Kelowna Rockets awarded 2026 Memorial Cup

The Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Kelowna Rockets have been awarded the 2026 Memorial Cup.

The Rockets were among five teams that submitted bids including the Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs. 

“We are excited to be heading to Kelowna for the 2026 Memorial Cup,” said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. 

“With the largest number of CHL teams seeking to host a Memorial Cup in more than 15 years, the selection process for the 2026 tournament was incredibly competitive given the strong bids put forth by all five bidding clubs, including the Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs,” said MacKenzie. “I’d like to express my gratitude to these four finalists for all the work they put into creating outstanding bids. We look forward to working alongside the Kelowna Rockets and the City of Kelowna to make the 106th edition of the Memorial Cup a once-in-a-lifetime experience for both fans and players alike.”

“Congratulations to the Kelowna Rockets and the City of Kelowna, led by Bruce Hamilton, Mayor Tom Dyas, David Rush, and Steve Thomson, on successfully bringing the 2026 Memorial Cup to Kelowna,” commented WHL Commissioner Dan Near.”

This will be the second time in Rockets franchise history that the club has hosted the Memorial Cup. The Rockets hosted and won the 2004 Memorial Cup with a roster that boasted future NHLers such as 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Shea Weber and 13-year NHL veteran Josh Gorges.

Kelowna’s roster is currently led by Utah Hockey Club prospect Tij Iginla, Nashville Predators prospect Andrew Cristall, and Seattle Kraken prospect Caden Price.

The Rockets have won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions of the WHL four times and have played in the Memorial Cup tournament on five separate occasions, most recently in 2015 when Josh Morrissey and Leon Draisaitl commanded the team.