The Kitchener Rangers will face the Everett Silvertips in the Memorial Cup final on Sunday. The WHL champions beat the Chicoutimi Saguenéens decisively in their semifinal game Friday night, final score 6 to 1. Jaxsin Vaughan got Everett on the board first, scoring 7:56 into the first period. Chicoutimi’s Tomas Lavoie tied it up about four minutes later, but less than two minutes after that Landon DuPont put Everett back on top. Everett found the back of the net three times in the second period, thanks to Carter Bear, Zackary Shantz and Landon DuPont’s second of the night. Justin Miettinen added a sixth not long after the third period got underway. The Silvertips were the WHL’s top team of the 2025/2026 season and were considered by many to be the favourites going into the tournament. The team debuted in 2003 and this is their first appearance in a Memorial Cup. Kitchener Rangers head coach Jussi Ahokas was spotted in the stands, watching Friday night’s semifinal. Justin Born, co-host of the Rangers podcast The AudPod, describes a Kitchener-Everett match up as “best skill against best skill.” “They’re the best team in the tournament.” The Rangers punched their ticket to the Memorial Cup final after winning all of their round robin games. It’s the Rangers’ first appearance in the final since 2008, when they lost to Spokane at the tournament held in Kitchener. The Rangers last hoisted the Memorial Cup in 2003. Their record so far has fans feeling optimistic heading into the final. “You go 3-0 in the round robin… it feels pretty good. It feels like this might happen. So everything has been positive,” says Born. The team last played on Tuesday evening, but Born isn’t worried about the Rangers being rusty after several days off. “I have no reason to believe that there’s any rust on this team. I think they work hard and they know how to start a game,” Born told CTV News on Friday night. Born says he feels the Rangers are the best team in the tournament, and one that can adapt to any opponent. “They’re sharper, they’re smarter, and they’re conditioned just way better than the other team. They can outplay any team… they’re going to be okay.” Born credits the team’s success to stars like league MVP Sam O’Reilly, solid goaltending from Christian Kirsch and captain Cameron Reid, described as the “glue guy” who brings everyone together. But Born also notes that every piece of the team is strong – and that goes beyond just the players on the ice. “The coaching staff, the GM Mike McKenzie, the whole front office staff. Everybody’s been the MVP. “This team is something different. It’s something special.” Since Tuesday night’s win, the Rangers have been preparing for the final, while also taking some recovery time and having some fun. Videos posted to social media by the team show the players visiting a floating sweat lodge on Lake Okanagan and competing with each other while go-karting. “It was nice to kind of get away from hockey and spend some time with the guys and also get a little recovery in,” forward Cameron Arquette says in the video of their sauna visit. The Memorial Cup final is a single winner-takes-all game, but Born remains confident in the Rangers, despite the risks that come with that format. “Anybody can win one game. But if anybody was to pull it off, I think the Rangers have it in the bag.” Watch party at the Aud The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium will be opened up to fans for a watch party on Sunday evening for the Memorial Cup final. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. local time, or 4 p.m. in Kelowna. There are no tickets, and admission is free, though fans are encouraged to bring a cash or food donation for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. There will be a DJ and prize giveaways during the game.
