Community ownership
Junior clubs are often the biggest show in town. Volunteers, billet families, local businesses and minor hockey programs all orbit the team, which gives games a neighbourly, invested atmosphere.
Independent Canadian hockey travel guide
Memorial Cup Getaway — Experience Canada's Junior Hockey Tradition
The Memorial Cup has crowned the champion of Canadian major junior hockey since 1919. This independent guide explains how the championship works, where it travels, what makes its history meaningful and how fans can plan a trip to a host city with care.
We are an informational publication only — not a ticket seller, travel agency or prize promoter, and not an official CHL website.
Welcome
Welcome to Memorial Cup Getaway
Every spring, after months of regular-season grind and weeks of playoff hockey across three leagues, four teams arrive in one community to play for a trophy that predates most of the modern game. Memorial Cup Getaway exists to help fans understand that moment — and to plan around it sensibly.
Here you will find plain-language explanations of the championship format, a respectful look at the trophy's origins as a war memorial, profiles of recent and upcoming host communities, and practical travel guidance that always points you back to the people who actually run the event. We write for the long-time season-ticket holder and the first-time visitor alike.
What you will not find here: ticket sales, getaway sweepstakes, prize claims, hotel packages or anything that asks you for payment. If a site claiming to be connected with us ever asks for money, it is not us.
How we handle facts
Tournament dates, host announcements and results on this site are checked against Canadian Hockey League releases and reputable Canadian news coverage. When something has not been officially confirmed, we say so plainly and send you to CHL.ca rather than guessing.
The championship
Understanding the Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is the championship of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the umbrella organization for the country's three major junior leagues. In its current format, four clubs meet in a single host city for a round-robin tournament that ends with one champion.
First awarded
1919
A trophy born of remembrance
Created in memory of those who served and died in the First World War, and rededicated in 2010 to honour all fallen Canadian military personnel.
Format
Four teams, one host, one trophy
The champions of the Ontario Hockey League, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League are joined by a host club. After a round robin, the top team advances straight to the final, while the second- and third-place teams meet in a semifinal.
2026 edition
106th
Played in Kelowna, B.C., in May 2026.
2027 edition
107th
Awarded to Guelph, Ont., in the city's bicentennial year.
Why it matters beyond the scoreboard
Major junior hockey is where many future professionals develop, but it is also deeply local. Clubs are woven into their communities, players billet with host families, and arenas double as civic gathering places. The Memorial Cup brings all of that together for roughly ten days. Read the full Memorial Cup overview →
The appeal
Why Junior Hockey Inspires Fans
There is something particular about watching players aged roughly 16 to 20 compete for a national junior title. The stakes are real, the careers are just beginning and the connection to home communities is unusually close.
Speed and urgency
Junior rosters turn over constantly as players age out or move on, so every season is a short window. That urgency shows up in the pace and emotion of championship games.
Careers in the making
Fans enjoy saying they saw a future professional before the rest of the hockey world caught on. The CHL has long been a major development pathway for the sport's top levels.
Destinations
Discover Championship Host Cities
The tournament moves every year, rotating among the regions of the three member leagues. The two editions that matter most to travellers right now are the most recent one in British Columbia and the next one in Ontario.
Completed · 2026
Kelowna, British Columbia
The Kelowna Rockets of the WHL hosted the 106th Memorial Cup at Prospera Place, the club's second time as host after its title-winning 2004 tournament on home ice.
Read the Kelowna profile
Announced · 2027
Guelph, Ontario
The Guelph Storm of the OHL will host the 107th Memorial Cup at the Sleeman Centre, timed with the 200th anniversary of the city's founding.
Read the Guelph profilePlan smart
Hockey Travel Planning Essentials
Good hockey travel starts with verified information and stays flexible. Here is the simple order of operations we recommend before committing money to any trip.
Confirm the dates
Use the CHL's own announcements, not social posts or resale listings.
Find official tickets
Follow the links published by the CHL and the host club only.
Book flexibly
Choose refundable rooms and fares where you can, as your team's run is never guaranteed.
Prepare on site
Check venue policies, transit and weather in the week before you go.
| Year | Host city | Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kelowna, B.C. | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 2025 | Rimouski, Que. | London Knights (OHL) |
| 2024 | Saginaw, Mich. | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) |
| 2023 | Kamloops, B.C. | Québec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 2022 | Saint John, N.B. | Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) |
No tournament was held in 2020 or 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heritage
Championship History Highlights
The first Memorial Cup was awarded in 1919. For decades it was decided by a series between the best junior teams of eastern and western Canada before the modern tournament era began in 1972, when the champions of the three major junior leagues started meeting in one location. A host team joined the field in 1983, creating the four-team event fans know today.
Recent years have produced memorable stories: hosts winning on home ice, American-based clubs lifting the trophy, and in 2026 the Kitchener Rangers completing a perfect run in Kelowna for the franchise's third championship.
Explore the full historyTravel with care
Responsible Event Travel
Big events strain small cities. Rooms fill quickly, restaurants get busy and local roads carry more traffic than usual. Responsible fans book early but flexibly, respect neighbourhoods around the arena, use transit or shared rides where possible and never drive after drinking.
Be especially cautious with offers that look too good: "getaway" giveaways, discounted all-inclusive packages from unknown sellers, or requests to pay deposits by e-transfer or gift card. Buy tickets only through channels the CHL or host club publishes, and book travel directly with established airlines, rail operators and accommodation providers.
Quick answers
Frequently Asked Questions Preview
Is Memorial Cup Getaway an official CHL website?
No. This is an independent informational website. It is not owned, sponsored, endorsed or operated by the Canadian Hockey League, its leagues or its clubs.
Can I buy Memorial Cup tickets here?
No. We do not sell, reserve or resell tickets. Use the ticket information published by the CHL and the host club.
Where will the next Memorial Cup be played?
The CHL has selected the Guelph Storm to host the 2027 Memorial Cup at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ontario. Check CHL.ca for the confirmed schedule.
Your next step
Start with the story, then plan the trip.
Learn how the Memorial Cup works, get to know its host communities, and build a flexible travel plan around verified information.