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2025 Calder Cup Finals Game One: Abbotsford Canucks vs Charlotte Checkers

June 13, 2025

- Kent Basky

For the first time in franchise history, the Abbotsford Canucks have a shot at winning it all. They'll take on Florida's farm team in Charlotte, NC for a chance to win the Calder Cup starting tonight in Charlotte.

ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS vs CHARLOTTE CHECKERS

BOJANGLES' COLISEUM, CHARLOTTE, NC

4:00 PDT/ 7:00 EDT

RADIO: SPORTSNET 650 TV: FLOHOCKEY.TV (Game One free on YouTube)

It's been a pretty remarkable season for the Abbotsford Canucks. Their best regular season performance to date, even more amazing considering the number of injuries in Vancouver and amongst themselves that they had to deal with. And then that late season run where it looks like they simply couldn't lose a hockey game, all leading to a playoff run that has then 4 wins away from their first ever championship.

After taking out the Tuscon Roadrunners, Coachella Valley Firebirds, Colorado Eagles and Texas Stars, the Canucks now face a Charlotte Checkers team that has breezed through the playoffs so far, having not lost a game since the first round, when they lost Games Three and Four to the Providence Bruins. Since then, they've won 8 straight, finishing off the Bruins in Game Five, followed by a three game sweep of the Hershey Bears, and a 4 game sweep of the Laval Rocket.

There's some familiar faces on that Charlotte roster. Zac Dalpe, who had a cup of coffee in Vancouver, as well as Will Lockwood and Aidan McDonough. And let's not forget former Oiler Jesse Puljujarvi. It's pretty clear given the way the Checkers tore through the East they are the favorites here, so it's absolutely vital the Canucks get at least a split before the series moves to Abbotsford for Games Three thru Five.

The biggest stories for the Canucks on this historic run have been Linus Karlsson, who leads all remaining scorers with 9-8-17 and Arturs Silovs, who has gone 12-5 with a .929 save % and 1.94 GAA. Charlotte's gotten some outstanding goaltending from Kaapo Kahkonen (10-2, .027 sv% and 1.74 GAA).

AHL games are streamed on FloHockey.tv (which you have to pay for) but we're in luck tonight, as the first game of this series is streaming for free on YouTube! You can still follow along with Brandon Astle on the Sportsnet650 radio call if you wish, but here's the Abbotsford feed of tonight's game.

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