2023 WHL Playoffs - Schedule & Results

[David]

The following is the complete schedule for the 2023 Western Hockey League Playoffs.

The defending WHL Champions, the Edmonton Oil Kings, saw a purge of their roster, falling into the basement of the Eastern Conference. Their 9-49-4-0 record (22 points) was the worst record in the WHL. Edmonton's opponent in the 2022 WHL Championship, the Seattle Thunderbirds (54-11-1-2, 111 points), return to the playoffs for another championship run, finishing first in the U.S. Division and earning the #1 overall seed in the Western Conference. The Winnipeg Ice (57-10-1-0, 115 points) captured their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy, awarded to the regular season champions. The Ice will have home ice advantage through the entirety of the WHL playoffs.

Each round of the WHL Playoffs will appear most recent at the top of the post. Final results will be updated following the conclusion of the games. All game times are listed in the Pacific Timezone (PST). Where applicable, click on the final score to view the WHL's game tracker for the complete box score.

All WHL Playoff games are streamed on WHL Live, but it requires a pay subscription.

WHL CHAMPIONSHIP



Seattle Thunderbirds vs Winnipeg Ice (Seattle wins series 4-1)
Game 1 -- Fri., May 12 - Winnipeg (H) 3, Seattle 2 - (Canada Life Centre)
Game 2 -- Sat., May 13 - Seattle 4, Winnipeg (H) 2 - (Canada Life Centre)
Game 3 -- Tue., May 16 - Seattle (H) 6, Winnipeg 3
Game 4 -- Wed., May 17 - Seattle (H) 4, Winnipeg 2
Game 5 -- Fri., May 19 - Seattle (H) 3, Winnipeg 1

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP



#2 Saskatoon Blades vs #1 Winnipeg Ice (Winnipeg wins series 4-0)
Game 1 -- Fri., April 28 - Winnipeg (H) 3, Saskatoon 0
Game 2 -- Sat., April 29 - Winnipeg (H) 6, Saskatoon 2
Game 3 -- Tue., May 2 - Winnipeg 5, Saskatoon (H) 1
Game 4 -- Wed., May 3 - Winnipeg 3, Saskatoon (H) 2


WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP



#2 Kamloops Blazers vs #1 Seattle Thunderbirds (Seattle wins series 4-2)
Game 1 -- Sat., April 29 - Seattle (H) 5, Kamloops 1
Game 2 -- Sun., April 30 - Seattle (H) 4, Kamloops 3 (OT)
Game 3 -- Tue., May 2 - Kamloops (H) 4, Seattle 1
Game 4 -- Thu., May 4 - Seattle 8, Kamloops (H) 4
Game 5 -- Sat., May 6 - Kamloops 4, Seattle (H) 2
Game 6 -- Mon., May 8 - Seattle 4, Kamloops (H) 2


EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS



#4 Moose Jaw Warriors vs #1 Winnipeg Ice (Winnipeg wins series 4-2)
Game 1 -- Fri., April 14 - Winnipeg (H) 5, Moose Jaw 3
Game 2 -- Sat., April 15 - Moose Jaw 5, Winnipeg (H) 3
Game 3 -- Tue., April 18 - Moose Jaw (H) 8, Winnipeg 4
Game 4 -- Wed., April 19 - Winnipeg 3, Moose Jaw (H) 2 (OT)
Game 5 -- Sat., April 22 - Winnipeg (H) 5, Moose Jaw 2
Game 6 -- Mon., April 24 - Winnipeg 8, Moose Jaw (H) 2




#3 Red Deer Rebels vs #2 Saskatoon Blades (Saskatoon wins series 4-3)
Game 1 -- Fri., April 14 - Red Deer 3, Saskatoon (H) 1
Game 2 -- Sun., April 16 - Red Deer 5, Saskatoon (H) 2
Game 3 -- Tue., April 18 - Red Deer (H) 3, Saskatoon 1
Game 4 -- Wed., April 19 - Saskatoon 4, Red Deer (H) 2
Game 5 -- Fri., April 21 - Saskatoon (H) 6, Red Deer 3
Game 6 -- Sun., April 23 - Saskatoon 5, Red Deer (H) 3
Game 7 -- Tue., April 25 - Saskatoon (H) 5, Red Deer 2

