12 wins. Four rounds. One Western Conference Champion. 

After a season capped off with a 13-game win streak, the Abbotsford Canucks are advancing to the 2025 Calder Cup Final. This is the first time in franchise history that the team has made the finals. Prior to this season, the farthest they had gone in the playoffs was the second round. This year, they can win their first ever Calder Cup by knocking down the Eastern Conference Champion Charlotte Checkers. Let’s take a look at how they reached this point. 

Round 1: 2–1 vs. Tucson Roadrunners 

Abbotsford’s playoff run officially started on April 23, in Game 1 against their first-round opponent, the Tucson Roadrunners. Since the AHL Canucks finished the 2024–25 season second in the Pacific Division, they earned home-ice advantage against Tucson. All three games took place at the Abbotsford Centre, with the AHL Canucks taking Game 1 in a 4–3 victory. Game 2 was a different story, as Abbotsford went 0/5 on the power play in a 4–1 defeat. 

With their backs against the wall and the home crowd on their side, the AHL Canucks came out blazing in Game 3. With goals from Tristen Nielsen, Chase Wouters, Max Sasson, Sammy Blais, and Phil Di Giuseppe, as well as a standout performance from Artūrs Šilovs, Abbotsford downed Tucson in their 5–0 victory, advancing to the Division Semifinals. 

Round 2: 3–1 vs.Coachella Valley Firebirds 

In Abbotsford’s second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, they took on the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Because of the AHL Canucks’ regular season struggles against Coachella Valley, many thought this series could go either way despite Abbotsford placing higher in the league standings. However, the AHL Canucks made their mark in the first period of Game 1, scoring all three of their goals in the first frame to kick the series off with a 3–1 win. Game 2 went a different way, with Šilovs being pulled and Abbotsford losing 5–4 in overtime despite coming back from a three-goal deficit. 

With the series tied, the AHL Canucks returned to the Abbotsford Centre for the final games of the second round. In a big Game 3 at home, Abbotsford won 3–1 to take the series lead once again. Only a couple of days after, Šilovs got his second shutout in a series-clinching Game 4 to send Abbotsford to the Pacific Division Finals — something they’d had yet to do since their inaugural season in 2021. 

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Round 3: 3–2 vs. Colorado Eagles 

Since the Colorado Eagles finished first in the Pacific Division in the regular season standings, Abbotsford hosted the first two games of the series. The AHL Canucks got off to an early series lead, taking a 2–0 victory in Game 1 in front of their fans. Game 2 saw things shift, as physicality won out for Abbotsford. They took a 5–3 loss that included Sammy Blais being thrown out of the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. 

The series then moved to Colorado, where the AHL Canucks nabbed two more wins to advance to the Western Conference Final. In Game 3, Linus Karlsson played the team hero by scoring in overtime, helping Abbotsford to a 3–2 win. Abbotsford had the chance to close out the series in Game 4, but were unable to after losing 3–1 and allowing their first power play goal during the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. In their second potential elimination game of the postseason, Abbotsford vaulted past Colorado, scoring five and giving Šilovs his fourth shutout of the playoffs. Their 5–0 Game 5 win punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final. 

Round 4: 4–2 vs. Texas Stars

Continuing a consistent pattern throughout their playoff run, the AHL Canucks began the Western Conference Final with a 3–2 Game 1 overtime win at home. This marked the fourth Game 1 in a row that Abbotsford won, as they have also started the rest of their playoff series with wins. The AHL Canucks built on this series lead by grabbing another win in Game 2, with this being their first Game 2 win of the playoffs. The lone goal in Abbotsford’s 1–0 win was scored by Akito Hirose. 

Games 3, 4, and 5 took place in Texas. Abbotsford faced their first loss of the series in Game 3, losing 5–2 after letting in two power play goals. While they still had the series lead, it was clear that the next game’s outcome would be very important for the AHL Canucks. Thanks to Danila Klimovich, Abbotsford took Game 4 in a 5–4 double-overtime win. Game 5 went to overtime as well, though the outcome didn’t fall in Abbotsford’s favour. Arshdeep Bains got his long-awaited first goal of the postseason in this 2–1 loss. 

Both teams returned to the Abbotsford Centre for Game 6 on Sunday. Despite trailing 2–0 around halfway through the game, the AHL Canucks came back and locked things down when they needed it the most. This series-clinching comeback was just one of many that Abbotsford has completed throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs. 

2025 Calder Cup Final Schedule:

Game 1: Friday, June 13 @ Charlotte, 4:00 pm PT

Game 2: Sunday, June 15 @ Charlotte, 1:00 pm PT

Game 3: Tuesday, June 17 @ Abbotsford, 7:00 pm PT

Game 4: Thursday, June 19 @ Abbotsford, 7:00 pm PT

*Game 5: Saturday, June 21 @ Abbotsford, 6:00 pm PT

*Game 6: Monday, June 23 @ Charlotte, 4:00 pm PT

*Game 7: Wednesday, June 25 @ Charlotte, 4:00 pm PT

Follow along with the team by watching their away games on AHLTV on FloHockey. 

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