Chase Harrington’s Saturday night checked just about every box you can ask for in a WHL return.
The Calgary Flames prospect came back to the Spokane Chiefs and immediately looked like the guy in charge. In his season debut at home against the Tri-City Americans, the 18-year-old put up a goal and two assists, dropped the gloves with Dylan LeBret, and walked away as the first star in Spokane’s 3-2 win.
But the biggest moment came before the puck even dropped.
In a pre-game ceremony at Numerica Veterans Arena, Harrington was introduced as Spokane’s captain for the 2026-27 season. He changed out of his warm-up jersey and into one with the “C” on the chest, taking over a role the Chiefs clearly expect him to own.
He played like it from the start. Harrington opened the scoring early in the first period, coming out of a successful penalty kill and then picking off a puck in Spokane’s defensive zone as his teammate was about to leave the box. From there, he accelerated through both Tri-City defenders and slipped a low shot past Xavier Wendt.
The play set the tone for a night where Harrington handled all situations. He picked up assists on goals by Tyus Sparks and Nathan Mayes in the second period, then finished off the Gordie Howe hat trick at 0:51 of the third when he squared off with LeBret.
By the end of the night, Harrington had six shots on goal, five penalty minutes and a plus-3 rating.
A Prince George, B.C. product, Harrington is also in the mix for Team Canada at the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was born in 2007, making this his final year of World Junior eligibility. The source material also notes that if he had been taken in the first round of the 2026 draft, he could have been eligible to join the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers this season under the new CHL-NHL agreement.
Harrington’s 2025-26 season with Spokane was already a big one. He led the Chiefs with 28 goals, 57 points and 105 penalty minutes in 61 games. Kevin Sawyer, now a Flames television colour analyst and a former Spokane captain, appeared in a commemorative video to announce Harrington as his latest successor.
There’s still another decision ahead. Harrington has not signed an entry-level NHL contract yet, which means he could still head to an NCAA program after his time in Spokane. Whether he chooses college or turns pro in 2027-28 remains to be seen.
He’s also part of a small Flames prospect group playing major junior hockey, alongside fellow 2026 draftees Joe Iginla and Bode Laylin.
For now, though, the job is simple: Harrington is the captain in Spokane, and the Chiefs are back in action Oct. 2 on the road against the Portland Winterhawks in the first half of a back-to-back.
In Other News...
Flames Opening Night Roster Sends An Early Message About This Team
The Flames have settled on their opening-night group for the 2026-27 season, and the first look at the roster says plenty about how Calgary is trying to start this year. The club is carrying 13 forwards and 8 defensemen, with Brennan Othmann sticking around after a strong preseason showing, a sign that the team is at least willing to reward camp performance when it matters.
There is also a clearer picture of the veterans the Flames trust to help set the tone. Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal are on the roster, while Aydar Suniev was assigned to the American Hockey League, trimming one more young option from the mix. Jonathan Huberdeau is on injured reserve, which adds another layer to the early-season puzzle as Calgary works through its first lineup decisions without one of its most established names. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Opening Roster Puts Forward Depth In Focus Fast
The Flames have settled on their 23-man active roster for the season opener, and the first look at the lineup says plenty about how the club is approaching its forward group. Calgary is carrying two goaltenders, nine defensemen and 13 forwards, with the opening-day mix built around a roster that still has room to sort itself out as the season gets going. Salary-cap commitments and available space are also part of the picture, making the roster math as important as the personnel decisions.
Aydar Suniev and Jonathan Huberdeau were both moved off the active group, which keeps the focus squarely on forward depth and what it means for the team early in the year. Huberdeau is working his way back from hip surgery and is expected to return in seven to nine months, so his absence will linger well beyond opening night. For Calgary, the bigger question now is how the forwards handle the workload while the roster settles into place. [Read more 🡒]
Wranglers Scoreless Debut Raises An Early Concern Up Front
The Calgary Wranglers first pre-season game in team history ended the way no new club wants to start, with a 3-0 loss to the Abbotsford Canucks and an offense that never found a breakthrough. Abbotsford grabbed control early with two first-period goals, while Calgary had to lean on goaltender Arsenii Sergeev, who made several key saves to keep the score from getting worse as the game went on.
Even with the puck spending plenty of time in the Canucks end, the Wranglers could not convert their chances and left the ice looking for answers up front. The late empty-net goal only added to the frustration, but the bigger concern was the same one that lingered from the opening period: Calgary generated looks, yet never managed to turn pressure into a goal. [Read more 🡒]