KELOWNA, BC – After going a perfect 4-0 throughout the entire tournament, the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Everett Silvertips by a score of 6-2 to capture the 2026 Memorial Cup. Gabe Chiarot is the first Vancouver Canucks drafted prospect to win the Memorial Cup since Olli Juolevi did in 2016. Other notable Canucks to win Canada’s top junior hockey tournament are Stan Smyl and Trevor Linden.
There were some jitters on both sides, as is to be expected for these players who are potentially about to play in the biggest hockey game of their careers. The Silvertips looked to have a bit more jump out of the gate. However, as they have in every game of this tournament, the Rangers got the scoring going when Luke Ellinas tipped home an Alexander Belicki shot-pass at the net front.
The Rangers waste no time getting on the board, scoring the opening goal of the #MemorialCup! 🏒🚨🙌
Less than 30 seconds later, projected first overall pick of the 2027 NHL Draft, Landon DuPont, fired a pass off the pads of Christian Kirsch right to Matias Vanhanen for his fourth goal of the tournament.
The Everett Silvertips answer right back, tying the game almost immediately after Kitchener opened the scoring in the #MemorialCup!
Later in the period, the Silvertips got caught pinching, allowing Sam O’Reilly enough ice to feather a pass to the open ice for Dylan Edwards to skate on to. He goes forehand backhand on the breakaway to regain the Rangers’ lead.
The Kitchener Rangers waste no time responding, scoring their second goal of the game to retake the lead in the #MemorialCup!
Early in the second period, the Silvertips thought they tied up the game after a chaotic sequence at the net front saw Zackary Schantz get enough on it to flutter it across the goal line. However, after review, it was deemed that Schantz batted the puck in with his arm/hand and the call was reversed.
The Rangers were in control for most of the second period, and a shift late in the frame saw them with a fury of chances. It was only a matter of time before they found the insurance marker, and they did. Jared Woolley received a pass from Haeden Ellis and wired the puck far side on Miller to put the Rangers up by two.
Top shelf, bar down for Kitchener! 🏒🚨
The Rangers continue their strong second period, extending the lead with a highlight-reel goal! #MemorialCup
The score would remain 3-1 heading into the second intermission. However, a pair of Silvertips penalties late in the second gave the Rangers a five-on-three to start the third period. Quick goals from Jack Pridham and Sam O’Reilly would extend the Rangers’ lead to four goals.
The Rangers capitalize on the two-man advantage, scoring on the 5-on-3 to open up a three-goal lead in the third! 🏒🔥🚨 #MemorialCup
The Rangers cash in again on the power play, pushing the score to 5–1 in the #MemorialCup
The Silvertips found their second goal of the game two minutes later, but that would be as close as they came. Everett pushed hard in the third period, but Kitchener did a good job of clogging the middle of the ice.
The Silvertips get one back in the third, cutting into Kitchener’s lead and making it 5–2! 🏒🔥🚨 #MemorialCup
Christian Humphreys put the game away with a minute and a half remaining when he sent the puck into the empty net. 6-2 Kitchener final.
Chiarot did not factor much into this game. He began the contest in his usual spot on the top line with Edwards and O’Reilly, but found himself shuffled down the lineup as the game went on. The Canucks product did not hit the scoresheet, but finished with an even rating and one shot on goal.
The Canucks draft pick shared postgame that he and the rest of his Rangers teammates did not have any nerves coming into tonight’s Memorial Cup final:
“I mean, not really,” Chiarot told CanucksArmy. Pressure is a privilege, is what our coach likes to say. Obviously, we dealt with that early in the year and in the OHL playoffs, but there was no doubt in our minds that we were the best team in this tournament.”