WHL Morning Skate: May 4

NEED TO KNOW

– A five-goal second period saw the Prince Albert Raiders eliminate the Medicine Hat Tigers and advance to the 2026 WHL Championship Series

– Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes and 2026 NHL Draft prospect Daxon Rudolph each chipped in a goal and two helpers

– A combined seven-goal second period marks the highest-scoring frame of the 2026 WHL Playoffs

– The Raiders and Everett Silvertips will face each other for the first time in the postseason with the Ed Chynoweth Cup on the line

– Game 1 of the 2026 WHL Championship is set for Friday, May 8, in Everett

TOP PERFORMER

Boy oh boy, that was nice. 2023 WHL Prospects Draft second-overall pick Riley Boychuk came in clutch with his first multi-goal game in the WHL to send the Raiders to the big dance. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound forward got Prince Albert on the board by swatting a loose rebound past the Medicine Hat netminder to tie Game 6 in the early goings, and collected the series-winning goal off the rush as he dragged the puck to outwait a sprawling defender and fired the puck top shelf from the slot. Boychuk, from Cochrane, Alta., has three goals and four assists for seven points in 15 games in the 2026 WHL Playoffs. He’s eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.

RESULTS

Take a bow, Tabbies. The reigning WHL Champs bowed out in Game 6 against the Eastern Conference Champion Prince Albert Raiders on Sunday night. Like much of the series, it was a high-scoring affair at Co-op Place in front of a voracious crowd. Defenceman of the Year finalist Jonas Woo and Boychuk exchanged goals for a 1-1 tie after the first period, but in the middle frame, the floodgates opened for a combined seven goals. 2027 NHL Draft-eligible Noah Davidson gave Medicine Hat its second lead of the game before Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes cashed in on the powerplay. Playoff scoring leader Daxon Rudolph (NHL CSS: 5) put PA on top less than two minutes later as his shot took an unusual bounce into the net. Veteran Luke Cozens tied the game briefly, but Raiders alternate captain Aiden Oiring buried his seventh postseason goal with a screened wrister from the top of the faceoff dot. Brayden Dube and Jonah Sivertson (NHL CSS: 53) capped off the second-period pile-on for a 6-3 lead. Medicine Hat fought back with tallies from Kade Stengrim and alternate captain Josh Van Mulligen, but Boychuk’s second goal of the night put a potential Game 7 out of reach. Liam Ruck (NHL CSS: 20) scored Medicine Hat’s final goal of the season, with assists from Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Basha and Montreal Canadiens pick Bryce Pickford, with six seconds left.