There have been plenty of debates over the years surrounding whether the host team should get an automatic bye into the tournament.

Sometimes, the decision works out well, like in 2024, when Saginaw lifted the trophy at home, while other times the host struggles.

In 2026, it was the latter, as Kelowna finished the tournament having been outscored 12-2.

The Rockets' two goals scored are tied for the lowest goal total by a team at the Memorial Cup. They share that record with the 1998 Guelph Storm, which were also outscored 12-2. The biggest difference between these two teams is that the Storm were only shut out once, while the Rockets failed to find the back of the net in two of their three games. 

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