2026 Memorial Cup Primer

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The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is excited to announce the field for the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota, which will take place May 21-31 in Kelowna, British Columbia. In addition to the host Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL), the 106th edition of the Memorial Cup will feature the WHL champion Everett Silvertips, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) champion Kitchener Rangers, and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) champion Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

The three league champions secured their spots by capturing their respective titles, with Everett winning its first-ever Ed Chynoweth Cup, Kitchener claiming its fifth J. Ross Robertson Cup, and Chicoutimi earning its third Gilles-Courteau Trophy — and first in 32 years.

The opening game of the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota is scheduled for Friday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET, when the host Rockets face the OHL champion Rangers. The complete tournament schedule can be found below.

This year’s 106th edition of the Memorial Cup marks the return of the CHL’s championship event to the Okanagan for the first time since 2004. Held over 11 days, the tournament will see the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL champions join the host Rockets in a four-team round-robin tournament to determine the 2026 CHL champion.

Host – Kelowna Rockets
(sixth Memorial Cup appearance – 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2026; one Memorial Cup title – 2004)

The Kelowna Rockets are set to make their sixth Memorial Cup appearance as hosts of the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota, bringing the tournament back to Kelowna for the first time since 2004. Kelowna is led by Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla, who posted a team-leading 90 points (41G-49A) in 48 regular-season games while ranking second across the CHL in scoring rate at 1.88 points per game — the highest mark by a WHL skater in 2025-26.

WHL Champions – Everett Silvertips
(making their first-ever Memorial Cup appearance in 2026)

The Everett Silvertips are set to make their first-ever Memorial Cup appearance after capturing the franchise’s first Ed Chynoweth Cup with a 4-1 series win over the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2026 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien. Since joining the WHL in 2003-04, Everett had twice reached the league final — in its inaugural season in 2004 and again in 2018 — but had never broken through. Guided by WHL Coach of the Year Steve Hamilton, who earned his first WHL title as a head coach, the Silvertips delivered a dominant 16-2 playoff run, sweeping Portland and Penticton, defeating Memorial Cup-host Kelowna in five games, and clinching the championship with a 7-2 win over Prince Albert in Game 5. Everett’s breakthrough followed one of the strongest regular seasons in modern WHL history, as the Silvertips captured a second straight Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy with a franchise-best 57-8-2-1 record.

OHL Champions – Kitchener Rangers
(seventh Memorial Cup appearance – 1981, 1982, 1984, 1990, 2003, 2008 & 2026; two Memorial Cup titles – 1982 & 2003)

The Kitchener Rangers are set to make their seventh Memorial Cup appearance — tied for the second-most since the tournament adopted its round-robin format in 1972 — after capturing the franchise’s fifth J. Ross Robertson Cup with a sweep of the Barrie Colts in the 2026 OHL Championship Series presented by Nissan. Kitchener sealed its first OHL title since 2008 with a 4-2 win in Game 4 at Sadlon Arena, as Christian Humphreys tipped home the eventual game-winner midway through the third period before Sam O’Reilly added an empty-netter to secure the championship. Built by General Manager Mike McKenzie and guided by Head Coach Jussi Ahokas, the Rangers finished the postseason with a dominant 16-2 record, sweeping Saginaw in the opening round, defeating the Soo Greyhounds and Windsor Spitfires in five games apiece, and closing out Barrie in four straight to return to the Memorial Cup for the first time in 18 years.

Kitchener’s championship run was powered by one of the deepest lineups in the CHL, featuring 12 NHL-drafted players and high-end talent throughout the roster. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly led the way with 28 points (17G-11A) in 18 playoff games on his way to Wayne Gretzky “99” Award honours as OHL Playoff MVP, capping a standout season in which he also captured the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player.

QMJHL Champions – Chicoutimi Saguenéens
(fourth Memorial Cup appearance – 1991, 1994, 1997 & 2026)

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens are set to make their fourth Memorial Cup appearance — and first in nearly 30 years — after capturing the franchise’s third Gilles-Courteau Trophy with a six-game victory over the Moncton Wildcats in the 2026 QMJHL Championship Series. The title marked Chicoutimi’s first QMJHL championship in 32 years, dating back to 1994, and capped a dominant playoff run that saw the Saguenéens sweep Halifax and Québec, defeat Rouyn-Noranda in six games, and outlast Moncton in the final. Built and guided by Head Coach and General Manager Yanick Jean, the QMJHL’s all-time winningest head coach and the 2025-26 Maurice-Filion Trophy recipient as General Manager of the Year, Chicoutimi turned one of the most complete seasons in franchise history into its long-awaited return to the Memorial Cup. The Saguenéens’ championship followed a standout regular season in which they finished just one point shy of first overall in the QMJHL while leading the QMJHL in both goals for and goals against.

SCHEDULE
Round-Robin – Game 1 – Friday, May 22 – Kitchener vs. Kelowna (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 2 – Saturday, May 23 – Everett vs. Chicoutimi (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 3 – Sunday, May 24 – Kelowna vs. Chicoutimi (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 4 – Monday, May 25 – Everett vs. Kitchener (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 5 – Tuesday, May 26 – Chicoutimi vs. Kitchener (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Round-Robin – Game 6 – Wednesday, May 27 – Kelowna vs. Everett (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Tie-Breaker (*if necessary) – Thursday, May 28 (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Semi-Final – Friday, May 29 (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Championship Final – Sunday, May 31 (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)