Chiefs, Winterhawks to renew playoff rivalry in Western Conference Championship

The stage is set for an all-U.S. Division Western Conference Championship in the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.

The Spokane Chiefs (45-20-1-2, 93 points) will host the Portland Winterhawks (36-28-3-1, 76 points) in the best-of-seven throwdown starting on Friday, April 25.

Both teams advanced on Tuesday night after Spokane eliminated the Victoria Royals in a Game 6 double overtime thriller, courtesy of Andrew Cristall’s league-leading 13th postseason goal and second-straight overtime strike.

Portland punched its ticket to a second-consecutive Conference Championship after a jaw-dropping third-period comeback to down the regular season champion Everett Silvertips.

The Chiefs, who are participating in the Conference Championship for the first time since 2019, held a 4-2-0-0 record against the Winterhawks in the 2024-25 regular season, thanks in part to some key performances from one of the most dangerous lines in the WHL, consisting of Captain Berkly Catton (Seattle Kraken), regular season points leader Cristall (Washington Capitals) and regular season goals leader Shea Van Olm, who has two hat tricks in the postseason.

Portland’s star defenceman, Tyson Jugnauth (Seattle Kraken), leads all defencemen in playoff scoring with 26 points (3G-23A) in 14 games, while Captain Kyle Chyzowski is second in the playoff goals race with 11. He’s currently on a four-game goal streak, which includes a hat trick in Game 4 against Everett.

2025 marks the first time the WHL has seen an all-U.S. Division Conference Championship since 2018, when the Silvertips bested the Tri-City Americans in six games.

Games 1 and 2 are set to take place at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena before the series heads to Portland, with Game 3 slated for Wednesday, April 30, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The series will follow a 2-3-2 format.

Fans can stream the 2025 WHL Playoffs for free on Victory+.

*- If necessary