Abbotsford Canucks split the wins in Charlotte

ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS/ X

The Calder Cup Finals kicked off on June 13, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina, between the Abbotsford Canucks and the Charlotte Checkers. They will face off in a best of 7 series where one will claim the title of Calder Cup Championship. 

Games 1 and 2 took place in Charlotte before moving to Abbotsford for games 3, 4 and 5, before potentially shifting back to Charlotte for games 6 and 7. 

This is the first time these teams have faced off against each other. Making it the second time that Abbotsford has gone against a team they have never played before. 

Charlotte swept their last 2 playoff rounds against the Hershey Bears and the Laval Rockets. Abbotsford looked to end that sweep in the first 2 games. 

The game started off strong from both teams, with tensions and physicality high. Both teams battled hard trying to learn their opponents game play, while also trying to figure out the goalies. 

Charlotte’s Trevor Carrick took the first penalty of the night for cross-checking at 2:46 into the first. Abbotsford capitalized on the man advantage with Max Sasson scoring a power play goal at 4:34. 

This early goal did not deter Charlotte as they came back minutes later with a goal by MacKenzie Entwistle at 7:59. 

Danila Klimovich took Abbotsford’s first penalty of the night, with a double minor for high-sticking at 8:07. Charlotte was unable to capitalize on the power play, keeping the game 1-1. 

As the teams battled hard, Abbotsford couldn’t keep the puck in the opposing zone, with a number of failed passes and multiple turnovers in the neutral zone. 

Oliver Okuliar scored Charlotte's second goal of the night at 19:59. The first period would end 2-1 for Charlotte. 

Both teams came out with renewed energy in the second. Charlotte looked to continue driving up the goal differential, while Abbotsford looked to close the gap and tie the game. 

At 7:08 into the second Justin Sourdif secured Charlotte's third goal of the night. But mere seconds later at 7:30 Nate Smith locked in Abbotsford’s second goal of the night. Keeping the game within 1.

Kirill Kudryavtsev took Abbotsford’s second penalty of the night for interference at 8:24. Again, Abbotsford was able to hold off Charlotte during the penalty kill. 

Carrick took his second penalty of the night with a double minor for high-sticking at 10:44. Putting Abbotsford on the man advantage. They were unable to capitalize on the power play. 

Will Lockwood took Charlotte's third penalty at 19:20 for hooking, which put Abbotsford on the man advantage going into the third. 

Though both teams battled hard, no more goals were scored in the second. Leaving the period 3-2 for Charlotte. 

The third period started with Abbotsford on the power play, however, they were unable to secure the tying goal. 

The game continued to be played heavily in the Abbotsford zone, with Artūrs Šilovs seeing much of the action.  

However, Ty Mueller brought the action back down to the Charlotte zone scoring the tying goal at 8:14 in the third. 

Mikulas Hovorka took a cross-checking penalty at 8:51, putting Abbotsford back on the power play. Charlotte was able to successfully kill the penalty. 

The game continued being hard fought in the Abbotsford zone. At 16:19 Dennis Cesana took a tripping penalty, giving Abbotsford their fifth man advantage of the night, where they hoped to gain the lead. 

They were unsuccessful and the third period would end 3-3 pushing the game into overtime.

Overtime started much like the rest of the game with heavy game play in the Abbotsford zone. 

Abbotsford took 2 penalties, Phillip Di Giuseppe took a high-sticking penalty at 11:39. While Nate Smith took a roughing penalty at 16:28. 

Charlotte was unable to capitalize on either of those man advantages, and the first overtime would remain 3-3, forcing the game into a second overtime. 

The second overtime saw a play that had not been seen before. As players lined up for a faceoff in the Abbotsford zone, Šilovs had his back to the circle readjusting between the plays. 

While his back was turned and he had just pulled on his helmet the official dropped the puck, starting the play, where Abbotsford won the draw and shot the puck into their own net. 

This led to Charlotte believing they had won the game, but the officials were quick to wave off the goal, stopping the celebrations. This play angered and confused players and fans alike, as no one knew what to truly make of the situation. 

The game continued on, which would eventually lead to Hovorka taking his second penalty of the night for delay of game at 8:43. Putting Abbotsford on the power play. 

This power play would lead to Klimovich scoring the winning goal at 10:25. Ending the game 4-3 for Abbotsford, breaking Charlotte's 8 game win streak. It would also give Abbotsford a 1-0 lead in the series. 

Game 2 started much like game 1 with physicality and tensions high. Again, a lot of action started in the Abbotsford zone, which led to John Leonard scoring Charlotte's first goal of the night at 3:13 into the first. 

Abbotsford fought back hard, driving down into the Charlotte zone, where Sammy Blais would score Abbotsford’s first goal of the night at 4:15. However, he would draw a goaltender interference penalty. Putting Charlotte on the man advantage. 

Abbotsford successfully killed off their first penalty of the night. Teams continued to battle hard with heavy plays in the Abbotsford zone continuing. 

Linus Karlsson took Abbotsford’s second penalty of the night for cross-checking. Wilmer Skoog capitalized on the power play scoring at 11:14, giving Charlotte back the lead. 

Moments later Abbotsford would go back on the penalty kill, with Christian Wolanin taking a slashing penalty at 11:39. Abbotsford was able to fend off Charlotte keeping the game within 1. 

Jesse Puljujärvi of Charlotte took an interference penalty at 16:37, giving Abbotsford the man advantage. 

Karlsson scored on the power play at 17:38 and successfully tied the game 2-2 by the end of the first. 

The second period continued to be physical, with multiple penalties being drawn by both teams. 

Both Nate Smith of Abbotsford and Oliver Okuliar of Charlotte took penalties for slashing at 4:25. 

No more than 2 minutes after a successful 4-on-4 penalty kill from both teams, each would draw multiplayer penalties. 

Abbotsford’s Max Sasson took a penalty for slashing, while Jett Woo took a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Charlotte's Trevor Carrick took a penalty for cross-checking while Wilmer Skoog took a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. All 4 penalties took place at 8:14 in the second. 

As the period continued so did the penalties. Carrick took a holding penalty at 11: 39, Abbotsford unable to capitalize. Jujhar Khaira took a cross-checking penalty at 14:49, Charlotte unable to break the tie. 

The third period saw no goals and no penalties, but heavy game play in the Abbotsford zone prevailed. Leading to the second game in a row going to overtime. 

Matt Kiersted took a tripping penalty 16 seconds into overtime. Abbotsford hoped to close out the game, but was unable to do so. 

Chase Wouters took a tripping penalty at 2:12, which Michael Benning would capitalize on scoring the winning goal at 4:02 into overtime. Ending the game 3-2 for Charlotte. 

With the series now tied 1-1 both teams head to Abbotsford Centre for game 3 on Tuesday June 17, 2025.