Image: City of Abbotsford / Facebook / Abbotsford mayor Ross Siemens shared a friendly bout with Charlotte mayor Vi Lyles on Friday, June 13.

By Alyssa Conti

MAYOR'S CHALLENGE

Abbotsford mayor challenges Charlotte mayor ahead of historic Calder Cup Final

Jun 13, 2025 | 2:13 PM

ABBOTSFORD — Spirits are high in Abbotsford as the Canucks head to their historic game against the Charlotte Checkers– and the mayors of both cities are getting in on the action.

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens has invited Charlotte’s Vi Lyles to a mayor’s challenge in a social media post shared this afternoon (Jun. 13).

“If the Charlotte Checkers come out on top, then I will wear a Charlotte Checkers jersey for a day and send you the photos,” Mayor Siemens told Lyles. “And if our beloved Abbotsford Canucks come out on top, then I would ask that you wear the Canucks jersey for a day and send us the photo of that.”

Mayor Lyles congratulated the Canucks and agreed to the challenge in true friendly rivalry fashion, saying “I agree to work with you– to wear my red jersey because I know that we’re going to win.”

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The Canucks are advancing to the Calder Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history. Charlotte hosts Game 1 tonight at 4 p.m. Pacific Time, with the next home game set for Tuesday, June 17, at the Abbotsford Centre.