CHL playoff recap: Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes advances to round two of the WHL playoffs

The Prince Albert Raiders have punched their ticket to the second round of the WHL playoffs.

Despite jumping out to a commanding 3-0 series lead, the eighth-seeded Red Deer Rebels made them work for it, leaning heavily on strong goaltending to push the series deeper than expected.

After outscoring the Rebels 14-3 through the first three games, the series initially looked like a formality for the top-seeded Raiders. Vancouver Canucks 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes played a key role in that stretch, recording two goals and four assists. But things tightened quickly.

Game 4 marked Prince Albert’s first opportunity to close out the series, but Red Deer responded. With the game tied 2-2 late in the third period, the Rebels found a late goal to extend their season. Goaltender Matthew Kondro was outstanding, stopping 35 shots — including five from Cootes — to keep his team alive.

Game 5 followed a similar script. Despite the Raiders controlling play and generating consistent pressure, Kondro turned aside 48 of 52 shots, including several desperation saves that required video review. Once again, the Rebels found a late goal to force overtime, but this time the Raiders responded quickly in the extra frame, scoring the winner to seal the series.

Cootes finished the opening round with six points (two goals, four assists), 21 shots on goal, and a 60 percent faceoff win rate across 80 draws.

The Raiders now await their second-round opponent, the lowest remaining seed in the Eastern Conference.

Elsewhere around the CHL:

The London Knights saw their season end after falling 4-0 to the Soo Greyhounds, losing the series in five games.

Aleksei Medvedev was given an opportunity to spark the Knights after making his playoff debut in Game 4, where he stopped 25 of 26 shots to earn his first postseason victory. He was rewarded with a second consecutive start in Game 5, but the Greyhounds proved too much, ending London’s playoff run and the 2025-26 season of the reigning Memorial Cup champions.

Earlier in the week, Kieren Dervin’s Kingston Frontenacs were eliminated in a four-game sweep by the Ottawa 67’s. For Dervin, it marks his final game in juniors as a 2026-27 Penn State commit.

Gabe Chiarot and the Kitchener Rangers, meanwhile, advanced with a sweep of the Saginaw Spirit. They will now face the Soo Greyhounds in the second round, with the series set to begin Friday, April 10.

Out west, Parker Alcos and the Kelowna Rockets also moved on after a clean four-game sweep of the Kamloops Blazers.

CHL Playoff Recap (Canucks Prospects)

Still in Round One:
Riley Patterson (Niagara IceDogs, OHL) — Down 3-1

Advancing to Round Two:
Braeden Cootes (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
Parker Alcos (Kelowna Rockets, WHL)
Gabe Chiarot (Kitchener Rangers, OHL)

Eliminated:
Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights, OHL)
Kieren Dervin (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL)