The Canadian Hockey League Finals are underway across the country as teams battle for league championships and spots at the 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna, BC.

This year, the Vancouver Canucks have two prospects still in the fight, with Braeden Cootes and Gabe Chiarot both playing meaningful roles for their respective clubs. As of Sunday night, Chiarot and the Kitchener Rangers are now just one win away from an OHL championship.

With the exception of a late first-period goal from the Rangers, the opening 50 minutes of Game 3 were tightly contested and low scoring.

But things changed quickly in the third. After Barrie tied the game 2-2 midway through the frame, Gabe Chiarot was elevated into Kitchener’s top-six forward group. The move paid off immediately, as he contributed to what many thought would be the late-game winning goal.

With just over a minute remaining in regulation, Chiarot connected with his new linemates Sam O’Reilly and Dylan Edwards on the go-ahead goal, seemingly putting the Rangers on the verge of a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Barrie refused to go away, and with only 13 seconds remaining, Kashawn Aitcheson blasted home a game-tying one-timer to force overtime. It marked the second consecutive game in which Aitcheson delivered a dramatic late equalizer, after scoring with just three seconds left in Game 2.

It ultimately took double overtime, but once again, Chiarot and his line came through. Entering the zone, Chiarot found Dylan Edwards near the goal line, where Edwards made a slick move to create chaos around the crease. The puck eventually crossed the line for the 4-3 victory and a stranglehold on the series.

The goal was initially credited to Chiarot, but later changed to Edwards, leaving Chiarot with a pair of assists on the night. The Canucks’ 2025 sixth-round pick finished with two assists, six shots on goal, and a plus-3 rating. Through three games in the final, he now has three points (one goal, two assists), 13 shots, and a plus-6 rating.

Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 PM PT, with Kitchener now looking to clinch an OHL title and book its spot at the Memorial Cup.

After taking Game 1 of the WHL Final, Braeden Cootes and the Prince Albert Raiders were handed a 6-2 loss in Game 2 as Everett evened the series at 1-1.

The Silvertips stormed out of the gate swinging, scoring three times in the opening period and forcing Prince Albert to chase the game early. Cootes picked up his lone point of the night early in the second period, earning a secondary assist on Brock Cripps’ power play goal. Despite the final score, the game was far tighter than it appeared on paper. Prince Albert outshot Everett 39-38 but ran into a red-hot goaltending performance.

Cootes continues to produce at an impressive pace, now sitting tied for third in WHL playoff scoring with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 17 games. Game 3 is set for Tuesday at 6:30 PM PT as the series shifts to Prince Albert. Canucks fans can catch both league finals on TSN.