Kitchener to Celebrate Rangers’ Championship Season with Community Rally Ahead of Memorial Cup

Kitchener, ON – The City of Kitchener is inviting residents, fans, and community members to gather in  Carl Zehr Square at Kitchener City Hall this Tuesday, May 19, at 5:00 p.m. for a special Rangers Rally as the community sends off the Kitchener Rangers ahead of their journey to Kelowna for the 2026 Memorial Cup (May 21-31).

The Rangers recently captured the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Championship and the prestigious J. Ross Robertson Cup, earning their place at the 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna. This marks the team’s fifth appearance at the national championship, and it’s first since 2008.

"This is an exciting and proud moment for our city,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “The Kitchener Rangers have brought our community together with their incredible championship run, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements and sending them off to the Memorial Cup with the full support of their fans from Kitchener and beyond firmly behind them."

The community rally will bring fans together to honour the players, coaches, and staff who have delivered an unforgettable season, and to send the team off with pride and strong community support as they prepare to compete on Canada’s biggest junior hockey stage.

"Our players and staff have worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone, and the support from our fans and the community has meant everything to us,” said Kitchener Rangers chief operating officer Joe Birch. “We’re thrilled to celebrate this moment together and carry that energy with us as we represent Kitchener on the national stage."

The event will kick off with a high-energy musical performance by the Golden Keys, followed by a formal introduction of Kitchener Rangers players and staff. Attendees are encouraged to wear Rangers colours and take part in this exciting celebration of local hockey excellence.

The rally will wrap at approximately 6:30 p.m., with attendees encouraged to continue the celebration by supporting local downtown businesses and restaurants.

As the Kitchener Rangers and Kitchener Events look ahead to the games taking place during the actual Memorial Cup tournament, with the 9 p.m. start (Kitchener time) of the games, local fans are encouraged to gather together for local watch parties at one of the many restaurants found in neighbourhoods throughout our community to cheer the Rangers on to victory.  Any further news about possible additional co-hosted events later in the tournament will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

For more information about this event, visit Kitchenerevents.ca.

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For more information:   
Corporate Communications & Marketing  
City of Kitchener    
media@kitchener.ca