CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In an exhilarating conclusion to their playoff journey, the Abbotsford Canucks clinched their inaugural Calder Cup championship by narrowly defeating the Charlotte Checkers 3-2 on Monday night. The victory, sealed with a decisive goal from Linus Karlsson late in the second period, marked a historic achievement for the team.
The Canucks, propelled by goals from Sammy Blais and Danila Klimovich, and bolstered by two assists from Arshdeep Bains, delivered a stellar performance. Goaltender Arturs Silovs was a crucial factor in the victory, registering 28 saves to cap an impressive postseason run. His remarkable efforts earned him the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the playoff MVP. Silovs matched a record by securing 16 wins throughout the playoffs, including five shutouts, and achieved a .931 save percentage.
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Manny Malhotra, the Abbotsford Canucks became Vancouver’s very first AHL affiliate to claim the cup, breaking a Canadian drought since the Toronto Marlies’ triumph in 2018. Although the Checkers struck first with goals from John Leonard and Jack Devine in the opening period, they ultimately fell short in the best-of-seven American Hockey League championship series, which concluded in six games.
Abbotsford had previously suffered a setback with a Game 5 overtime loss in front of a record-breaking audience at the Abbotsford Centre in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. However, when it mattered most, the team demonstrated resilience by rallying from a two-goal deficit on Monday night, culminating with Karlsson’s decisive goal only 2:41 before the second intermission.
Capitalizing on their opportunities, the Canucks converted one of two power-play chances, while effectively quashing all four of Charlotte’s attempts. This victory was the culmination of a rigorous playoff path that saw Abbotsford overcome the Tucson Roadrunners with a 2-1 victory in the Pacific Division’s first round. The Canucks then proceeded to defeat the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3-1 in the semifinals, edge out a 3-2 win against the Colorado Eagles in the division final, and finally, dispatch the Texas Stars 4-2 in the Western Conference final.