Portland Winterhawks qualify for 2025 WHL Playoffs

The Portland Winterhawks will battle for the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2025.

Portland qualified for the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien by nature of a 4-3 Wenatchee Wild loss to the Prince George Cougars on Wednesday night.

The Winterhawks were still on the ice in a heated tilt against the Kamloops Blazers when they clinched.

Captain Kyle Chyzowski‘s breakout campaign has been a highlight of Portland’s season.

The 20-year-old is on pace for his first 100-point year while sitting fourth in the WHL goals race with 38 tallies entering Wednesday’s action.

Seattle Kraken prospect Tyson Jugnauth has continued to serve up assists in his second season on the Portland blueline and leads all WHL defenders with 81 points (12G-69A).

Thirty-three of those assists have come on the powerplay.

Portland’s roster also features 11 players who were part of the Winterhawks’ run to the 2024 WHL Championship Series, headlined by Chyzowski and alternate captains Ryder Thompson, Josh Zakreski, Ryan Miller, Jugnauth and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carter Sotheran.

Chyzowski, Zakreski and Diego Buttazzoni have all surpassed 30 goals this season.

The Winterhawks have advanced to the WHL Playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons and have made the final five times over that stretch, most recently lifting the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2013.

The team also advanced to the 2013 Memorial Cup Final, though they were unable to overcome future Stanley Cup Champion Nathan MacKinnon and the Halifax Mooseheads.

Portland will now focus on the battle for home-ice advantage in Round One this spring.

The Winterhawks conclude the regular season with a 1-5 rivalry showdown against the Seattle Thunderbirds at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. on Saturday, March 22.

Puck drops on the 2025 WHL Playoffs on March 28.