All four divisions are represented in the five bids for the 2026 Memorial Cup.
On Monday, the CHL announced the five teams that have submitted bids for the 2026 Memorial Cup. The five teams are the Brandon Wheat Kings, Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs, who are all looking to host the historic tournament. Following the evaluation process, the winning bid is tentatively scheduled to be announced by the end of December 2024.
In the press release, Commissioner Dan Near wrote, "The WHL is excited to have five Clubs vying for the opportunity to host the 2026 Memorial Cup. The tremendous interest from our five Clubs is indicative of competitive balance on and off the ice within the WHL. Memorial Cups hosted by WHL Clubs are some of the most memorable and entertaining in recent memory and we are eager to deliver that same western hospitality once again in 2026. We look forward to the bid review process and wish the best of luck to the Brandon Wheat Kings, Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs."
Winning a Memorial Cup bid is great for the city and the team, as it guarantees a spot in the tournament. Last season, the tournament was hosted by the Saginaw Spirt, who left as champions for the first time in franchise history. The last WHL team to win the Memorial Cup was the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2014, defeating the Guelph Storm 6-3 in the Final.
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