The Memorial Cup is coming back to Southwestern Ontario in 2027.
The Canadian Hockey League announced Thursday that the Guelph Storm and Kitchener Rangers are finalists to host the 2027 tournament. A final decision on the host will be made late in 2025 after the two organizations submit more detailed applications and the selection committee completes site visits.
“The Memorial Cup is the toughest trophy to win in amateur sport, and few markets reflect the history and passion for junior hockey more than Guelph and Kitchener,” CHL president Dan MacKenzie said in a press release. “Both communities are defined by devoted fan bases and a deep-rooted tradition in our game, and each has played an important role in shaping junior hockey’s history. The Memorial Cup continues to be a celebration of hockey excellence, community spirit, and national pride, and we are confident that either city would provide a fitting and exceptional stage for the 2027 tournament.”
The Rangers have previously hosted the tournament at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium four times (1962, 1975, 1984 and 2008) and won the tournament in 1982 and 2003. The Storm hosted in 2002 and have competed in the tournament six times (1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2014 and 2019).
The Memorial Cup is a four-team tournament at the end of the CHL season featuring the champions from the OHL, WHL and QMJHL. The host team gets an automatic entry into the tournament.
The Saginaw Spirit were the last OHL organization to host the tournament, which they did in 2024. The WHL’s Kelowna Rockets will serve as host for this upcoming season.
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