Abbotsford Canucks win franchise’s first Calder Cup

The Abbotsford Canucks have climbed the American Hockey League mountain.

They won the franchise’s first Calder Cup on Monday night with a title-clinching 3-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers in game six of the AHL finals.

FOR THE FIRST TIME... THE ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS ARE CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!!@abbycanucks | @Canucks | @CanucksArmy#AHL #CalderCup #ProudlyAbbotsford #Canucks pic.twitter.com/6gVqLdkKGv

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) June 24, 2025

While it’s not the Stanley Cup that Canucks fans have long dreamed of, it’s still an incredible accomplishment for the Baby Canucks as the Abbotsford team is affectionately known.

It’s the franchise’s first Calder Cup, the biggest prize in the NHL’s main development league and one that had eluded the Canucks’ primary development club three times prior.

EARNED IT! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/RGbmiXyq1z

— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) June 24, 2025

Vancouver’s farm team came up short in the finals in 1988 when they were the Milwaukee Admirals, in 2009 when they were in the Manitoba Moose and in 2015 when they were the Utica Comets.

The Canucks had been the AHL’s hottest team in the second half of the season and that continued on into the playoffs.

FRAME IT! 🏆

YOUR 2025 CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/vumzlfBrY2

— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) June 24, 2025

They beat the Tucson Roadrunners in a play-in round of sorts, then disposed of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Colorado Eagles and Texas Stars to reach the finals against the Checkers.

Charlotte, who’s the AHL affiliate of the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, were on an incredible run of their own, having won eight straight and swept back-to-back series to make the finals.

Good morning from the Eastern Conference champs :) pic.twitter.com/KIvJVUgYka

— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) June 4, 2025

Abbotsford snapped that winning streak with an overtime win in game one, but Charlotte responded with an overtime victory of their own to tie the series up at one apiece.

After back-to-back wins in games three and four, the Canucks had a chance to close things out on home ice on Saturday, but the Checkers prevailed with a flukey overtime goal to extend the series.

THIS ONE'S HEADED BACK TO THE QUEEN CITY! 🏁
Jesse Puljujärvi sends this series to Game 6 🚨@CheckersHockey | @FlaPanthers | @LO_FLAPanthers#AHL #CalderCup #CheckersHockey #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/umCV4gE9g2

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) June 22, 2025

Since the AHL finals follow a 2-3-2 format for home ice, the Canucks now had to go on the road and win one of two games in Charlotte if they wanted to lift the Calder Cup.

The Checkers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period of game six, but the Canucks responded with three unanswered goals from Sammy Blais, Danila Klimovich and Linus Karlsson.

KARLY FOR THE LEAD 🤩 pic.twitter.com/bVoC9vWbOY

— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) June 24, 2025

Arturs Silovs, who made a name for himself in the NHL playoffs a year ago and was a dominant force throughout the AHL playoffs for Abbotsford, shut the door after that.

The Latvian netminder unsurprisingly was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP.

Arturs Silovs is a Calder Cup MVP & Calder Cup Champ🏆👏 pic.twitter.com/Ur1eIZbNcL

— Everything Hockey (@EHClothing) June 24, 2025

Although the Canucks’ farm team has moved around over the years, the Abbotsford Canucks were established in 2021 and have seemingly found a permanent home in the Fraser Valley.

Abbotsford was previously home to the AHL’s Heat, farm team of the Calgary Flames, from 2009-14.