What is the Memorial Cup?

The Memorial Cup is the championship tournament of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), which brings together the top teams from Canada’s three major junior leagues: the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). First held in 1919, the trophy was originally established to honor Canadian soldiers who died in World War I. Today, it remains one of the most prestigious championships in junior hockey.

How Teams Qualify

The tournament features four teams:

• The champion of the WHL playoffs
  
• The champion of the OHL playoffs
  
• The champion of the QMJHL playoffs
  
• The host team, which is granted an automatic berth to ensure strong local support and attendance
  

If the host team also wins its league championship, the runner-up from that league typically fills the additional spot. The format is a round-robin tournament followed by a semifinal and final, determining the national champion.