Olympic silver medallist and Walter Cup champion Kati Tabin is heading home.

The Springfield Minor Hockey Association announced it will host a community celebration for the Oakbank native on Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to noon at Oakbank One Insurance Arena, giving local fans an opportunity to celebrate one of Manitoba's newest hockey champions.

The event will begin with a presentation hosted by Ace Burpee, followed by remarks from Tabin before fans have the opportunity to meet the veteran defenceman, view both her Olympic silver medal and the Walter Cup, and take part in autograph and photo sessions.

Tabin helped Canada capture a silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics before adding another championship to her résumé this spring as a member of the PWHL champion Montreal Victoire. She became the first Oakbank native to win the Walter Cup, adding another milestone to a career that has already included multiple appearances with Canada's national team. 

The celebration continues a recent tradition of Oakbank recognizing its hockey heroes. Just a few years ago, Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden brought the Stanley Cup back to his hometown after helping the club capture the 2023 championship.

The connection runs even deeper, as Tabin and Howden were teammates during their minor hockey days, skating together on the same Springfield Minor Hockey team before each embarked on paths that eventually led to hockey's biggest stages.

Now, Oakbank will have the opportunity to celebrate another hometown champion.

For young players growing up in Springfield Minor Hockey, the event offers a chance to meet someone who once laced up skates in the same community before reaching the Olympic podium and helping lift the Walter Cup. Fans attending the celebration are asked to limit autograph requests to two items per person.