Chase Harrington came out of Flames training camp with more than a few extra notes in his pocket. He also left with proof that he belongs.
The Calgary second-round pick from June’s Draft turned heads in camp, spent an extended stretch with the NHL club, took part in captain’s skates and even made his preseason NHL debut. Now back in Washington state as captain of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, he’s carrying that momentum into a scorching start.
It has shown up quickly. Harrington is the reigning WHL player of the week, and heading into a weekend home set against Portland, the Prince George, B.C., product sits tied for fourth in the junior league scoring race with 15 points, including six goals and nine assists. Spokane, meanwhile, has stormed out to an 8-1-0 record.
For Harrington, the time in Calgary wasn’t just about exposure. It changed how he sees himself.
“It was so important, being able to prove to myself that I can compete with those guys,” he said over the phone this week when asked about his time in the Stampede City. “I learned a lot from those guys, and I’m bringing that back to Spokane now.”
He’s bringing it back into a Chiefs program that has also given him the right kind of push. Spokane head coach Brad Lauer, a WHL championship winner in Edmonton four years ago, has become another key influence. Lauer, a former New York Islanders defenceman, spent 10 years coaching in the NHL with Ottawa, Anaheim, Tampa Bay and Winnipeg, and Harrington says that experience has raised the standard every day.
“I think it’s rare, almost second-to-none to be in the WHL and have a coach with that much experience in the NHL,” Harrington explained. “He knows what it takes, he’s been there.
“It’s really good to have a coach like him helping me along.”
Harrington, 19, is keeping his focus on what could be his final year of junior hockey. He’s already tasted playoff success in Spokane, where the Chiefs are still chasing their first WHL title since 2008. But the larger picture includes another goal: Canada’s World Juniors roster.
The 2027 tournament is in Alberta, and after standing out at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Ontario this past summer, Harrington has his sights set on making the team for the holiday event.
He knows the path he’ll need to take, too.
“I think I’ve just got to be myself,” Harrington said of his World Junior aspirations. “There’s a lot of good players on that team, but maybe there’s not a lot of guys that can play the game like me, playing those hard minutes, succeeding on the penalty kill.
“I think just buying into that role - knowing those (first-round) picks will be on the powerplay - I can bring a lot more to the team than that. But it’s just about showing that I can help the team win.”
Longer term, Harrington can already picture himself chasing wins in Calgary after signing his entry-level contract with the Flames this fall. But right now, Spokane is where his attention sits.
“It’s been so nice to be back in Spokane,” said Harrington. “This is my team, these are my brothers, so it’s nice to be back competing with them.
“It’s been a blast.”
In Other News...
Flames May Be Finding A Formula Fans Can Actually Trust
For a team that has spent plenty of nights searching for something sturdy to believe in, Calgarys 2-1 win over Minnesota offered a version of hockey the Flames can actually build on. The victory was their third in four games, and it came at the Scotiabank Saddledome with a formula that looked familiar in the best way: an early lead, disciplined special teams and a goaltender holding the line when the game tightened up.
The Flames cashed in twice on the power play in the opening period, then spent the rest of the night protecting that edge while Minnesota tried to claw back. The Wild got one in the third, but Calgarys penalty kill stayed perfect and Devin Cooley made 36 saves to close the door, giving the Flames a result that felt less like a scramble and more like a structure they can trust. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Now Face An Awkward Connor Hellebuyck Decision
Connor Hellebuycks standoff with the Jets has put Winnipeg in a spot it would rather avoid, especially with the season already underway and the conversation around his absence refusing to go away. After requesting a trade and skipping training camp, the veteran goaltender has turned one of the leagues most important crease situations into a daily roster issue, while teammates like captain Adam Lowry have been left to answer questions about a situation that is as awkward as it is unresolved.
The next layer is the one Winnipeg still has to sort through, because the leagues rules give the club a possible avenue to discipline a player who returns after an unapproved camp absence, but the teams practical options appear limited. Hellebuycks expected return could force the Jets to balance accountability, roster needs and the message they send to the room, and for now it leaves a cloud hanging over a team trying to focus on hockey instead of a contract and trust dispute. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Flat Effort Drew A Brutal Response From Brock Boeser
The Canucks 5-2 loss to the Red Wings was the kind of night that tends to linger, especially for a club still trying to find its footing in a rebuilding phase. Vancouver never really got on top of the game, struggling to create offense while also losing too much of its defensive structure, and the frustration showed in the tone around the team afterward. Brock Boeser pointed to the little things and the way momentum kept slipping away, which has become a familiar theme when the results turn south.
For a team that has not been able to stack consistent wins, nights like this can feel bigger than a single defeat. The issue is not just the scoreline, but the way the Canucks let the game drift from them without ever regaining control, leaving both players and fans with the same uneasy question about where the steady push is supposed to come from next. [Read more 🡒]