Kitchener Rangers, Guelph Storm named finalists to host 2027 Memorial Cup
The Canadian Hockey League has announced that the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and Guelph Storm have been named finalists to host the 2027 Memorial Cup.
The final decision will come sometime between November and December of 2025 after both teams submit their formal written bids.
As first reported by Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek, the two teams were joined by the Kingston Frontenacs and Niagara IceDogs in the initial bidding process. The tournament is set to be hosted by the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets in 2026 after taking place in Rimouski this past spring.
The last OHL team to host the Memorial Cup was the Saginaw Spirit in 2024, who defeated the OHL champion London Knights in the final. The Rangers have won the top CHL title twice, taking home the Memorial Cup in 1982 and 2003. The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium has hosted the tournament four times, with the most recent example coming in 2008. Guelph hosted the tournament in 2002 and has participated six times, including in 2019.
“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,” CHL president Dan McKenzie said in a league statement. “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 recently held a major event at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in 2022, with Shane Wright among the top participants in the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
The Storm recently drafted Jaakko Wycisk – one of the top 2009-born forwards – with the second overall pick at the 2025 OHL Draft. Wysick could become a huge piece of the team in Guelph’s pursuit of a national title in two years’ time. The Rangers, meanwhile, selected Kane Barch – the son of former NHLer Krys Barch – with the 22nd pick in 2025. Barch is committed to the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, but could elect to forgo his final year with the team in favor of chasing the Memorial Cup if the team were to win the bid.
The Memorial Cup is made up of the CHL’s three championship teams. If the host team also wins its league title, the other OHL finalist would also earn a berth in the week-long prospect showcase.