2026 Memorial Cup
Canadian junior men's ice hockey championship
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The 2026 Memorial Cup was a four-team round-robin format ice hockey tournament held at Prospera Place, home of the host Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets. The Kitchener Rangers defeated the Everett Silvertips by a 6–2 score to win their third Memorial Cup title.
Venue(s)Prospera Place
Kelowna, British Columbia
Kelowna, British Columbia
DatesMay 22–31, 2026
Teams4
Host teamKelowna Rockets
(WHL)
(WHL)
| |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Venue(s) | Prospera Place Kelowna, British Columbia |
| Dates | May 22–31, 2026 |
| Teams | 4 |
| Host team | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) |
| TV partner | TSN |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) (3rd Title) |
| Runners-up | Everett Silvertips (WHL) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Scoring leader(s) | Jack Pridham (Rangers) (9) |
| Awards | |
| MVP | Sam O'Reilly (Rangers) |
It was the 106th Memorial Cup championship which determined the champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).[1] Five teams declared their intent to bid via news releases on their team websites: the Brandon Wheat Kings,[2] Kelowna Rockets,[3] Lethbridge Hurricanes,[4] Medicine Hat Tigers,[5] Spokane Chiefs.[6] Lethbridge and Medicine Hat have never hosted the tournament, while Brandon has hosted once in 2010 and Spokane has hosted once in 1998. Kelowna has been selected to host the tournament twice, hosting it once in 2004, but the 2020 tournament it was slated to host was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On November 27, 2024, the Canadian Hockey League named Kelowna as the host city at the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. The decision was made following formal bid presentations by all five teams in the running to the CHL's selection committee, the most teams bidding on a single Memorial Cup since 2009.[7]
Road to the Cup
OHL playoffs
| Conference quarterfinals | Conference semifinals | Conference finals | OHL Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Brantford | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Sudbury | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Brantford | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | North Bay | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Barrie | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Niagara | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Brantford | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Barrie | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Ottawa | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Kingston | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Barrie | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Ottawa | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Peterborough | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | North Bay | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Barrie | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Kitchener | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Kitchener | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Saginaw | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Kitchener | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | S.S. Marie | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Windsor | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Guelph | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Kitchener | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Windsor | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Flint | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Owen Sound | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Windsor | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Flint | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | London | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | S.S. Marie | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
QMJHL playoffs
In the first round seeding is determined by conference standings, and in the final three rounds, seeding is determined by overall standings.
| Conference quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Gilles-Courteau Trophy Championship | ||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Rouyn-Noranda | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W8 | Gatineau | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Moncton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Val-d'Or | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Blainville-Boisbriand | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W7 | Victoriaville | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Moncton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Blainville-Boisbriand | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Drummondville | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Val-d'Or | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Chicoutimi | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Quebec | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Shawinigan | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Sherbrooke | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Moncton | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Chicoutimi | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Moncton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E8 | Saint John | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Rouyn-Noranda | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Shawinigan | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Chicoutimi | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | Halifax | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Chicoutimi | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Rouyn-Noranda | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Newfoundland | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Cape Breton | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Blainville-Boisbriand | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Newfoundland | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Charlottetown | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | Quebec | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
WHL playoffs
| Conference quarterfinals | Conference semifinals | Conference finals | WHL championship | ||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Prince Albert | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E8 | Red Deer | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Prince Albert | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Saskatoon | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Medicine Hat | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | Regina | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Prince Albert | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | |||||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Medicine Hat | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Edmonton | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Saskatoon | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Medicine Hat | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Calgary | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Calgary | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | Brandon | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Prince Albert | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Note: Pairings are re-seeded after the first round. | |||||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Everett | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Everett | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W8 | Portland | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Everett | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Kelowna | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Penticton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W7 | Seattle | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Everett | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western | |||||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Penticton | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Prince George | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Spokane | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Penticton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Prince George | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Kelowna | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Kamloops | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Team rosters
