The Coachella Valley Firebirds came in hot in their inaugural season, finishing second in the division and making their way to the Calder Cup Finals. They only got better in season two, taking first in the Pacific Division. They once against advanced to the Calder Cup Finals. Unfortunately, the Cup stayed just out of reach and the Hershey Bears walked away with it. In the 2024-25 season, fans hoped the third time would be the charm. Unfortunately, it was not to be.
The Firebirds had a rough season, posting a 37-25-5-5 record and ending fourth in the division. Many veteran players moved on during the off season and were replaced with young, rookie players-primarily Kraken draft picks that were moved up from their junior or NCAA teams. With a younger, less experienced roster compared to the first two seasons, growing pains were inevitable. That said, some stand-out rookies such as Nikke Kokko, Jani Nyman, and Ty Nelson really came through.
The post-season was unfortunately short. After sweeping the Calgary Wranglers in round one, the Firebirds faced the Abbotsford Canucks. It was the first playoff match-up between the two teams. After going 1-1 at home, the Firebirds lost games three and four, ending their playoff run and dashing hopes for a third chance at the Calder Cup.
Looking forward to season four, the current batch of rookies will have a year under their belts along with some playoff experience. They will be joined by additional Kraken prospects; names like Tyson Jugnauth, Oscar Fisker-Molgaard, and Carson Rehkopf are likely to become more familiar. There is no reason to think another run at the Calder Cup in 2026 is out of reach. Perhaps the fourth time will be the charm.
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Coachella Valley Firebirds Miss Calder Cup Finals For First Time In Franchise History; Canucks Advance
<b>Friday May 9th—Abbotsford, BC— </b>The Abbotsford Canucks eliminated the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken/latest-news/firebirds-clinch-playoff-berth-and-home-ice-advantage-for-round-one">Coachella Valley Firebirds</a> in a nail-biting 2-0 shutout. This is the first time in the team's 3-year history that they will not compete in the AHL's Calder Cup Finals.