Hundreds of fans packed downtown Kitchener Tuesday night to give the Ontario Hockey League champion Kitchener Rangers a spirited sendoff before the team heads west for the Memorial Cup. Fans of all ages gathered outside Kitchener City Hall to celebrate the Rangers’ first OHL title since 2008 and rally behind the team as it prepares to compete for junior hockey’s top prize in Kelowna, B.C. The atmosphere felt more like a street party, with chants, cheers and horns filling the downtown core as players arrived to greet supporters. For longtime fan Dillon Williams, the moment was years in the making. “I’ve been a fan since I was three years old,” said Williams, whose family has held season tickets for decades. “It’s been since 2008 since we’ve had a championship team.” Williams was also in Barrie for Game 4 of the OHL final, where the Rangers completed a series sweep of the Colts to secure their Memorial Cup berth. “I have a two-hour drive home and I’m pretty sure my heart was still racing by the time I got home,” he said. The Rangers’ playoff run has reignited excitement across the city, with many fans describing the team as part of the fabric of the community. “I’ve been a Rangers fan since I was a kid,” said longtime supporter Jennifer. “I was born exactly a month before they won in ‘82, so I’ve been a fan for a long time. And I’m just here to support the boys.” Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said the Rangers’ deep community roots helps strengthen that connection. “As you know, they’re community owned,” Vrbanovic said. “They really sponsor everything from minor hockey to partnerships with the Remembrance Day folks.” The mayor said the city is fully behind the team as it heads to British Columbia. “And for the community to come out in such great numbers to cheer them on as they go to Kelowna and look to bring the Memorial Cup home, that would really be the pinnacle of an amazing season,” he said. Vrbanovic added the city would look at organizing a watch party at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium if the Rangers advance to the tournament final. The Rangers open Memorial Cup play Friday night against the host Kelowna Rockets.
