Calgary Flames prospect Chase Harrington had a night to remember on Saturday.

After earning rave reviews in his first NHL training camp with the Flames, the 2026 second-round draft pick returned to the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs in time to make his season debut at home on Saturday against the Tri-City Americans.

Harrington, 18, scored a goal, added two assists, and, for good measure, fought Tri-City’s Dylan LeBret en route to being named the first star of Spokane’s 3-2 win, but it was what happened before the game that made the evening truly special.

In a pre-game ceremony at Numerica Veterans Arena, Harrington was officially introduced as Spokane’s captain for the 2026-27 season, swapping out the jersey he wore during warm-ups for a new one with the “C” on his chest.

Tasked with playing in all situations in his first game as captain, Harrington opened the scoring early in the first period shortly after helping the Chiefs kill a penalty. With his teammate set to exit the box, Harrington stole the puck in Spokane’s defensive zone and galloped past both Tri-City defenders in his sights before sneaking a low shot past goaltender Xavier Wendt.

Harrington assisted on goals by Tyus Sparks and Nathan Mayes in the second period before capping off the Gordie Howe hat trick in the opening minute of the third, dropping the gloves with LeBret at the 0:51 mark. He finished the game with six shots on goal, five penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating.

A product of Prince George, B.C., Harrington is expected to contend for a spot on Team Canada at the upcoming 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship. The 2007-born forward is in his final year of World Junior eligibility; had he been selected in the first round of the 2026 draft, he could’ve joined the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers as soon as this season under the new CHL-NHL agreement.

Harrington previously led the 2025-26 Chiefs with 28 goals, 57 points, and 105 penalty minutes in 61 games. Current Flames television colour analyst and former Chiefs captain Kevin Sawyer made an appearance in a commemorative video announcing Harrington as his latest successor at the position.

Having not yet signed an entry-level NHL deal, Harrington could still join an NCAA program after wrapping up his tenure in Spokane. It remains to be seen whether he’ll choose to go the collegiate route or turn pro in 2027-28. Harrington is one of only a half-dozen members of the Flames’ prospect pool playing major junior hockey, with his WHL opponents including fellow 2026 draftees Joe Iginla and Bode Laylin.

For now, Harrington is the captain in Spokane, and his team will return to action on Oct. 2 for the first half of a back-to-back on the road against the Portland Winterhawks.

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