Sports posted May 21, 2026 @ 08:10pm by Steve MacNaull

Let's get this party started, the Memorial Cup has officially arrived

Youngsters Bennett and Nicolas each estimate they've been to 10 million Kelowna Rockets games.

When they attend Friday night's Kelowna Rockets-Kitchener Rangers tilt to open the Memorial Cup they can make that 10 million and one.

"Heck ya, we're Rockets fans," added Nicolas.

<who>Photo credits: Steve MacNaull/NowMedia Group</who>Bennett, left, Nicolas, Max and Mattias were at Stuart Park for the 'Arrival of the Cup'.

This all went down at Stuart Park Thursday afternoon as brothers and friends Bennett, Nicolas, Max and Mattias came out for the 'Arrival of the Cup' ceremony to officially kick-off the Canadian junior hockey championship tournament.

The procession actually started across Okanagan Lake when members of Westbank First Nation brought the cup over in a canoe convoy to land at Hot Sands Beach in City Park.

"This is symbolic of the First People bringing everything across the lake for centuries," said Rolly Williams, the skipper of the main canoe.

</who>The Memorial Cup first arrived in Kelowna via Indigenous canoe from Westbank First Nation. Pictured here is Nation events coordinator Miranda McCarroll, left, and skipper of the main canoe Rolly Williams.

After an Indigenous ritual on the beach, the cup was handed off to BC Dragoons of Kelowna and Vernon to carry to the parade starting line at the south entrance to City Park.

"The Memorial Cup is so named in memory of members of the Canadian military who died in the First and Second World Wars," explained Squadron Sgt. Major Drew Hillard.

</who>The cup was then handed off to the BC Dragoons of Kelowna and Vernon, above. Below, Squadron Sgt. Major Drew Hillard,

"We're always involved with the Memorial Cup tournament. It's even more special when the tournament is in your hometown."

The parade went up Bernard Avenue then along Water Street to arrive at Stuart Park where a crowd waited for the cup to be put on a pedestal.

</who>The Memorial Cup waits under BC Dragoons guard for its official introduction at Stuart Park.

All the players from each team in the tournament -- the host Kelowna Rockets,Chicoutimi Sagueneens, Kitchener Rangers and Everett Silvertips -- also marched in.

After speeches, the community kickoff party continues with live music, games, activities, displays and demonstrations for the whole family.

</who>Kelowna Rockets players march in for the 'Arrival of the Cup' ceremony.

</who>The flag bearers for the parade from City Park to Stuart Park.

As mentioned previously, the actual games of the tournament start Friday night with the Rockets vs. the Rangers and conclude May 31 when the Memorial Cup winner is decided in the championship game.

Over the next 10 days, the whole city will be Memorial Cup obsessed with activities inside and out of Prospera Place arena.

The guide can be found here.

</who>Rockets fan Terry Johnson drove his 1963 Chevy Nova SS convertible in the parade.