Braeden Cootes is heading to the Western Hockey League Final.

The Prince Albert Raiders defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers in Game 6 on Sunday to clinch the series and punch their ticket to the championship round, where the Everett Silvertips await.

The series was a back-and-forth battle throughout, and Game 6 was no exception.

A five-goal second period proved to be the difference, and Cootes was at the centre of it. The Vancouver Canucks’ 2025 first-round pick recorded a goal and two assists in the frame, helping the Raiders build a 6-3 lead heading into the third. Medicine Hat pushed back, scoring three times in the final period — including one with just six seconds remaining — but Prince Albert held on to secure the win and be crowned WHL Eastern Conference champions.

Cootes found his first goal of the series in the game. Collecting the puck along the half wall, he stepped into space and snapped a short-side shot past the goaltender for his sixth goal of the playoffs.

He added a secondary assist shortly after, before picking up a primary assist on a backhand feed — a play he initiated from his own end — to cap off a dominant three-point period.

In addition to the points, it was one of his best performances of the series. He was setting up teammates shift by shift and providing solid support, with four shots on goal. He finished the series with seven points and now sits tied for third in WHL playoff scoring with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 15 games.

The WHL Final will feature the league’s two top teams from the regular season. The Everett Silvertips (57-8-2-1) led the league with 117 points, while the Raiders (52-10-5-1) finished close behind with 110. Game 1 is expected to begin Friday at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.

Cootes is one of two Vancouver Canucks prospects set to compete for a league title this spring. Gabe Chiarot and the Kitchener Rangers punched their ticket to the OHL Final earlier this week. They will face either the Barrie Colts or the Brantford Bulldogs — led by Toronto native Caleb Malhotra.

The winner of each respective league — including the QMJHL — will head to Kelowna, where Parker Alcos and the Rockets will be waiting to host the 2026 Memorial Cup.