PRINCE ALBERT, SK — The Everett Silvertips stole home-ice advantage on Tuesday night at the Art Hauser Centre, grinding out a gritty 3-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders in Game 3 of the 2026 WHL Championship Final. Silvertips forward Julius Miettinen supplied the game-winning goal as Everett clawed to a 2-1 series lead. Everett went on to win Game 4 in the same building and then clinched the series — and the first Ed Chynoweth Cup in franchise history — with a 7-2 win in Game 5 on May 15, 2026.
Last refreshed: October 17, 2026 (Pacific).
The Rudolph Factor
The storyline going into Game 3 was the suspension of Raiders defenseman Daxon Rudolph, one of Prince Albert’s most important offensive contributors and one of the top NHL draft prospects in this year’s class. The TSN-reported one-game ban took a key weapon off the Raiders’ blue line — and the Silvertips made them pay.
Rudolph had been a presence all series for the Raiders, and losing him for a road game in a building that’s become a Silvertips fortress was a serious blow to Prince Albert’s chances. The ban was for one game only, so Rudolph was eligible to return for Game 4.
Miettinen: The Finnish Record-Setter
Julius Miettinen continues to write himself into WHL playoff history. The Silvertips forward has now set the record for the most playoff points by a Finnish player in WHL history — a remarkable accomplishment for a player operating at peak level in the biggest games of the year.
His game-winning goal on Tuesday was another chapter in what has been an incredible 2026 playoff run. In a tight game that could have gone either way, Miettinen came up with the decisive marker. That’s what elite players do. That’s why the Silvertips are in this series.
The WHL also honored Miettinen in the WHL Championship Edition of its Weekly Awards — recognition that came alongside defenseman Brock Cripps of the Raiders and Silvertips goaltender Anders Miller. Even in a week where Everett won a game, the league acknowledged how good both teams have been.
Miller on the Road
The Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert holds roughly 2,800 fans and it gets loud. Really loud. The Raiders faithful showed up expecting to see their team take a 2-1 series lead, and instead watched Anders Miller stand them up.
Miller came into Game 3 with a .936 playoff save percentage across 13 playoff games — the best playoff numbers in WHL history for a goalie who has played that many games. He had already gone 8-0 on the road in these playoffs before Tuesday, and he backed it up again at the Art Hauser. Silvertips fans have spent all spring watching Miller make impossible saves in impossible buildings, and it’s starting to feel inevitable.
This is now a 15-2 playoff record for the Silvertips. They have lost exactly two games in two months of playoff hockey.
How the Series Looks Now
The series narrative has shifted decisively. Here’s where things stand:
- Game 1 (May 8, AOTW): Raiders 4, Silvertips 2 — Orsulak and Cootes stole home ice
- Game 2 (May 9, AOTW): Silvertips 6, Raiders 2 — Miettinen’s 4-point night, Bear twice
- Game 3 (May 12, Art Hauser): Silvertips 3, Raiders 2 — Miettinen GWG, road steal
- Game 4 (May 13, Art Hauser): Silvertips win — Everett takes a 3-1 series lead
- Game 5 (May 15, Art Hauser): Silvertips 7, Raiders 2 — Everett clinches the Ed Chynoweth Cup, 4-1
- Games 6/7 (May 17/18, AOTW): Not needed — the series ended in five games
Everett did go up 3-1 in Game 4 — a series lead that proved insurmountable. Rudolph was eligible to return for Prince Albert, but it changed nothing: the Silvertips closed the series out in Game 5.
What It Means
The Silvertips had never won the Ed Chynoweth Cup — they lost the final in 2004, their first season, and again in 2018. This team — 57-8-2-1 in the regular season — made its case as the best Everett team ever. And they just took the lead in the WHL Final on the road, in a building they’ve never played a game in before this week, against a team that had home ice advantage.
Two more wins followed — Game 4, then the 7-2 clincher in Game 5 — and the Cup belonged to Everett for the first time in franchise history.
How the Series Ended
Series result: Everett wins the 2026 WHL Championship Final, 4-1. The Silvertips won Game 4 at Art Hauser Centre on May 13 to go up 3-1, then clinched the Ed Chynoweth Cup with a 7-2 win in Game 5 on May 15, 2026 — Shea Busch scored a hat trick in the clincher and Julius Miettinen was named WHL Playoff MVP. It was the first WHL championship in franchise history, capping a 16-2 playoff run. Games 6 and 7 were not needed.
The series never came back home — Everett finished the job on the road in Prince Albert, and Angel of the Winds Arena never got its Game 6. The Cup came home to Everett anyway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the series score after Game 3 of the 2026 WHL Championship Final?
After Game 3, the Everett Silvertips led the Prince Albert Raiders 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Everett went on to win the series 4-1.
When was WHL Final Game 4?
Game 4 was played Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert (7:30 PM MT / 6:30 PM PT, on TSN in Canada and Victory+ in the U.S.). Everett won to take a 3-1 series lead.
Why was Daxon Rudolph suspended for Game 3?
Rudolph received a one-game WHL suspension that was first reported by TSN. The specifics of the infraction were not disclosed, but it kept the Raiders’ top defensive prospect out of Tuesday’s game.
Who scored the game-winning goal in Silvertips Game 3?
Julius Miettinen scored the game-winning goal for the Silvertips in the 3-2 win.
What is Anders Miller’s WHL playoff save percentage?
Miller entered Game 3 with a .936 save percentage across 13 playoff games — the best playoff SV% in WHL history for a goalie with that many games played.
Related coverage: Tips Even the Series With 6-2 Game 2 Win | Anders Miller’s Road Test | WHL Final Heads to Prince Albert: Full Schedule
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