The American Hockey League Calder Cup championship has yet to be decided.
Less than a week ago the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes claimed the Stanley Cup championship in six games over the Vegas Golden Knights. The Chicago Wolves, Carolina’s American Hockey League top developmental affiliate, are trailing the Toronto Marlies 3–0 in the seven-game series for the Calder Cup after Tuesday’s 1-0 loss.
Having lost the first two games at home, including Sunday’s Game 2, 5–4 overtime loss at Allstate Arena, Chicago is facing an uphill battle to gain traction in the series. Easton Cowan scored Game 3’s lone goal at 2:47 in the second period for the Marlies, as he whipped the puck past Wolves’ goaltender Cayden Primeau. Toronto goalie Artur Akhtyamov made 24 saves for the shutout before 8,211 fans.
Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. EDT at Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Jason Shaver, now in his 18th season broadcasting Wolves games, is the voice of trust and charged with keeping the fan base even-keeled during wins, losses, overtimes, and shootouts. Despite Chicago being on the edge of not claiming their second Calder title since 2022, Shaver has faith the team can focus on the series one game at a time.
“[In the Western Conference Finals] the Wolves lost Game 5 at home, and went back to Colorado and won two games,” Shaver told The Epoch Times on Tuesday after Chicago’s morning skate in Toronto. “In Colorado, there is the elevation to battle, plus their rabid fan base filled the arena. Our record is way better on the road.”
Shaver paints a picture of the unique tightness of Chicago’s 30 skaters and goaltenders. With one team meal had since arriving in Toronto, Shaver tells of a second all-team feast that was planned prior to Game 3. Playing on the road, in Shaver’s estimation, allows for fewer distractions for players, which promises more focus on hockey itself.
After 72 regular season games and 19 playoff games, for Chicago, Game 92 since October is their most important. While Toronto is making a push for their second Calder Cup claim since 2018, Chicago players remain confident in getting the job done.
“Hockey players grow up wanting to win a championship.” Shaver said. “To do this, you have to get buy-in from everyone this time of year. This is why they are here; for the Calder Cup.”
With their backs against the wall, the Wolves need motivation. According to Shaver, there are multiple voices that should keep the Wolves amped up, from puck drop to final buzzer.
“Our captain Josiah Slavin, I would describe more as a leader by example player. Yannick Turcotte brings a physical element to the game, and while he doesn’t have a letter on his jersey, he is a guy who can be vocal at times. Juuso Valimaki is probably the most vocal of the players. It’s leadership by committee.”
With the Calder Cup Finals now going into the second half of June, Shaver looks back to the 2022 playoffs when the Wolves won the championship, and puts into perspective just how long the nine-month season was.
“The day after the Wolves won the championship, the league put out a ‘100 days until the puck drops on the next season’ announcement.”
Going into Game 3, Chicago was fresh off a devastating overtime loss. With Chicago being called for a slashing penalty which resulted in a penalty shot, Toronto’s Alex Nylander scored. This tied the score at 2. The Wolves were up 1–0, then 2–1, then fell behind for a second straight game. However, Chicago’s Valimaki scored late in the third period to tie the game once again, 3–3.
“Overtime ended quicker than I expected,” Shaver said. “Emotion swayed quickly.”
The Marlies’ Logan Shaw scored the game-winning goal at 3:46 into Game 2’s overtime to send Toronto back home with a two-game edge.
During their regular season four-game, home-and-home series, the Wolves and Marlies each won two games.
Ironically, neither Chicago nor Toronto won their division in the AHL’s 90th season. The Marlies finished in fourth place, at 36-26-5-5, in the North Division. The Wolves, a second-place finisher in the Central Division, posted a 36-21-8-7 record in the 32- team league.
With MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays playing in Boston today, and Chicago’s Cubs at home against the Colorado Rockies, and the White Sox visiting the New York Yankees, the ice is still frozen in Toronto for professional hockey’s final series. Shaver sums it up: “The Fourth of July is just around the corner and we’re still playing hockey.”
