Three of the Blackhawks top 10 prospects -- Kevin Korchinski, Colton Dach and Nolan Allan -- will play in the WHL finals with Seattle starting Friday, May 12
The WHL finals open May 12 with Seattle at Winnipeg.The Kraken aren't the only Seattle hockey team making a splash in the playoffs. The Seattle Thunderbirds, that city's long-established major junior team, will skate in the Western Hockey League (WHL) finals against the Winnipeg Ice starting Friday, May 12.
Three of the Blackhawks top 10 prospects —defensemen Kevin Korchinski and Nolan Allan, plus forward Colton Dach – are key players on the Thunderbirds. (See updates on all three in our Top 10 Prospects story.) If Seattle wins the series, it will advance to the Canadian Hockey League's (CHL) annual Memorial Cup tournament in Kamloops, B.C. starting on May 26.
The WHL champs advance to the Memorial Cup.Noted for being as difficult to win as a Stanley Cup, Memorial Cup includes the winners of each three of the three CHL leagues — the WHL, Ontario Hockey League and Québec Major Junior Hockey League — plus the host team. This year's host is the Kamloops Blazers, beaten by Seattle in the WHL semifinals, 4 games to 2.
It could be another big developmental stage for Korchinski and Allan who played for Canada in the 2023 World Junior Championships. Dach was named to that team, but was injured.
Wanna' watch and follow it all, even from Chicago? There are options.
The easiest way is to go to the CHL's website at chl.ca to follow written updates. The website also includes video highlight packages of featured games under a VIDEOS pulldown in the top bar.
Under a WATCH LIVE pulldown, you can see the game. However, you'll have to register for CHL TV to do this. If you want to do this from your phone, there's a CHL app. Charges will apply.