NOTE: Despite Red Deer finishing #2 in the Eastern Conference standings by virtue of winning the Central Division, the parings are re-seeded after the first round based on points (Red Deer 92 pots, Saskatoon: 101 pts)


WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS



#4 Prince George Cougars vs #1 Seattle Thunderbirds (Seattle wins series 4-0)
Game 1 -- Fri., April 14 - Seattle (H) 4, Prince George 1
Game 2 -- Sat., April 15 - Seattle (H) 5, Prince George 1
Game 3 -- Tue., April 18 - Seattle 8, Prince George (H) 1
Game 4 -- Wed., April 19 - Seattle 8, Prince George (H) 2




#3 Portland Winterhawks vs #2 Kamloops Blazers (Kamloops wins series 4-0)
Game 1 -- Fri., April 14 - Kamloops (H) 6, Portland 4
Game 2 -- Sat., April 15 - Kamloops (H) 5, Portland 0
Game 3 -- Wed., April 19 - Kamloops 3, Portland (H) 2
Game 4 -- Thu., April 20 - Kamloops 10, Portland (H) 4


EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS



#8 Medicine Hat Tigers vs #1 Winnipeg Ice (Winnipeg wins series 4-0)
Game 1 -- Fri., March 31 - Winnipeg (H) 5, Medicine Hat 3
Game 2 -- Sat., April 1 - Winnipeg (H) 5, Medicine Hat 2
Game 3 -- Tue., April 4 - Winnipeg 7, Medicine Hat (H) 2
Game 4 -- Wed., April 5 - Winnipeg 3, Medicine Hat (H) 2




#7 Calgary Hitmen vs #2 Red Deer Rebels (Red Deer wins series 4-1)
Game 1 -- Fri., March 31 - Red Deer (H) 3, Calgary 0
Game 2 -- Sat., April 1 - Calgary 2, Red Deer (H) 1 (OT)
Game 3 -- Mon., April 3 - Red Deer 4, Calgary (H) 2
Game 4 -- Wed., April 5 - Red Deer 6, Calgary (H) 1
Game 5 -- Fri., April 7 - Red Deer (H) 6, Calgary 5 (OT)




#6 Regina Pats vs #3 Saskatoon Blades (Saskatoon wins series 4-3)
Game 1 -- Fri., March 31 - Regina 6, Saskatoon (H) 1
Game 2 -- Sun., April 2 - Regina 6, Saskatoon (H) 5 (OT)
Game 3 -- Tue., April 4 - Saskatoon 4, Regina (H) 3 (OT)
Game 4 -- Wed., April 5 - Saskatoon 4, Regina (H) 3 (OT)
Game 5 -- Fri., April 7 - Saskatoon (H) 4, Regina 2
Game 6 -- Sat., April 8 - Regina (H) 5, Saskatoon 3
Game 7 -- Mon., April 10 - Saskatoon (H) 4, Regina 1




#5 Lethbridge Hurricanes vs #4 Moose Jaw Warriors (Moose Jaw wins series 4-0)
Game 1 -- Fri., March 31 - Moose Jaw (H) 2, Lethbridge 1 (2OT)
Game 2 -- Sat., April 1 - Moose Jaw (H) 5, Lethbridge 1
Game 3 -- Tue., April 4 - Moose Jaw 6, Lethbridge (H) 2
Game 4 -- Wed., April 5 - Moose Jaw 5, Lethbridge (H) 2


WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS



#8 Kelowna Rockets vs #1 Seattle Thunderbirds (Seattle wins series 4-0)
Game 1 -- Fri., March 31 - Seattle (H) 3, Kelowna 2
Game 2 -- Sat., April 1 - Seattle (H) 4, Kelowna 1
Game 3 -- Tue., April 4 - Seattle 4, Kelowna (H) 1
Game 4 -- Wed., April 5 - Seattle 3, Kelowna (H) 0




#7 Vancouver Giants vs #2 Kamloops Blazers (Kamloops wins series 4-0)
Game 1 -- Fri., March 31 - Kamloops (H) 8, Vancouver 0
Game 2 -- Sat., April 1 - Kamloops (H) 6, Vancouver 1
Game 3 -- Tue., April 4 - Kamloops 5, Vancouver (H) 0
Game 4 -- Thu., April 6 - Kamloops 5, Vancouver (H) 4 (OT)




