The Chicago Wolves secured a spot in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs on Sunday evening. They achieved this with a 3-2 overtime loss to Milwaukee, combined with Iowa's 4-3 shootout defeat to Rockford. Chicago now eyes a fourth league title.
The Wolves' clinch came in the Central Division, where five teams will advance to the playoffs. The top three finishers earn byes straight to the division semifinals, while the fourth- and fifth-place teams face off in a best-of-three first-round series. Chicago previously captured Calder Cup championships in 2002, 2008, and 2022, marking their third title in two decades as of the most recent win four years ago. The AHL's 2025-26 regular season wraps up on April 19, leaving time for final positioning in the standings. This development keeps Chicago in contention for a strong seeding as the postseason approaches.
