Kitchener Rangers and Guelph Storm both finalists to host 2027 OHL Memorial Cup

The Guelph Storm and the Kitchener Rangers are going head-to-head to host the Memorial Cup. CTV’s Heather Senoran takes a look at their bids.

The fierce rivalry continues between the Kitchener Rangers and Guelph Storm but, this time, the Battle of Highway 7 is for the opportunity to host the 2027 Memorial Cup.

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced the two teams are finalists for the hosting job on Thursday morning.

The Memorial Cup is one of the most sought-after titles in the junior league. The first tournament was held in 1919 to honour those who had fought and died in the First World War. The Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League all vie for an opportunity to host the Memorial Cup, an event that attracts hockey fans from all across the country.

The team that hosts the Memorial Cup also plays in the tournament.

The winner will be chosen by a Site Selection Committee, made up of five people with sports experience.

The CHL told CTV News that the two cities were specifically chosen.

“Both have great facilities. They have very strong fanbases,” Carla Keller, CHL’s director of national events and league programs, said. “I think that was very attractive to the Site Selection Committee. And they have deep community roots as well as a long-standing history with the Memorial Cup.”

Both the Rangers and Storm will now have to submit a formal bid, in writing, which will be judged using four criteria: business operations, community engagement and atmosphere, event logistics and hockey operations. Following that, they will make a presentation to the committee. The members will then visit the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex and Sleeman Centre before choosing the host city.

That decision is expected to come in late November or early December.

Bidding for the Memorial Cup

The Guelph Storm announced their intention to pursue the 2027 Memorial Cup in June, which would coincide with the city’s 200th anniversary.

The team asked for a one-time grant of $600,000 if they successfully secured the tournament, plus a commitment of up to $100,000 for in-kind fees at the Sleeman Centre related to ice rental costs, licensing fees and facility staff requirements.

A report from city staff recommended the funds come from the Municipal Accommodation Tax Reserve (MAT) which, it noted, might not have enough money to cover the full cost of the request.

“The MAT reserve is projected to be $565,000 by the end of 2027,” the report said. “The request for $700,000 for financial investment and in-kind support would put the reserve into a deficit until the end of 2029. Committing to overspending on this reserve would prevent any other investment or funding program for other tourism projects from now to 2030.”

Council approved the funding at a meeting in July.

Kitchener, meanwhile, announced its plans to pursue a bid in August.

They previously hosted the tournament four times, in 1962, 1975, 1984 and 2008.

While the Storm have never won the Memorial Cup, the Rangers took the title in 1982 and 2003.

Both teams previously ruled out any plans to co-host the 2027 Memorial Cup.

Finalist reactions

Guelph Storm Staff said it is an honour to be a finalist.

“I mean, anytime you’re final two with 20 great teams in our league, it’s something to be proud of,” said Matt Newby, vice president of business operations for the Guelph Storm.

While the Storm have never won the Memorial Cup, staff believe hosting it would give them a leg up.

“There’s no doubt the home ice advantage is huge. I mean, we show in the playoffs when we look back at our playoff record year after year, we do a lot better on home ice because of the fan base, because of the engagement, because of just how loud it is,” said Newby.

The city’s mayor said Guelph is ready for a big event like this.

“I think our welcoming nature and our businesses and the things that people can explore when they come to our city, really will drive people to, to have a very good time,” said Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie.

The Kitchener Rangers said they’ve been planning for this for years.

“We have a tremendous hockey region and an incredible fan base. And our facilities are second to none,” said Rangers COO, Joe Birch.

He said it will be life-changing for the players who get the chance to play.

“For the players, who are most important people here, they get one shot at it in their careers and in most circumstances, from a community you get once every 20 years, it’s very, very difficult to be named the host,” said Birch.

Renovation work is underway at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, including improvements to player areas, officers and a new restaurant. The makeover will be ready sometime next year.

“When you add all of the energy, the excitement, the passion in this community for hockey, I think out of the two bids, in my view, it’s an obvious choice,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

Next year’s tournament will be hosted by the Kelowna Rockets, from the Western Hockey League (WHL), from May 21 to May 31.