Guelph Storm chosen to host the 2027 Memorial Cup

Guelph won’t just be celebrating its bicentennial in 2027, they’ll also be hosting the Memorial Cup. CTV’s Krista Simpson reports.

The Guelph Storm have been selected to host the 2027 Memorial Cup.

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced its decision Thursday following a “competitive bidding process” that narrowed down the finalists to the Storm and Kitchener Rangers.

“The Storm put forward an outstanding bid that showcased not only their organizational strength, but also the passion, vision, and community spirit that make the Royal City such a special junior hockey market,” Dan MacKenzie, president of the CHL, said in a media release.

“The Storm have established themselves as one of the premier franchises in the Canadian Hockey League, with four OHL championships and an impressive group of distinguished alumni that have gone on to do great things both in the game of hockey and in professional life,” added OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford.

Officials with the Storm say they’re thrilled to have been selected.

“It’s an exciting day for our city, it’s an exciting day for our fans and obviously, a hugely exciting day for our team,” said Matt Newby, Guelph’s Vice President of business operations.“

The Storm have played in six Memorial Cups: 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2014 and 2019, but have never won.

The team also hosted the event in 2002 and co-hosted the 1962 championship alongside Kitchener and Hamilton.

With the host city guaranteed a spot, the players now know they will be among the final four teams vying for the trophy in 2027.

“You play to win a championship,” continued Newby. “Now you just have to build the team to compete. Not just to compete, but to win. It’s going to be exciting for every player involved.”

The championship also coincides with Guelph’s bicentennial, a celebration of the Ontario city’s founding in 1827.

“Hosting the Memorial Cup in 2027 is an incredible honour for our organization and our city,” said Scott Walker, president of hockey operations for the Storm. “This event is the pinnacle of junior hockey and bringing it to Guelph during our bicentennial year makes it even more special. We’re excited to showcase our passionate fans, our community, and the tradition of excellence that defines the Storm.”

“I am absolutely thrilled the Memorial Cup is coming to Guelph!” added Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie. “We’re ready to make this unforgettable event the centrepiece of Guelph’s bicentennial celebrations in 2027.”

The city intends to “create a festival-style atmosphere that brings people downtown and throughout the Royal City,” with “concerts, outdoor activations, community initiatives and family-friendly programming.”

“There’s not a lot of opportunity to celebrate 200 years for a city,” said Newby.

“It came out of COVID, it changed the bid cycle for the OHL, and all of a sudden everything lined up.”

The CHL’s decision was made by a site selection committee that looked at Kitchener and Guelph’s business operations, community engagement and atmosphere, event logistics and hockey operations. They also visited the Sleeman Centre in Guelph and the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex (Aud).

Carla Keller, CHL’s Director of National Events and League Programs said the Guelph bid painted a picture of how the Memorial Cup would be celebrated throughout the community, as part of its bicentennial events.

“They really showcased that and really sold the story and the storylines of why Guelph is great, not only inside the arena, but outside of the arena,” says Keller.

The Memorial Cup will be held in spring 2027, but the exact dates have yet to be confirmed.

The Storm announced their intention to pursue a Memorial Cup bid in June and asked the city for a one-time grant of $600,000 if they secured the tournament, plus $100,000 in-kind fees for the Sleeman Centre to cover ice rental costs, licensing fees and facility staff. A report from city staff noted that the funds could be pulled from the Municipal Accommodation Tax Reserve (MAT), but doing so would put the city in a deficit until 2029.

The grant was approved by council in July.

Whatever the outcome of the tournament, the city is considered the real winner in an economic sense.

The CHL estimates hosting a Memorial Cup can bring 12 to 21 million dollars to the community.