Kitchener Rangers win 2026 Memorial Cup

Kitchener Rangers players celebrate their win of the Memorial Cup over the Everett Silvertips, in Kelowna, B.C., on Sunday, May 31, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

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 their 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.

The Blueshirts struck first with a goal from Luke Ellinas, which was quickly answered by the Silvertips’ Matias Varhanen. 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.

The Rangers will receive their King Street coronation in the coming days, with an official parade yet to be announced.