Rimouski Océanic to host 2025 Memorial Cup

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) has announced that Rimouski, Quebec, will host the 105th edition of the Memorial Cup slated in 2025. They are home to the Rimouski Océanic of the Québec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

The announcement comes just two months after Rimouski and Shawinigan submitted their intent to bid for the tournament

The 2025 Memorial Cup will mark the return of this event to the province of Québec for what will be the first time in 10 years.

“We are very excited to be coming back to Québec, in the city of Rimouski for the 105th edition of the Memorial Cup,” said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL in a statement. “I want to express my gratitude for the work and time dedicated by our selection committee, who were presented with two very strong bids. I’d like to thank the Shawinigan Cataractes for putting forward an outstanding bid and making the decision by the committee extremely difficult. On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League, we are looking forward to working with the Océanic organization and the city of Rimouski to put together what will be a memorable event in 2025.”

The selection committee was comprised of sports leaders from across the industry including Colin Campbell (NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations), France Margaret Bélanger (President, Groupe CH), Neil Glasberg (President & CEO, Pinnacle Business Inc.), Donald Beauchamp (Special Consultant, TACT) and Charles Perreault (General Manager, RDS).

Rimouski previously hosted the Memorial Cup tournament for the first time back in 2009. In 2000, captain Jonathan Beaulieu and two-time Stanley Cup champ Brad Richards helped the Oceanic win their first and only Memorial Cup title. That Océanic club would later be voted as one of four finalists for CHL Team of the Century in 2018. The Océanic also had an appearance in the 2005 Memorial Cup which featured Sidney Crosby.

“It is with a tremendous amount of pride and humility that we welcome today’s news. It will be an honour to host the world of hockey in Rimouski in 2025 and to showcase our region throughout Canada and the United States,” said Alexandre Tanguay, co-owner of the Rimouski Océanic. “I want to thank the selection committee for their trust and, at the same time, I want to congratulate the Shawinigan Cataractes organization for their bid. Now, the real work begins for us to ensure the event lives up to expectations. We’d like to extend a special thanks to our fans, the best junior hockey fans in the country. We all look forward to welcoming you to our land of champions in May 2025.”

The 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow will be held in Saginaw, Michigan from May 23 to June 2. The most recent Memorial Cup occurred last June in Kamloops, B.C., and saw the Québec Remparts defeat the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL 5-0 in the final.