Kelowna Rockets
|
Kitchener Rangers
|
Everett Silvertips
|
Chicoutimi Saguenéens
|
Tournament games
Round-robin
| May 22 | Kitchener Rangers | 5–0 | Kelowna Rockets | Prospera Place | Recap | |||
| 4:38 - Dylan Edwards (1) | First period | no scoring | ||||||
| 17:33 - Jared Woolley (1) | Second period | no scoring | ||||||
| 11:32 - Jack Pridham (1) 12:54 - Sam O'Reilly (1) 14:14 - Haeden Ellis (1) |
Third period | no scoring | ||||||
| Christian Kirsch (24 saves / 24 shots) | Goalie stats | Harrison Boettiger (34 saves / 39 shots) | ||||||
| May 23 | Everett Silvertips | 5–3 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | Prospera Place | Recap | |||
| 1:14 - Jesse Heslop (1) | First period | Christophe Berthelot (1) - 9:13 | ||||||
| 6:12 - Lukas Kaplan (1) 13:55 - Zackary Shantz (1) 14:45 - Carter Bear (1) |
Second period | Alex Huang (1) - 5:39 | ||||||
| 19:39 - en - Matias Vanhanen (1) | Third period | Maxim Massé (1) - en - 19:39 | ||||||
| Anders Miller (22 saves / 25 shots) | Goalie stats | Lucas Beckman (32 saves / 36 shots) | ||||||
| May 24 | Kelowna Rockets | 2–3 | OT | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | Prospera Place | Recap | ||
| no scoring | First period | Liam Lefebvre (1) - 14:38 | ||||||
| 6:29 - Tij Iginla (1) | Second period | no scoring | ||||||
| 15:50 - Mazden Leslie (1) | Third period | Anton Linde (1) - 14:01 | ||||||
| no scoring | First overtime period | Liam Lefebvre (2) - 5:28 | ||||||
| Josh Banini (26 saves / 29 shots) | Goalie stats | Lucas Beckman (27 saves / 29 shots) | ||||||
| May 25 | Everett Silvertips | 2–6 | Kitchener Rangers | Prospera Place | Recap | |||
| 12:32 - Matias Vanhanen (2) | First period | Cameron Reid (1) - 3:05 Jack Pridham (2) - 10:22 | ||||||
| 8:21 - Rylan Gould (1) | Second period | Christian Humphreys (1) - 9:46 Gabriel Chiarot (1) - 13:06 Jack Pridham (3) - 14:23 | ||||||
| no scoring | Third period | Cameron Arqquette (1) - 17:07 | ||||||
| Anders Miller (22 saves / 28 shots) | Goalie stats | Christian Kirsch (40 saves / 42 shots) | ||||||
| May 26 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | 2–3 | Kitchener Rangers | Prospera Place | Recap | |||
| no scoring | First period | no scoring | ||||||
| 8:38 - Emile Ricard (1) | Second period | Luca Romano (1) - 1:28 Sam O'Reilly (2) - 3:57 | ||||||
| 16:06 - Mavrick Lachance (1) | Third period | Jack Pridham (4) - 0:21 | ||||||
| Lucas Beckman (15 saves / 18 shots) | Goalie stats | Christian Kirsch (26 saves / 28 shots) | ||||||
| May 27 | Kelowna Rockets | 0–4 | Everett Silvertips | Prospera Place | Recap | |||
| no scoring | First period | 7:22 - Kayd Reudig (1) 7:47 - Jaxon Pisani (1) | ||||||
| no scoring | Second period | 1:03 - Matias Vanhanen (3) | ||||||
| no scoring | Third period | 13:07 - Carter Bear (2) | ||||||
| Josh Banini (9 saves / 12 shots) Harrison Boettinger (20 saves / 21 shots) |
Goalie stats | Anders Miller (28 saves / 28 shots) | ||||||
- Round-robin standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 4 | +10 | 6 | Advance directly to the championship game |
| 2 | Everett Silvertips (WHL) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 4 | Advance to the semifinal game |
| 3 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 2 | |
| 4 | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) (H) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 | −10 | 0 | Eliminated from playoff contention |
Playoffs
| Semifinal May 29 | Championship May 31 | ||||||||
| 1 | Kitchener Rangers | 6 | |||||||
| 2 | Everett Silvertips | 6 | 2 | Everett Silvertips | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | 1 | |||||||
Semifinal game
| May 29 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | 1–6 | Everett Silvertips | Prospera Place | Recap |
Championship game
| May 31 | Everett Silvertips | 2–6 | Kitchener Rangers | Prospera Place | Recap |
Statistical leaders
Skaters
The Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in the Memorial Cup playoffs
The Ed Chynoweth Trophy, awarded to the top scorer in the Memorial Cup tournament
- GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Pridham | Kitchener Rangers | 4 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 |
| Matias Vanhanen | Everett Silvertips | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| Sam O'Reilly | Kitchener Rangers | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| Dylan Edwards | Kitchener Rangers | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Landon DuPont | Everett Silvertips | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Cameron Reid | Kitchener Rangers | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Carter Bear | Everett Silvertips | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Nathan Lecompte | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Liam Lefebvre | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 17 |
| Haeden Ellis | Kitchener Rangers | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
Goaltenders
- GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice (minutes)
| Player | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Kirsch | Kitchener Rangers | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 6 | 1.50 | .952 | 1 | 240 |
| Anders Miller | Everett Silvertips | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 138 | 15 | 3.02 | .891 | 1 | 298 |
| Harrison Boettiger | Kelowna Rockets | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 61 | 6 | 3.64 | .902 | 0 | 99 |
| Lucas Beckman | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 111 | 15 | 4.06 | .865 | 0 | 222 |
| Josh Banini | Kelowna Rockets | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 6 | 4.16 | .850 | 0 | 87 |
Awards
The CHL will hand out the following awards at the conclusion of the 2026 Memorial Cup:
| Award | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy Most outstanding player | Sam O'Reilly |
| Ed Chynoweth Trophy Top scorer | Jack Pridham |
| George Parsons Trophy Most sportsmanlike player | Matias Vanhanen |
| Hap Emms Memorial Trophy Best goaltender | Christian Kirsch |
| Position | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Defencemen | Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips) |
| Cameron Reid (Kitchener Rangers) | |
| Forwards | Sam O'Reilly (Kitchener Rangers) |
| Jack Pridham (Kitchener Rangers) | |
| Matias Vanhanen (Everett Silvertips) | |
| Goaltender | Christian Kirsch (Kitchener Rangers) |