The Guelph Storm and the City of Guelph are the official hosts for the Canadian Hockey League's (CHL) 2027 Memorial Cup tournament.
The CHL made the announcement official on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Guelph's bid to host the tournament, during what will be the city's bicentennial, won out over the rival Kitchener Rangers. Guelph hosted the Memorial Cup as the Storm once, back in 2002.
Kitchener had last hosted the tournament in 2008.
The Storm have competed in six Memorial Cups (1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2019) and are looking for their first ever Memorial Cup win.
Guelph does have a winning history as a city, though, as the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters captured the trophy in 1952 and the Guelph Platers also won in 1986.
"We are thrilled to be bringing the 2027 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota to Guelph," said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. "The Storm put forward an outstanding bid that showcased not only their organizational strength, but also the passion, vision, and community spirit that make the Royal City such a special junior hockey market. With the Memorial Cup returning to Guelph in the same year the city marks its bicentennial, fans can expect an unforgettable event that celebrates Guelph’s history and the tournament’s rich tradition, while providing a world-class experience for players, fans, and partners alike."
