Kitchener Rangers won the 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna, British Columbia on May 31, with a 6-2 victory over the Everett Silvertips.
After remaining undefeated in Kelowna with a 4-0 run, the Rangers claimed the title again for the first time in 23 years. This win marks the third Memorial Cup title in franchise history.
“This has been a season beyond my wildest imagination, and I am beyond thrilled to see this team bring the Memorial Cup home back to Kitchener for the first time since 2003,” Joe Birch, Kitchener Rangers Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement.
“I am so grateful for and proud of our amazing players, our coaching and player support personnel, our office team and our board of directors. But most of all, we are all so grateful for the more than 250,000 fans who supported us throughout this Memorial Cup winning season,” he said.
The Kitchener Rangers have made appearances at a few other Memorial Cups, including their two other Memorial Cup wins in 2003 and 1982. The Rangers reached the finals in 2008, but did not bring home the cup.
Sam O’Reilly won the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the Memorial Cup. While Jack Pridham took home the Ed Chynoweth Trophy, which is awarded to the player with the most points. Pridham scored nine points throughout the tournament.
After their Memorial Cup win, Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of City of Kitchener, released a statement to extend congratulations to the team on winning the championship title.
“Last night’s win, the third in Kitchener Rangers franchise history, is an unforgettable and historic moment for our city, and this team, with its unique community-ownership model!,” the statement read.
“This season, and its subsequent playoff rounds, has brought an energy and excitement to our community unlike anything we have seen in recent years,” Vrbanovic said.
The Memorial Cup travelled back to Kitchener the next day and the community welcomed the players home in celebration. The City of Kitchener hosted a Rangers Championship Parade on June 2, 2026.
Fans lined King St. to celebrate the occasion, with the procession ending at Carl Zehr Square for a rally celebration. Fans were given free hot dogs and commemorative Memorial Cup team posters.
In May, the Rangers swept Barrie to win the OHL Championship. Throughout 63 years in franchise history, the Rangers have only claimed a total of five league championships.
“It’s a special piece in the organizational history here,” Birch said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way that the players and the staff have all performed through through playoffs,” he said.
“The tremendous fan support that we’ve had from the community and the fans alike has just been really overwhelming,” Birch said.
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