticton; 14 playoff points and the team’s leading scorer.
    • **Carter Bear:** 10 playoff goals, including a shorthanded shift-changer in Game 5 of the WCF.
    • **Rylan Gould:** Two power-play goals in Game 2 of the WCF, including the loose-puck 2OT winner.
    • **Anders Miller’s brother in arms — AJ Reyelts:** Has played sparingly but stepped up with a goalie clinic in OT1 of WCF Game 2.

    This is a team that has scored 51 goals and surrendered 12 across 13 playoff games. They are 8-0 at home in the postseason. They have not allowed more than 3 goals in any playoff game.

    The Eastern Conference winner has a problem — and tonight in Prince Albert, that problem will get a name.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who plays in WHL Eastern Conference Final Game 5?

    The Prince Albert Raiders host the Medicine Hat Tigers at 7:00 p.m. CT on Friday, May 1, 2026 at the Art Hauser Centre. The series is tied 2-2.

    What’s the WHL Final schedule?

    Games 1 and 2 are at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. The series then shifts to the Eastern team’s home rink for Games 3 and 4. The series alternates from there if it goes longer.

    Does Everett have home-ice advantage in the WHL Final?

    Yes. As the Scotty Munro Trophy winners (best regular-season record), the Silvertips host the higher-seeded series throughout the WHL playoffs.

    When are Silvertips Final tickets on sale?

    Tickets for Games 1 and 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena are available through silvertips.com and Ticketmaster.

    What’s Anders Miller’s playoff save percentage?

    .948 across eight games — the best playoff save percentage among WHL goaltenders with nine or more playoff games played, in league history.

    How did the Silvertips get to the WHL Final?

    By going 12-1 through the Western Conference playoffs: a 4-2 first-round win over Spokane, a 4-1 second-round win over Kelowna, and a 4-0 sweep of Penticton in the Western Conference Final. They finished the regular season 57-8-2-1 (117 points), the best record in the WHL.

    Who’s the favorite if it’s Everett vs. Prince Albert?

    Toss-up. The Silvertips have the better playoff record and home-ice advantage; the Raiders have the deeper roster and a heavier style of play that has given high-octane teams problems all year. Vegas would probably set Everett at -130 to -150 in that matchup.

    Who’s the favorite if it’s Everett vs. Medicine Hat?

    Slight edge to the Silvertips. Medicine Hat has elite goaltending and structure, but the Tigers have shown vulnerability in this series and don’t have the same depth advantage.

  • WHL Eastern Conference Final Is Tied 2-2 — Game 5 Is Friday, and the Silvertips Are Watching

    WHL Eastern Conference Final Is Tied 2-2 — Game 5 Is Friday, and the Silvertips Are Watching

    The Everett Silvertips are done playing. They swept their way through the Western Conference Final in four games, beat Penticton with a 12-1 playoff record, and have been sitting in the waiting room since Saturday. As of Wednesday night, the picture is clear: the Eastern Conference Final is going to a Game 5.

    Prince Albert Raiders 6, Medicine Hat Tigers 3. Series tied 2-2. Game 5 is Friday, May 1 at Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The winner goes to the WHL Championship Final. Games 1 and 2 are at Angel of the Winds Arena on May 8 and May 9.

    What Happened in Game 4

    Prince Albert came into Co-op Place in Medicine Hat needing a win to stay alive after trailing the series 2-1. They delivered with authority.

    Daxon Rudolph was the night’s headliner — the draft-eligible defenseman posted a playoff career-high four points with a pair of power-play goals. Aiden Oiring added the game-winner. Evan Smith, Max Heise, and Maddix McCagherty also found the scoresheet. The Tigers got goals from Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll (two) and Ethan Neutens but couldn’t match the Raiders’ output.

    Final: Raiders 6, Tigers 3. Series knotted at 2-2.

    The Series So Far

    This has been a genuinely competitive Eastern Conference Final — every game has had a different winner:

    • Game 1: Prince Albert wins at home
    • Game 2: Medicine Hat ties the series
    • Game 3: Medicine Hat takes the lead with an overtime win
    • Game 4: Prince Albert levels it 2-2 with a dominant 6-3 road performance

    Game 5: Friday, May 1 at Prince Albert

    Home advantage goes back to the Raiders for the winner-take-all game, with puck drop Friday night in Saskatchewan. The winner books their flight to Everett.

    For Silvertips fans, Game 5 means another short wait — but it also means you’ll know your opponent before the first WHL Championship Final home game on May 8. Watch Game 5 if you can find a stream. You want to know what’s coming.

    The Silvertips Fan’s Scouting Report

    Prince Albert Raiders — The #1 Eastern Conference seed. They swept Saskatoon in the second round before this tight series with Medicine Hat. Daxon Rudolph has been their engine this postseason — a draft-eligible defenseman putting up four-point nights in elimination games.

    Medicine Hat Tigers — The #2 seed. Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll scored twice in a loss on Wednesday, and they’ve forced a decisive game. Don’t count them out because they’re in an elimination situation — they’ve beaten PA twice already in this series.

    Either team makes for a compelling WHL Championship Final. The Silvertips are 12-1 in the playoffs with a dominant goal differential across three rounds. Whoever comes out of the East is facing the most dangerous team in the league.

    The Calendar: What to Know

    • May 1 — ECF Game 5 at Prince Albert (Friday night)
    • May 8 — WHL Championship Final Game 1 at Angel of the Winds Arena (Thursday)
    • May 9 — WHL Championship Final Game 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena (Friday)
    • Games 3-7 — Alternating sites; Game 5 (if needed) would return to Everett

    Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. This is the most significant hockey series at Angel of the Winds Arena in years.

    Related: Silvertips Are Going to the WHL Championship Final: Tickets, Dates, and What This Moment Means | The Silvertips Are Waiting: Prince Albert vs. Medicine Hat — Who Comes Out of the East?

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the WHL Eastern Conference Final series score after Game 4?
    The series is tied 2-2. Prince Albert Raiders won Game 4 6-3, leveling the series after Medicine Hat had taken a 2-1 lead.

    When is WHL Eastern Conference Final Game 5?
    Game 5 is Friday, May 1, 2026 at Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

    Who will the Silvertips face in the WHL Championship Final?
    The winner of Game 5 between the Prince Albert Raiders and Medicine Hat Tigers. That game is Friday, May 1.

    When are the Silvertips WHL Championship Final home games?
    Games 1 and 2 are at Angel of the Winds Arena on Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9, 2026.

    What is the Silvertips’ record in the 2026 WHL Playoffs?
    The Silvertips are 12-1 with back-to-back sweeps in Rounds 2 and 3. Their regular-season record was 57-8-2-1.

  • The Silvertips Are Waiting: Prince Albert vs. Medicine Hat — Who Comes Out of the East?

    The Silvertips Are Waiting: Prince Albert vs. Medicine Hat — Who Comes Out of the East?

    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.