Prince Albert, Sask. – For the first time in franchise history, the Everett Silvertips are WHL Champions.
The Silvertips clinched the Ed Chynoweth Cup with a 7-2 win over the Eastern Conference Champion Prince Albert Raiders in Game 5 of the 2026 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien.
A three-goal performance from Florida Panthers prospect Shea Busch propelled the Silvertips to victory in Game 5.
The Silvertips run to the WHL Championship was a dominant one, beginning with a four-game sweep of the Portland Winterhawks to open the 2026 WHL Playoffs.
The second round featured another five-game triumph – this one over the 2026 Memorial Cup-host Kelowna Rockets – and led into a four-game sweep of the expansion Penticton Vees in the WHL’s Western Conference Championship.
Through 18 games, the Silvertips went 16-2, including an even 8-1 at home and 8-1 on the road.
The impressive postseason came on the heels of a second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy, as the Silvertips claimed the WHL Regular Season crown once again, this time thanks to an all-time franchise best record of 57-8-2-1.
Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen powered the offense with 27 points in 18 games. The Finnish forward’s impressive postseason followed up a strong regular season that featured a career high 35 goals, 41 assists, and 76 points in 52 games.
Defenceman Landon DuPont anchored the blueline, tallying 23 points in 18 games. The 16-year-old product of Calgary, Alta., was called upon to take on an even larger role in the absence of Silvertips captain Tarin Smith, who was knocked out of action after four playoff games. Like Miettinen, DuPont built upon an outstanding regular season that included career highs in goals (18), assists (55), and points (73).
Between the pipes, Anders Miller of Anchorage, Alaska, was the goalie of record in all 18 games, going 16-2.
Up front, it wasn’t just Miettinen who made a mark on the WHL Championship. His line, featuring Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear and 2026 NHL Draft-eligible forward Matias Vanhanen wreaked havoc throughout. Bear finished the playoffs with 22 points while Vanhanen further cemented his status as a valuable prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft after tallying 24 points.
General Manager Mike Fraser, who finished as a finalist for WHL Executive of the Year, built a quality squad, making key acquisitions that helped bolster the lineup through the season. Adding Philadelphia Flyers prospect Luke Vlooswyk via trade with the Red Deer Rebels added size and range to the blueline. The addition of Kayd Ruedig from the Kamloops Blazers added valuable depth on the backend.
Arguably the biggest addition of them all was the trade for Miller, who came to Everett early in the season from the Calgary Hitmen. Not only was he a rock during the 2026 WHL Playoffs, he logged 29 wins alongside a 2.12 GAA, .920 SV%, and four shutouts for the Silvertips after landing in the Pacific Northwest.
Behind the bench, veteran head coach Steve Hamilton was named WHL Coach of the Year and guided his Club to the promised land. This marks Hamilton’s first WHL Championship as a head coach. He previously won the WHL Championship as an assistant (2012) and associate coach (2014) with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
The Silvertips roster featured five NHL drafted prospects, including Miettinen, Bear, Shea Busch (Florida Panthers), Vlooswyk, and Smith. Everett’s squad also included 2026 NHL Draft-eligible players – Vanhanen (54th, N.A. skaters) and defenceman Brek Liske (44th, N.A. skaters).
Joining the WHL for the 2003-04 season, the Silvertips first advanced to the WHL Championship in 2004 – a remarkable feat for an expansion team. Ultimately, the Silvertips fell to the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2004. Everett’s next trip to the WHL Championship came in 2017-18 where they were stymied by the Swift Current Broncos.
Representing the Western Hockey League, the Silvertips will look to claim the franchise’s first Memorial Cup title when they travel to Kelowna, B.C., for the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota from May 22-31.
The Memorial Cup – largely considered to be one of the most difficult trophies to win in hockey – features the championship teams from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, along with the host Club competing in a round-robin tournament.
The OHL will be represented by the Kitchener Rangers, while the QMJHL has yet to crown a champion – the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Moncton Wildcats continue to compete for a ticket to the 2026 Memorial Cup.
About the Ed Chynoweth Cup
In 2007, the WHL Championship trophy was rededicated in honour of the late Ed Chynoweth. The Ed Chynoweth Cup was presented for the first time during the 2008 WHL Championship Series.
From Dodsland, Sask., Chynoweth was the driving force behind the growth and development of Major Junior hockey throughout Canada. He served as President of the WHL from 1972 through 1995, before becoming the majority owner of the WHL’s Edmonton ICE in 1996. After relocating to Cranbrook, B.C., Chynoweth’s ICE franchise won WHL Championships in 2000 and 2002, along with a Memorial Cup title in 2002.
Chynoweth also served as President of the Canadian Hockey League from 1975 to 1995. He was a member of the selection committee for the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Ed Chynoweth passed away April 22, 2008, at the age of 66, following a courageous battle with kidney cancer. He was posthumously inducted as a Builder into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 10, 2008.
