Juno Award-winning rock band The Glorious Sons will kick off the Memorial Cup tournament in Kamloops in May.
The band will stage the tournament’s opening concert — dubbed The Riverside Party and sponsored by Simpcw Resources Group — on May 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Molson Canadian Hockey House, an entertainment zone that will be outside the Sandman Centre for the duration of the tournament.
Memorial Cup games will run from May 26 to June 4, featuring the host Kamloops Blazers, the champions of the Ontario and Quebec major junior leagues and the Western Hockey League champion (or, if Kamloops wins the league title, the runner-up).
Tickets for The Glorious Sons will start at $49.50 (plus fees & tax) and will be available online here on Friday, April 14, at 10 a.m. Memorial Cup ticketholders can buy tickets during a presale period between 10 a.m. on April 12 to 10 p.m. on April 13.
Outside of The Riverside Party on May 25, all events hosted at Molson Canadian Hockey House will be free to attend and will include performances by DJ Shub (May 31), Gord Bamford (June 1), Dear Rouge (June 3) and several Kamloops musicians.
A plethora of speakers
Among the many events being held during the Memorial Cup tournament, the Blazing Trails Leadership Series, presented by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, will be highlighted by six-time Olympic medallist and mental-health advocate Clara Hughes, who will speak on May 31 at noon in Sandman Centre.
Other speakers at the Blazing Trails Leadership Series will be at Molson Canadian Hockey House and will include Marie-Philip Poulin, Meghan Agosta, Ken Hitchcock, Kirk McLean and Manon Rhéaume, along with Kamloops Blazers alumni such as Darryl Sydor, Jarome Iginla, Scott Niedermayer, Darcy Tucker and Mark Recchi. A complete schedule of events (including full concert details and speaker lineups) for the Molson Canadian Hockey House will be released in the coming weeks.
More events
• The Arrival of the Cup ,presented by Kia, will take place on May 25 at 4 p.m. at the Tk’emlúps Powwow Arbour. Just a day before the puck drops, fans can obtain a free ticket to witness the arrival of the prestigious Memorial Cup trophy and take in a welcome and prayer by Tk’emlúps, along with introductions of all four Memorial Cup teams.
• The Fan Zone will be open from May 26 to June 4 at Sandman Centre. It will feature myriad activities, including interactive skills games from TopShot Hockey.
• The Hockey Hall of Fame, presented by Switchback Creek, will have a popup exhibit at Kelson Hall, downtown at St. Paul Street and Third Avenue, from May 26 to June 4. Showcased will be the Hockey Hall of Fame’s most prized artifacts and trophies, something that is usually only available to fans who visit the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. There will also be one-of-a-kind experiences, such as Aboriginal Hockey, and displays honouring Blazers alumni.
• On-ice skill development sessions will be held at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre and Sandman Centre) from May 26 to June 3. With five on-ice development sessions planned (U11, U13, U15, and U18 co-ed players, as well as a special female-only session), aspiring players and goalies can register for an opportunity to improve their skills under the tutelage of hockey superstars and Kamloops Blazers alumni.
• The Memorial Cup Ball Hockey Tournament, presented by Morfco, will take place on May 27 and May 28, downtown in the 300-bock of St. Paul Street. Organized by the Kamloops Ball Hockey League, interested participants aged 5-13 can register a team or as individuals in the 3-on-3 ball hockey tournament. Registration includes an official Memorial Cup jersey and other souvenirs.
• FemSport Athletics, presented by Kamloops Kia, will be staged on June 3 at 10 a.m., downtown in the 300-block of St. Paul Street. Women of all backgrounds will demonstrate their skill and strength as they compete in a series of challenging fitness tests, including a car-pulling contest.
Tickets for the Memorial Cup tourney games can be found online here.
The tournament’s full schedule can be found here.
For more information on the 2023 Memorial Cup, visit chl.ca/memorialcup.