#6 Everett Silvertips vs #3 Portland Winterhawks (Portland wins series 4-1)
Game 1 -- Fri., March 31 - Portland (H) 4, Everett 3
Game 2 -- Sat., April 1 - Portland (H) 4, Everett 0
Game 3 -- Mon., April 3 - Portland 6, Everett (H) 1
Game 4 -- Fri., April 7 - Everett (H) 5, Portland 0
Game 5 -- Sat., April 8 - Portland (H) 3, Everett 2 (OT)




#5 Tri-City Americans vs #4 Prince George Cougars (Prince George wins series 4-2)
Game 1 -- Fri., March 31 - Tri City 6, Prince George (H) 4
Game 2 -- Sat., April 1 - Prince George (H) 2, Tri-City 1 (OT)
Game 3 -- Tue., April 4 - Tri-City (H) 4, Prince George 2
Game 4 -- Wed., April 5 - Prince George 6, Tri-City (H) 2
Game 5 -- Fri., April 7 - Prince George 6, Tri-City (H) 2
Game 6 -- Sun., April 9 - Prince George (H) 5, Tri-City 4 (OT)


WHL TEAM VENUES
Calgary Hitmen - Scotiabank Saddledome; Calgary, Alberta
Everett Silvertips - Angel of the Winds Arena; Everett, Washington
Kamloops Blazers - Sandman Centre; Kamloops, British Columbia
Kelowna Rockets - Prospera Place; Kelowna, British Columbia
Lethbridge Hurricanes - ENMAX Centre; Lethbridge, Alberta
Medicine Hat Tigers - Co-op Place; Medicine Hat, Alberta
Moose Jaw Warriors - Mosaic Place; Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Portland Winterhawks - Veteran's Memorial Coliseum; Portland, Oregon
Prince George Cougars - CN Centre; Prince George, British Columbia
Red Deer Rebels - Peavey Mart Centrium; Red Deer, Alberta
Regina Pats - Brandt Centre; Regina, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Blades - SaskTel Centre; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Seattle Thunderbirds - accesso ShoWare Center; Kent, Washington
Tri-City Americans - Toyota Center; Kennewick, Washington
Vancouver Giants - Langley Events Centre; Langley, British Columbia
Winnipeg Ice - Wayne Fleming Arena; Winnipeg, Manitoba


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[David]

The Winnipeg Ice have won the Eastern Conference Championship, sweeping the Saskatoon Blades 4-0.

It's the first Eastern Conference Championship for the franchise since it moved to Winnipeg from Cranbrook, B.C. in 2019. It's the Ice franchise's third overall Eastern Conference Championship, having previously won it in 1999-2000 and 2010-11 as the Kootenay Ice. It's the fourth overall Conference Championship in franchise history, as the Ice also won the Western Conference Championship in 2001-02.

[David]

The Seattle Thunderbirds have won the Western Conference Championship, defeating the Kamloops Blazers 4-2.

The Thunderbirds capture their fifth Western Conference Championship title, their third in the last eight seasons, and second consecutive championship. Seattle previously won the Western Conference in 1996-97, 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2021-22.

The Thunderbirds will take on the Eastern Conference Champion Winnipeg Ice. It's the first time the two clubs have met in the WHL Final.

[David]

The Winnipeg Ice will call the Canada Life Centre their home for the duration of the WHL Championship.

The Ice have played at Wayne Fleming Arena since the franchise's relocation from Cranbrook (as the Kootenay Ice) beginning in 2019-20. The arena, located on the University of Manitoba campus, has been the Ice's temporary home until a new arena is constructed by the team's ownership group, 50 Below Sports + Entertainment. The arena has a capacity of 1,600.






On May 8th, the WHL and the Ice announced that they have arranged a deal with True North Sports + Entertainment to play all home games at the Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg. True North is the ownership group of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets and their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. Both teams play their home games at Canada Life Centre, which holds a capacity of 15,321.

[David]

The Seattle Thunderbirds have won the WHL Championship, defeating the Winnipeg Ice 4-1.

The Thunderbirds capture their second WHL Championship, and their first since winning it for the first time in 2017. The Thunderbirds are 2-3 all-time in the WHL Championship.

Seattle will represent the Western Hockey League in the 2023 Memorial Cup Tournament, along with host Kamloops, whom Seattle defeated in the Western Conference Championship. Seattle will make its third Memorial Cup appearance, having previously appeared in 1992 as the host team and in 2017. The Thunderbirds have never won the Memorial Cup.