The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is happy to announce that town of Kelowna, British Columbia, has been chosen to host the 106th version of the Memorial Cup within the spring of 2026. The Kelowna Rockets have been considered one of 5 Western Hockey League (WHL) franchises to submit a proper written bid again in September, which represented the biggest variety of CHL golf equipment vying to host a Memorial Cup since 2009.
With Kelowna Rockets head coach Kris Mallette on the bottom in Oshawa for the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Problem introduced by Kubota Canada, the CHL will host a media availability with Kris Mallette at 5:20 p.m. ET at the moment on the Tribute Communities Centre. Moreover, CHL President Dan MacKenzie and WHL Commissioner Dan Close to will likely be obtainable at 6:30 p.m. ET upon request. We ask that you simply affirm your attendance for both availability by emailing Christopher Séguin (CHL Supervisor of Media Relations) at cseguin@chl.ca.
“We’re excited to be heading to Kelowna for the 2026 Memorial Cup,” mentioned Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. “With the biggest variety of CHL groups in search of to host a Memorial Cup in additional than 15 years, the choice course of for the 2026 event was extremely aggressive given the sturdy bids put forth by all 5 bidding golf equipment, together with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medication Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs. I’d like to specific my gratitude to those 4 finalists for all of the work they put into creating excellent bids. We look ahead to working alongside the Kelowna Rockets and the Metropolis of Kelowna to make the 106th version of the Memorial Cup a once-in-a-lifetime expertise for each followers and gamers alike.”
The number of Kelowna was rendered following formal bid shows made by the 5 bidding WHL golf equipment – the Brandon Wheat Kings, Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medication Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs – to the CHL’s choice committee. The committee was comprised of sports activities leaders from throughout the business together with Graeme Roustan (Chairman and Proprietor of the Hockey Information), Colin Campbell (NHL Sr. Govt Vice-President of Hockey Operation), Aaron Fox (Chair of Defence Workforce for McDougall Gauley), Kalli Quinn (Occasion Specialist at KAQ Occasion Consulting), and Paul Graham (Govt Producer & VP at TSN). Every bid was evaluated based mostly on 4 classes: enterprise operations, native environment/group engagement, occasion logistics, and hockey operations.
“Congratulations to the Kelowna Rockets and the Metropolis of Kelowna, led by Bruce Hamilton, Mayor Tom Dyas, David Rush, and Steve Thomson, on efficiently bringing the 2026 Memorial Cup to Kelowna,” commented WHL Commissioner Dan Close to. “As the choice committee reviewed all of the submissions, it grew to become abundantly clear that Kelowna has constructed an occasion that might go down as the best Memorial Cup in historical past. The Western Hockey League is thrilled to welcome hockey followers from all corners of the CHL to Kelowna – a gem within the coronary heart of B.C.’s Okanagan – for what’s going to undoubtedly be an distinctive occasion, full with world-class hockey, entertaining festivities, and a lot extra.”
The 2026 Memorial Cup will symbolize simply the second time that Kelowna has ever performed host to this prestigious event. The Rockets beforehand hosted the Memorial Cup again in 2004, which marked the primary and solely time Kelowna has gained the CHL’s championship occasion. Led by 2024 Hockey Corridor of Fame Inductee Shea Weber and 13-year NHL veteran Josh Gorges, the Kelowna Rockets edged the Gatineau Olympiques within the 2004 Memorial Cup last to seize the Memorial Cup trophy on house ice in entrance of a sold-out crowd at Prospera Place.
This previous spring, the Metropolis of Kelowna dedicated to creating a number of upgrades to Prospera Place, together with the set up of a brand-new scoreboard, improved lighting and sound methods, a devoted press field, and extra to assist bolster the expertise of followers and guests touring to the house area of the Kelowna Rockets.
“On behalf of the whole Kelowna Rockets group, I’m greater than thrilled for the co-chairs Dave Rush and Steve Thompson, in addition to Gavin Hamilton, Jillian Haller, and naturally, the Metropolis of Kelowna,” added Bruce Hamilton, Governor, President, and Common Supervisor of the Kelowna Rockets. “This wouldn’t have been potential with out Mayor Tom Dyas and the Metropolis Council stepping up to ensure the constructing is introduced as much as CHL commonplace for the bid. We wouldn’t be on this place if not for the Metropolis’s dedication and help. The bid committee has executed an outstanding job and we’re so comfortable for our group. The 2026 Memorial Cup is for the Metropolis of Kelowna and the encircling space. We get the possibility to deliver this occasion again to the Okanagan and whereas it has been a protracted grind to get it, we’re excited for town in addition to our season ticket holders. It’s a chance for one thing particular.”
Through the years, the Kelowna Rockets have confirmed themselves to be a drive within the WHL. The Rockets have gained the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions of the WHL 4 occasions (2003, 2005, 2009, 2015), and so they have performed within the Memorial Cup event on 5 separate events (2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2015). The Rockets’ 5 appearances on the Memorial Cup since 2003 are the second-most of any CHL franchise over that stretch, trailing solely the six journeys made by the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) throughout that interval.
All through the Kelowna Rockets’s 33-year historical past, there have been a complete of 76 gamers from the membership drafted to the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL), together with present NHLers Tyler Myers, Luke Schenn, and Tyson Barrie, along with 2024 Utah Hockey Membership first-round decide Tij Iginla, who at present co-leads the Rockets with 13 objectives throughout the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
In 2026, the Memorial Cup will likely be awarded for the 106th time in its historical past. The Kelowna Rockets will likely be considered one of 4 golf equipment to play within the 2026 Memorial Cup alongside the playoff champion from every of the OHL, Quebec Main Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and Western Hockey League (WHL).
Subsequent yr’s 2025 Memorial Cup will happen in Rimouski, Québec from Could 22 to June 1, 2025. The one hundred and fifth version of the Memorial Cup will mark the return of the CHL’s championship occasion to the province of Québec for what would be the first time in 10 years.
The newest Memorial Cup came about final spring in Saginaw, because the host Spirit defeated the London Knights 4-3 within the last to safe Saginaw’s first-ever CHL championship title in franchise historical past. By undertaking the latter, the Spirit grew to become the primary CHL membership from Michigan to ever win the Memorial Cup and simply the third U.S. franchise to perform the feat.
Since being awarded for the primary time 105 years in the past, the Memorial Cup has developed a wealthy custom that has formed the best way junior hockey is performed in North America — turning into one of the coveted trophies within the sport. Initially referred to as the OHA Memorial Cup and donated by the Ontario Hockey Affiliation (OHA) in March 1919, this trophy was created in remembrance of the numerous troopers who paid the supreme sacrifice for Canada within the First World Warfare. It was later rededicated in 2010 to the reminiscence of all fallen Canadian Navy Personnel.
Supply: WHL Information
Put up Views: 44
