Rangers crowned OHL champions for first time since 2008
Photo credit: Charles Warburton
For the first time since 2008, the Kitchener Rangers stand at the top of the Ontario Hockey League.
After a four-game sweep of the Barrie Colts, the Rangers claimed their fifth J. Ross Robertson Cup. In the process, they join the Oshawa Generals 13), Peterborough Petes (10), Toronto Marlboros (10) London Knights (6) and St. Michael’s Majors (6) as the only teams in OHL history to be crowned champions on at least five occasions.
The Rangers got the job done as soon as possible after they completed a four-game sweep of the Colts that was highlighted by a 4-2 road win in Game 4.
The Trophy Presentation🏆
The @OHLRangers officially hoist the J. Ross Robertson Cup as 2026 #OHL Champions!#OHLChampionship | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/Xp1R1hljTx
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 13, 2026
Sam O’Reilly (TB) was the recipient of the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL Playoffs MVP after the had 28 points (17 goals) in 18 games. His 17 goals led all OHL playoff skaters while his 28 points ranked second behind Barrie’s Cole Beaudoin (UTA) who did not feature in the OHL Championship Series due to injury.
Kitchener’s Dylan Edwards added 25 postseason points that included 14 goals while Christian Humphreys (COL) also surpassed the 20-point mark as he racked up 22 in the postseason. Jack Pridham (CHI) – who led the Rangers in both goals (46) and points (90) during the regular season – led the team with 15 assists.
Christian Kirsch (SJ) recorded a 2.32 GAA in 18 starts and a .900 save percentage as he won all 16 postseason starts for Kitchener.
As OHL champions, the Rangers will join hosts Kelowna Rocket alongside the eventual QMJHL and WHL winner at the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota that will take place May 21 – May 31.
Kitchener spent 16 weeks in the CHL Top 10 during 2025-26 where they compiled at 47-14-7 record to win the OHL’s Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference champions. Their 47 wins matched their total from last year and are the most the club has had since 2008.
SAM O'SUPERSTAR🤩
Sam O'Reilly is awarded the Wayne Gretzky '99' Award as #OHLPlayoffs MVP with 17G, 11A, 28PTS through 18 games played!#OHLChampionship | @OHLRangers https://t.co/CyzX5OrSxb pic.twitter.com/HqdaPvNsr7
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 13, 2026
The Rangers wasted no time in Round 1 of the OHL Playoffs as they eliminated Saginaw in four games before they took out the Soo in five games in the second round. In the OHL Western Conference Finals, Jussi Ahokas’ squad defeated Windsor in five games.
In Game 1 of the OHL Championship Series, the Rangers took Game 1 5-2 behind a pair of goals from Andrew MacNiel (MTL). In Game’s 2 and 3, the Rangers needed overtime to win as Matthew Andonovski (OTT) and Dylan Edwards acted as heroes in a pair of 4-3 wins. In Game 4, Humphreys had the series-winner at 10:12 of the third before O’Reilly fittingly sealed the J. Ross Robertson Cup with an empty-net goal.
Kitchener will play in the Memorial Cup opener on May 22 against hosts Kelowna before they play the the WHL and QMJHL champion back-to-back on May 25 and 26.
The 2026 tournament will be Kitchener’s seventh appearance at the event where they are a two-time winner (1982 / 2003).
The 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota is scheduled for May 21-31 in Kelowna, B.C. Every game of the 2026 Memorial Cup will air in Canada on TSN and RDS, with live streaming available on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In the United States, fans can watch every game on NHL Network, while viewers outside Canada can stream the tournament live on Victory+.
2026 Memorial Cup schedule:
May 22 – Game 1: Kitchener vs. Kelowna — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT
May 23 – Game 2: WHL vs. QMJHL — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT
May 24 – Game 3: Kelowna vs. QMJHL — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT
May 25 – Game 4: WHL vs. Kitchener — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT
May 26 – Game 5: QMJHL vs. Kitchener — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT
May 27 – Game 6: Kelowna vs. WHL — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT
May 28 – Tie-breaker (if necessary) — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT
May 29 – Semi-final — 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT
May 31 – Final — 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT
