Reflecting on Memorial Cup
'It was a great success' - MC Co-Chair Steve Thomson
The 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna is officially in the books, and for one of its co-chairs, the lasting impression isn't just about hockey, it's about community, pride, and proof of what a city can do when it comes together.Steve Thomson helped lead the local organizing effort alongside David Rush, guiding the tournamen...
Jun 04, 2026
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RocketFAN speaks with Dan MacKenzie
CHL president says Kelowna delivered on national stage
The 2026 Memorial Cup came to an end Sunday night at Prospera Place with the Kitchener Rangers skating away with a convincing 6-2 victory over the Western Hockey League champion Everett Silvertips.As the Rangers celebrated a national championship and players took turns lifting the Memorial Cup, Canadian Hockey League p...
Jun 01, 2026
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RocketFAN
Richard Doerksen still loves the journey
The man who never misses the Memorial Cup
The banners change. The logos change. The players get younger. But somehow, every spring, Richard Doerksen ends up back at the Memorial Cup. The Western Hockey League's Vice President of Hockey has spent 48 years working in the league. He has attended 45 Memorial Cups, a number that places him in a category of his own....
May 30, 2026
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Get to know anthem singer Ashley Klimpke
Singing it, and bringing it
While the players battle for the hardest trophy in hockey to win, Kelowna's Ashley Klimpke has quietly faced her own challenge at the 2026 Memorial Cup. Four teams arrived in the Okanagan knowing they would have to perform at their absolute peak if they wanted to survive the grind of junior hockey's ultimate tournament...
May 29, 2026
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From Kelowna kid to Memorial Cup ice master
An ice nerd's dream: Wayne Pansegrau back where it all began
The crowd sees the goals. The players feel the pressure. The coaches obsess over matchups.But few people spend more time thinking about the Memorial Cup than the man staring at the ice with a temperature gun in his hand.For Wayne Pansegrau, hockey's biggest junior tournament isn't just about who wins. It's about making...
May 29, 2026
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