Fresh off a Memorial Cup championship and one of the most decorated seasons in Kitchener Rangers history, forward Jack Pridham is heading to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Pridham announced Saturday he has committed to the University of Denver and the Denver Pioneers for the 2026-27 season, bringing his Ontario Hockey League career to a close after helping lead the Rangers to a Memorial Cup title. The 20-year-old overage forward capped off his junior career by earning the Ed Chynoweth Trophy as the Memorial Cup’s leading scorer while helping Kitchener capture its third Memorial Cup championship in franchise history. The Stouffville, Ont., native was among the OHL’s most productive players during the 2025-26 season, finishing fifth in league scoring with 90 points and second in goals with 46. Both totals led the Rangers during the regular season. Pridham continued his strong play in the postseason, recording 17 points — including 15 assists — in 18 playoff games as Kitchener posted a dominant 16-2 record en route to its fifth OHL championship. Since joining the Rangers from the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors, Pridham appeared in 113 regular-season games, scoring 73 goals and adding 71 assists for 144 points. His standout final season was recognized with the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the OHL’s top overage player. The honour marked the third consecutive year a Rangers player has won the award, following Matthew Sop in 2024 and Jackson Parsons in 2025. Pridham was also named an OHL Third-Team All-Star, earning the first all-star selection of his junior career. His future professional prospects remain bright. On June 1, his NHL rights were traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, extending the club’s exclusive signing window by two years. Pridham was originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round, 92nd overall, of the 2024 NHL Draft. At Denver, Pridham joins one of the premier programs in NCAA Division I hockey. Led by head coach David Carle, the Pioneers have captured two national championships in the past three seasons, winning Frozen Four titles in 2024 and 2026.
