Kitchener Rangers prepare to face Barrie Colts in OHL finals

Staff at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ont. installed a new J. Ross Robertson Cup banner ahead of the OHL finals. May 5, 2026. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

The Kitchener Rangers and Barrie Colts will be facing off in a best-of-seven series to decide who will be the 2026 Ontario Hockey League champions.

The Rangers’ faithful lined up to buy tickets at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Tuesday.

“We’re going to win the whole thing!” Jack Pigeau, a Kitchener Rangers fan since 1996, said.

The first two games will be held in Kitchener on Wednesday and Friday. Rangers’ head coach Jussi Ahokas is happy to have the home ice advantage.

“It has to be one of the best junior buildings in the whole world. Its atmosphere is unbelievable,” Ahokas said. “When we scored the overtime winner against Windsor and how loud the crowd was - it’s a very special moment and we’re really happy that we got the home ice advantage and we get to start at home.”

The Colts came out on top both times that they met up with the Rangers during the regular season, but they were close games. One win came in overtime while the second game came down to shootouts.

“They have a lot of momentum, but last year the Kitchener Rangers had the reverse sweep and then unfortunately bowed out to London the very next round,” Andrew Merrigan, a host of The AudPod, said. “It’ll be important for the Rangers to get ahead of them early and break the momentum.”