Press Release: Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, City of Kitchener, June 1, 2026
On behalf of City Council and the residents of Kitchener, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Kitchener Rangers on their momentous 2026 Memorial Cup Championship victory. We are so immensely proud of this team!
Last night’s win, the 3rd in Kitchener Rangers franchise history, is an unforgettable and historic moment for our city, and this team, with its unique community-ownership model!
This season, and its subsequent play-off rounds, has brought an energy and excitement to our community unlike anything we have seen in recent years.
From the Rangers’ amazing players, their coaches, training personnel, and front office team; to the community ownership group, its board of directors, and the Rangers Nation sponsors and fans, our community was overtaken in recent weeks by Ranger-fever!
Throughout this run, our community has stood squarely behind this team, painting the city in Rangers blue and cheering with unmatched passion.
Rarely would a day go by in recent weeks, where folks weren’t talking about the Rangers and the amazing journey the team found themselves on.
Yesterday’s monumental victory is a testament to the hard work, grit, and incredible talent of all our players – led by captain Cameron Reid. Their collective passion, determination, resilience and teamwork, exhibited throughout the 2025-26 season, will be looked upon as the secret to this team’s success!
Of course, an achievement like this also requires vision and dedication at every level. I also want to extend our deepest gratitude to COO Joe Birch, General Manager Mike McKenzie, Head Coach Jussi Ahokas, and the entire coaching, training, and front-office staff.
Your collective leadership has built a championship-calibre program that has represented Kitchener and the entire Rangers organization with professionalism, integrity, and pride on the national stage. You have made us all so deeply proud to be from Kitchener.
Bringing junior hockey’s ultimate prize home to Kitchener after a hiatus since 2003 is an achievement our community will cherish for years to come.
To celebrate this historic accomplishment, I invite all Rangers fans and community members, young and old alike, to join us this coming Tuesday to welcome our champions home.
A community victory celebration will take place on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, beginning at 6 p.m.
The event will commence with a parade beginning in Downtown Kitchener at King and Queen Streets, and Rangers fans are encouraged to line King Street, as the parade proceeds to Kitchener City Hall, where a special Memorial Cup Championship celebration will take place.
Free parking will be available for those arriving after 4 p.m. in the City Hall and Duke Street parking garages.
Further details regarding the Victory Celebration will be updated later today and in the lead-up to Tuesday’s celebration, via the City’s news and social media channels as they are finalized.
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