The Chicago Wolves and Toronto Marlies will battle for the 2026 Calder Cup beginning tonight at Allstate Arena. Both teams reached the Finals through improbable playoff runs, with Chicago finishing 11th and Toronto 15th in the regular-season standings. The Wolves are seeking their second championship under the Carolina Hurricanes affiliation, while the Marlies look to make history in their first Finals appearance since 2012.
Chicago’s road to the Finals was paved with tough wins, including a seven-game upset of the 107-point Grand Rapids team and a Western Conference Finals sweep on the road in Colorado. Bradly Nadeau (5-9-14), Ryan Suzuki (5-8-13), and Justin Robidas (6-6-12) lead the way offensively. Felix Unger Sörum, the team’s top regular-season point producer with 66, missed the last five games due to injury.
Goaltending was a key factor in Chicago’s run. Amir Miftakhov took over for an injured Cayden Primeau in the conference finals, posting a 2.36 GAA and .940 save percentage in two games. Miftakhov was recalled to Carolina just hours before the game and is now backing up Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov in the Stanley Cup Final.
Toronto’s journey was no less dramatic. The Marlies, a .500 team at Christmas, clawed through the playoffs, including a six-game series win over the 101-point Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Vinni Lettieri led the way with 17 points (8-9), while captain Logan Shaw and rookie Easton Cowan each tallied seven goals. Artur Akhtyamov has been rock solid in goal, with a 2.12 GAA and .927 save percentage over 15 consecutive starts.
Marlies GM Ryan Hardy praised the team’s chemistry and drive. “We’ve got a great group of guys,” he said. “At this level the goal is always to, first and foremost, create the best environment that you can to develop players. Once we got going, we were off and running.”
The two teams split their four regular-season meetings in 2025-26, and this marks the first time since 2007 that Calder Cup finalists met in the regular season. With the Wolves holding home-ice advantage and the series starting at 8 ET on Sportsnet 360 and NHL Network Radio, the stage is set for a historic Finals matchup.
Game 2 follows two days later at 4 ET, before the series shifts to Toronto for Games 3 and 4. The next chapter in this storied rivalry begins tonight.
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