Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL

By Regan Bartel

Kelowna officially bids for 2026

Five fight for the right to host Memorial Cup

Sep 23, 2024 | 8:31 AM

CHL Press Release:

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today that five Western Hockey League (WHL) clubs – the Kelowna Rockets, Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs – have officially submitted their formal written bids in an effort to secure the hosting rights for the 2026 Memorial Cup.

The five WHL clubs vying to host the 2026 Memorial Cup represent the largest number of CHL teams bidding for this event since six Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) franchises sought to host the 2009 Memorial Cup. 

All five franchises from the WHL were required to submit their bid documents ahead of last Friday’s deadline.

They will now be asked to formally present their bid before a selection committee in the weeks to come.

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Each of the bids will be evaluated based on four categories: business operations, local atmosphere/community engagement, event logistics, and hockey operations. Following the evaluation process, the winning bid is tentatively scheduled to be announced by the end of December 2024. 

“We are excited to have received bids from five outstanding WHL franchises to host this event in 2026,” said President of the CHL Dan MacKenzie. “Featuring the best junior hockey teams in the world, the Memorial Cup is a world-class event that provides a host city with a unique opportunity to both showcase its community and create an impactful legacy that can be felt for years after the event. With five bidding WHL cities, it is clear the interest is high in hosting this one-of-a-kind tournament and we can’t wait to identify which WHL team will have that privilege in 2026.”

In 2026, a WHL host club will be one of four teams to participate in the 106th edition of the Memorial Cup alongside the playoff champion from each of the WHL, Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and QMJHL. Of the five clubs bidding for the 2026 Memorial Cup, both the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers are looking to host this event for the first time in franchise history, while the Spokane Chiefs (1998), Kelowna Rockets (2004), and Brandon Wheat Kings (2010) are all aiming to do it again.

“The WHL is excited to have five Clubs vying for the opportunity to host the 2026 Memorial Cup,” added WHL Commissioner Dan Near. “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.”

Kelowna won the bid to host in 2020, but the tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic.

“We are thrilled to have officially submitted our bid for the 2026 Memorial Cup,” Co-Chair David Rush said about the Kelowna bid. “This is a momentous opportunity for our community, and we are excited to showcase Kelowna’s passion for hockey, our world-class facilities, and the incredible spirit of our city.

“We believe this event will not only celebrate the sport but also leave a lasting legacy.”