Two teams separated by 2,930 miles in the American Hockey League – North America’s second-highest professional hockey circuit – took vastly different paths to the 2025 Calder Cup Finals. The Charlotte Checkers and the Abbotsford Canucks, in many ways, couldn’t be more different, both in their histories and how they arrived on the AHL’s biggest stage.

Let’s start with Charlotte. Hockey in the Queen City dates back to 1956, with the Checkers name first appearing in 1960 in the Eastern Hockey League. But after 1977, Charlotte was without professional hockey for sixteen years. That changed in 1993 when the Checkers stormed back, this time as part of the ECHL, the third tier of professional hockey behind the NHL and the AHL. From 1993 to 2005, they played at what is now called Bojangles Coliseum.

In 2005, the Checkers moved Uptown to the then-new Spectrum Center, sharing the arena with the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats – now Hornets. But the bigger shift came in 2010 when the team moved up to the AHL, replacing the relocated Albany River Rats and partnering with the Carolina Hurricanes, just 163 miles northeast in Raleigh. Five years later, the Checkers returned to a newly renovated Bojangles Coliseum, affectionately known as “The Biscuit” or “The  Bo-Plex,” a playful nod to the Charlotte-based fast-food chain Bojangles. The 8,600-seat arena, originally opened in 1955, has hosted various events over the years, including the Big South Men’s Basketball Tournament and the 2021 Women’s National Invitational Tournament, played in front of empty stands due to Covid-19. But hockey remains the heart of the building, with the Checkers’ crowning moment coming in 2019 when they won their first Calder Cup, defeating the Chicago Wolves in five games.

In 2020, the Checkers aligned with the NHL’s Florida Panthers and, in 2024, the franchise hosted Charlotte’s first-ever outdoor hockey game at Truist Field, home of Minor League Baseball’s Charlotte Knights. In front of a sellout crowd, the Checkers defeated the Rochester Americans 5-2.

Nearly 3,000 miles northwest lies Abbotsford, British Columbia, nestled in the Fraser Valley, a more traditional hockey area with a far more recent professional hockey history. There, the Abbotsford Centre opened in 2009 with a 7,000-seat capacity, initially hosting the Calgary Flames’ affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, from 2009 to 2014.

After a seven-year absence of AHL hockey, the Vancouver Canucks brought the league back to town in 2021, establishing the Abbotsford Canucks just 70 kilometers – about 44 miles – east of Vancouver. The new Canucks, one of the oldest pro hockey franchises in existence, had spent over 80 years in cities like Syracuse, Springfield and Utica. Since their arrival in Abbotsford, it’s been a seamless fit for hockey fans in British Columbia.

Heading into the 2024-25 season, both the Checkers and Canucks were coming off disappointing playoff exits. Neither had made it past the first round the year before, and both finished second in their respective divisions – solid seasons, but far from favorites to reach the Calder Cup Finals.

Their playoff paths couldn’t have been more different, even as they defeated similar teams. The Checkers survived a tight Game 5 against the Providence Bruins, then stunned the two-time defending champion Hershey Bears with a three-game sweep. They followed that up by sweeping the AHL’s top regular season team, the Laval Rocket, to win the Eastern Conference Finals. Riding an eight-game winning streak, Charlotte advanced to their second Calder Cup Finals.

The Canucks’ road was a marathon. After edging out the Tucson Roadrunners in a winner-take-all Game 3 in the preliminary round, they knocked off the two-time defending Western Conference champion Coachella Valley Firebirds. Then came another deciding game, a Game 5 showdown against the Colorado Eagles, where they upset the conference’s top regular season club. In the Western Conference Finals, the Canucks outlasted the Texas Stars in six games to earn their first Calder Cup Finals berth. By the time they met Charlotte, the Canucks had played six more playoff games than the Checkers.

Charlotte’s 94 regular-season points earned them home-ice advantage over Abbotsford’s 92. Game 1 at Bojangles Coliseum was a thriller, going to double overtime. The Checkers thought they had won it, but a controversial disallowed goal opened the door for Abbotsford, who capitalized minutes later to steal a 4-3 win. In Game 2, Charlotte bounced back with a 3-2 overtime win, sending the series to Abbotsford tied 1-1.

The long journey west didn’t favor the Checkers. In Game 3, Charlotte struck first, but Abbotsford answered with six straight goals in a dominant win. Game 4 saw the Canucks jump out to a 3-0 lead extending their streak to nine consecutive goals before holding off a Charlotte rally to win 3-2 and take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

With the Calder Cup inside Abbotsford Centre for Game 5, Charlotte spoiled the party, winning in overtime to force Game 6 back in Charlotte. There, it looked like the series was headed for a decisive Game 7. The Checkers jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Canucks clawed back, scoring three unanswered goals to win 3-2 and conclude the AHL season. It marked the first Calder Cup title for the Abbotsford Canucks and the first professional hockey championship in the history of the Vancouver Canucks organization at any level, bringing cup glory to British Columbia for the very first time.

From North Carolina’s rolling Piedmont hills to the gorgeous Fraser Valley in British Columbia, two beloved hockey teams separated by nearly three thousand miles embarked on unlikely playoff runs. Over six hard-fought games, including three that went to overtime in front of sold-out, electric crowds at Bojangles Coliseum and Abbotsford Centre, it was the Canucks who ultimately emerged victorious as the 2025 Calder Cup Champions. The team was greeted back home in Abbotsford by rabid and joyous fans, all coming together to celebrate the region’s first major title.

🎙️

Behind the mic for both teams were voices that captured the excitement of the playoff run: TJ Chillot for the Checkers and Brandon Astle for the Canucks, each in their fourth season calling games for their respective teams. After a family emergency sidelined Chillot during Game 4, Cristiano Simonetta, play-by-play voice of the Savannah Ghost Pirates, stepped in and handled the calls for Game 4 and joining Chillot as a color commentator for Game 5.

Take a listen as I interview these three talents about the play-by-play life and their love of hockey.

TJ Chillot, Charlotte Checkers

Brandon Astle, Abbotsford Canucks

Cristiano Simonetta, Savannah Ghost Pirates