The Kelowna Rockets lost their chance to host the Memorial Cup in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They get another shot with a few rising stars, including Tij Iginla.

The CHL named Kelowna, B.C., hosts of the 2026 Memorial Cup, giving them a new chance at hosting some of the best players and teams in major junior hockey after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled their last shot.

Kelowna was one of five bids to host the Memorial Cup, with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs all submitting formal bids for the event. The five teams that bid on the event were the most since 2009.

Those franchises made formal pitches to the selection committee, which includes The Hockey News publisher-owner W. Graeme Roustan, NHL senior-executive VP of hockey operations Colin Campbell, Aaron Fox of McDougall Gauley, Kalli Quinn of KAQ Event Consulting and Paul Graham of TSN. They evaluated the bids based on business operations, local atmosphere and engagement, event logistics and hockey operations.

“It was an honor and a privilege to be asked to serve with the other members of the selection committee to evaluate and select the winning host city for the 2025 Memorial Cup,” Roustan said in a statement. “It was a very difficult task due to the quality of all the bidders.”

The five-club pool seemed to be a two-horse race between Kelowna and Medicine Hat as the announcement drew near, Medicine Hat leaning on the fact that they have superstar young talent Gavin McKenna. 

Ultimately, Kelowna won the bid and will host the annual CHL tournament of champions in the spring of 2026, with a couple of rising youngsters in the fold.

Will They Have A Roster Of Champions?

Kelowna will look to build around Utah Hockey Club prospect Tij Iginla, one of the NHL's most exciting prospects. 

Iginla will be looking to capture the Memorial Cup and follow the footsteps of his father, Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla. His father helped the Kamloops Blazers capture two Memorial Cups in his junior career before jumping to the NHL.

Along with Iginla, Kelowna will be looking to feature Hiroki Gojsic, a 2024 third-round pick by the Nashville Predators, and young players, such as Hiroki’s younger brother Kanjyu Gojsic, WHL rookie Levi Benson and defenseman Jackson Gillespie.

Unfortunately for Kelowna, star WHL players Andrew Cristall, Caden Price and Jakub Stancl will all be unlikely to return as they enter their age-20 seasons. Although they are eligible to return for overage seasons, at least a couple of them will likely find their way onto NHL or AHL rosters next fall. 

Cristall, the WHL’s most productive player over the last three seasons, almost made the Washington Capitals' roster this year out of training camp. He has a whopping 40 points in 15 games this season. 

This means the Rockets must bolster their lineup over the next year, so look for them to be busy making moves for the 2026 season, when they will be looking to capture their second Memorial Cup on home ice. 

A Familiar Sight

The Kelowna Rockets have a rich history when it comes to the Memorial Cup, appearing in the tournament five times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2015), hosting the event in 2004 and winning the WHL’s Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions the other four times. Their only Memorial Cup win came on home ice in the 2004 tournament.

While Kelowna was awarded hosting duties for the 2020 Memorial Cup, the COVID-19 pandemic halted those plans. The CHL cancelled the 2021 Memorial Cup as well, which would have either been in Oshawa or Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

The City of Kelowna recently committed to making a number of upgrades to Prospera Place, including the installation of a brand-new scoreboard, improved lighting and sound systems, and a dedicated press box, among other things, to help improve the experience of fans, media, and other visitors to the home arena of the Kelowna Rockets.

The Memorial Cup will be awarded in Rimouski, Que., this spring before it makes its way west to Kelowna next year. 

As always, the host team will be joined by the champions from the OHL, WHL and QMJHL. If Kelowna were to capture the WHL title next season, the team they beat in the final would join the group representing the WHL. 

The 2026 Memorial Cup will be the 106th edition of the tournament, making it one of the longest-fought-for and most coveted trophies in sports.

Disclaimer: W. Graeme Roustan, owner and publisher of The Hockey News, was on the Memorial Cup selection committee.

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