Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly closed out a superb junior campaign in style, taking home Memorial Cup MVP honors as he led the Kitchener Rangers to a 6-2 win over the Everett Silvertips in Sunday’s 2026 final in Kelowna, British Columbia.
O’Reilly put up one in all his best performances of the tournament within the championship game, recording a goal and three assists. Across 4 Memorial Cup contests, the 20-year-old forward produced three goals and five assists for eight points, ending tied for the tournament scoring lead alongside teammate Jack Pridham and Everett forward Matias Vanhanen.
The Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy added one other major achievement to O’Reilly’s season. He became just the fourth player in Canadian Hockey League history to win regular-season MVP, playoff MVP, and Memorial Cup MVP in the identical yr. The one other players to perform the feat are Brad Richards (2000), Corey Perry (2005), and Mitch Marner (2016).
Kitchener secured its third Memorial Cup championship, stacking it alongside titles from 1982 and 2003. The Rangers accomplished a runaway postseason run, going 20-2 within the playoffs and ending undefeated on the Memorial Cup. Their path included victories over the host Kelowna Rockets and QMJHL champion Chicoutimi Sagueneens before defeating Everett twice, including the championship game.
The Rangers received goals from Luke Ellinas, Dylan Edwards, Jared Woolley, Pridham, O’Reilly, and Christian Humphreys in the ultimate. Goaltender Christian Kirsch stopped 30 shots. Haeden Ellis contributed two assists.
Pridham earned the Ed Chynoweth Trophy because the tournament’s leading scorer, ending with nine points. He also led all players with five goals.
O’Reilly and defenseman Woolley won their second consecutive Memorial Cup championships after winning with the London Knights in 2025 before being acquired by Kitchener on the January trade deadline. O’Reilly, chosen thirty second overall by the Edmonton Oilers within the 2024 NHL Draft and traded to Tampa Bay for Isaac Howard last summer, has already signed an entry-level contract with the Lightning and can compete for a roster spot at training camp next season.
The result also proved to be a milestone for head coach Jussi Ahokas, who became the primary European-born coach to win a CHL championship.
Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly closed out a superb junior campaign in style, taking home Memorial Cup MVP honors as he led the Kitchener Rangers to a 6-2 win over the Everett Silvertips in Sunday’s 2026 final in Kelowna, British Columbia. O’Reilly put up one in all his best performances of the tournament within the championship game, recording a goal and three assists.