SPOKANE, Wash. — The Canadian Hockey League announced on Wednesday that the Spokane Chiefs bid for the Memorial Cup fell short. The Canadian Hockey League says the tournament will be hosted by Kelowna.
The Memorial Cup is considered the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League.
The tournament will be played over 10 days in May 2026 and would include extensive media coverage including both in the United States and Canada.
When Spokane put their bid in to host, Chiefs officials said, “The Memorial Cup would have an estimated economic impact as significant as any sporting event that the community has ever hosted through an influx of visitors and exposure.”
The Canadian Hockey League consists of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and the tournament rotates leagues each season.
Since Kelowna was chosen to host the Memorial Cup, the Rockets will receive an automatic bid to play in the tournament.
Spokane and Kelowna were two of five Western Hockey League franchises in the running to host the Memorial Cup.
“We are excited to be heading to Kelowna for the 2026 Memorial Cup,” said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. “With the largest number of CHL teams seeking to host a Memorial Cup in more than 15 years, the selection process for the 2026 tournament was incredibly competitive given the strong bids put forth by all five bidding clubs, including the Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs. I’d like to express my gratitude to these four finalists for all the work they put into creating outstanding bids. We look forward to working alongside the Kelowna Rockets and the City of Kelowna to make the 106th edition of the Memorial Cup a once-in-a-lifetime experience for both fans and players alike.”
