23 years later, the drought is finally over. The Kitchener Rangers have won the 2026 Memorial Cup, fending off the WHL Champion Everett Silvertips 6-2. This marks their third Memorial Cup in franchise history, adding onto triumphs in 1982 and 2003. The Rangers went 20-2 across their dominant playoff run, last losing over a month ago in Game 3 of the OHL Western Conference final against the Windsor Spitfire. Sam O’Reilly won the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the Memorial Cup. He becomes the fourth player in CHL history to win all three MVP titles in the same season, first achieved by Brad Richards in 2000, Corey Perry in 2005, and Mitch Marner in 2016. Jack Pridham took home the Ed Chynoweth Trophy, awarded to the player with the most points in the tournament, winning with 9 points. Pridham’s name stayed in the headlines Monday morning, after being traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2027 third round pick. Christian Kirsch captured the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy, awarded to the tournament’s best Goaltender. Everett’s Matias Vanhanen won the George Parsons Trophy, given out to the most sportsmanlike player across the tournament. Four Rangers made the Memorial Cup all-star team, which is comprised of the following players: (G) Christian Kirsch, (D) Cameron Reid, Everett’s (D) Landon DuPont and (F) Matias Vanhanen, (F) Jack Pridham and (F) Sam O’Reilly. The Blueshirts struck first with a goal from Luke Ellinas, which was quickly answered by the Silvertips’ Matias Vanhanen. Dylan Edwards scored later on in the period to make it 2-1 going into the first intermission. Everett tied the game at two apiece to start the second, only for the goal to be disallowed due to a batting motion. Jared Woolley would prove to be the only goalscorer in the second, giving Kitchener a 3-1 lead heading into the final frame. Jack Pridham kicked off the third with a goal of his own, before Sam O’Reilly added a fifth. Carter Bear clawed one back shortly after to make it 5-2. Christian Humphreys ended it off with an empty netter to seal the deal at 6-2. Christian Kirsch had 30 saves in the win. ‘Unlike anything we have seen in recent years’ Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic extended his congratulations to the team after they captured the championship title. “This season, and its subsequent play-off rounds, has brought an energy and excitement to our community unlike anything we have seen in recent years,” a statement read in part. “From the Rangers amazing players, their coaches, training personnel and front office team; to the community ownership group, its board of directors and the Rangers Nation sponsors and fans, our community was overtaken in recent weeks by Ranger-fever! Throughout this run, our community has stood squarely behind this team, painting the city in Rangers blue and cheering with unmatched passion. Rarely would a day go by in recent weeks, where folks weren’t talking about the Rangers and the amazing journey the team found themselves on.” “Bringing junior hockey’s ultimate prize home to Kitchener after a hiatus since 2003 is an achievement our community will cherish for years to come.” The Rangers will receive their downtown Kitchener coronation on Tuesday, which will kick off at 6 p.m. Free hot dogs will be given out to the first 2,000 fans at the celebration. The event will commence with a parade beginning in downtown Kitchener at King and Queen Streets, and will proceed to city hall where a Memorial Cup Championship celebration will take place featuring player appearances, speeches, and live music by the Golden Keys. Anyone arriving for the parade after 4 p.m. will be able to park for free at the City Hall, Duke and Ontario, and Charles and Benton parking garages as well as the surface lots surrounding Kitchener City Hall. The Memorial Cup has touched down in Kitchener Celebrations were short-lived in Kelowna, as the Rangers have left the partying for Kitchener. The Memorial Cup Champions arrived back home at the Region of Waterloo International Airport early Monday morning, flaunting the trophy as they walked off the plane. They then made their way to the Aud, where fans showed up in droves to be with their championship winning team.
