List of Memorial Cup champions
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. Each year the champions from three CHL member leagues—the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, along with a host team—compete in the MasterCard Memorial Cup Tournament. The QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are the defending champions.
Known originally as the OHA Memorial Cup, it was donated in 1919 by the Ontario Hockey Association in honour of the soldiers who died fighting for Canada in World War I. In 2010, the trophy was rededicated to honour all soldiers who died for Canada in any conflict. From its donation in 1919 until 1971, the Memorial Cup was awarded via a series of playoffs to the junior hockey champion of Canada. The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association moved to the current tournament format in 1972 when it divided Junior A hockey into two tiers, naming the Memorial Cup as the championship of the Major Junior rank. Sixty teams across the CHL's three member leagues are eligible to compete for the Memorial Cup, representing nine provinces and four American states.
The Western Hockey League has won the title 19 times since the adoption of the three league tournament format in 1972. The Ontario Hockey League has 17 titles, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has 12.
Since the creation of the Memorial Cup, the Toronto Marlboros have won the most titles with seven. Among currently active teams, the Oshawa Generals lead with five titles, the latest one in 2015, while the Regina Pats follow with four.
Champions and challengers
1919 to 1971
The Memorial Cup was presented to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in 1919 by the Ontario Hockey Association in remembrance of the soldiers who died fighting for Canada in World War I. It was to be awarded to the junior hockey champions of Canada in an east versus west format. The eastern Canadian champion, who from 1932 won the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, met the western Canadian champion, winners of the Abbott Cup. The first championship featured the University of Toronto Schools against the Regina Patricia in a two-game, total-goals series. The University of Toronto Schools won the title easily, defeating Regina by scores of 14–3 and 15–5 to win the series with a total score of 29–8.The head-to-head competition for the Memorial Cup has changed formats several times. The CAHA moved to a best-of-three format in 1925 as the first team to win two games was declared the champion. In 1938, the series was increased to best-of-five, and to best-of-seven in 1943. There were two exceptions to these formats. The 1949 final between the Montreal Royals and the Brandon Wheat Kings required an eighth game after the third game ended in a tie. The 1971 final between the Quebec Remparts and the Edmonton Oil Kings was nearly canceled outright in the wake of controversy surrounding the inclusion of the previously outlawed Western Canada Hockey League as the western league was allowed to use more over-age players and received a larger travel allowance from the CAHA. The differences were resolved, and an abbreviated best-of-three series was held in Quebec City.
While the Memorial Cup was not intended to be a challenge trophy, a team has twice challenged the defending champion for the cup. After the Toronto Canoe Club defeated the Selkirk Fishermen in 1920, they were met with a challenge by the Fort William Beavers for the trophy. Toronto agreed, and easily defeated Fort William 11–1 in a single game playoff. The second challenge occurred a half-century later, in 1970. The WCHL's Flin Flon Bombers challenged the Montreal Junior Canadiens. Considered an outlaw league by the CAHA, WCHL teams were not permitted to participate in the Memorial Cup playoffs. The Junior Canadiens declined the challenge.
TG = total goals. The team that scored the most goals in two games won the championship. From 1925 onward, the total represents the number of games won.
| Cup | Champion | Result | Runner-up | Host location |
| 1919 | University of Toronto Schools | Regina Patricia | Toronto | |
| 1920 | Toronto Canoe Club Paddlers | Selkirk Fishermen | Toronto | |
| 1921 | Winnipeg Junior Falcons | Stratford Midgets | Toronto | |
| 1922 | Fort William Great War Vets | Regina Patricia | Winnipeg | |
| 1923 | University of Manitoba Bisons | Kitchener Colts | Toronto | |
| 1924 | Owen Sound Greys | Calgary Canadians | Winnipeg | |
| 1925 | Regina Pats | 2–0 | Toronto Aura Lee | Toronto |
| 1926 | Calgary Canadians | 2–1 | Queen's University | Winnipeg |
| 1927 | Owen Sound Greys | 2–0 | Port Arthur West End Jrs. | Toronto |
| 1928 | Regina Monarchs | 2–1 | Ottawa Gunners | Toronto |
| 1929 | Toronto Marlboros | 2–0 | Elmwood Millionaires | Toronto |
| 1930 | Regina Pats | 2–0 | West Toronto Nationals | Winnipeg |
| 1931 | Elmwood Millionaires | 2–1 | Ottawa Primroses | Toronto and Ottawa |
| 1932 | Sudbury Cub Wolves | 2–1 | Winnipeg Monarchs | Winnipeg |
| 1933 | Newmarket Redmen | 2–0 | Regina Pats | Toronto |
| 1934 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 2–0 | Edmonton A.C. Athletics | Winnipeg |
| 1935 | Winnipeg Monarchs | 2–1 | Sudbury Cub Wolves | Winnipeg |
| 1936 | West Toronto Nationals | 2–0 | Saskatoon Wesleys | Toronto |
| 1937 | Winnipeg Monarchs | 2–1 | Copper Cliff Redmen | Toronto |
| 1938 | St. Boniface Seals | 3–2 | Oshawa Generals | Toronto |
| 1939 | Oshawa Generals | 3–1 | Edmonton A.C. Roamers | Toronto |
| 1940 | Oshawa Generals | 3–1 | Kenora Thistles | Winnipeg |
| 1941 | Winnipeg Rangers | 3–2 | Montreal Royals | Toronto and Montreal |
| 1942 | Portage la Prairie Terriers | 3–1 | Oshawa Generals | Winnipeg |
| 1943 | Winnipeg Rangers | 4–2 | Oshawa Generals | Toronto |
| 1944 | Oshawa Generals | 4–0 | Trail Smoke Eaters | Toronto |
| 1945 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 4–1 | Moose Jaw Canucks | Toronto |
| 1946 | Winnipeg Monarchs | 4–3 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Toronto |
| 1947 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 4–0 | Moose Jaw Canucks | Winnipeg, Moose Jaw and Regina |
| 1948 | Port Arthur West End Bruins | 4–0 | Barrie Flyers | Toronto |
| 1949 | Montreal Royals | 4–3–1 | Brandon Wheat Kings | Winnipeg and Brandon |
| 1950 | Montreal Junior Canadiens | 4–1 | Regina Pats | Montreal and Toronto |
| 1951 | Barrie Flyers | 4–0 | Winnipeg Monarchs | Toronto, Barrie and Quebec City |
| 1952 | Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters | 4–0 | Regina Pats | Toronto |
| 1953 | Barrie Flyers | 4–1 | St. Boniface Canadiens | Winnipeg and Brandon |
| 1954 | St. Catharines Teepees | 4–0–1 | Edmonton Oil Kings | Toronto |
| 1955 | Toronto Marlboros | 4–1 | Regina Pats | Regina |
| 1956 | Toronto Marlboros | 4–0–1 | Regina Pats | Toronto |
| 1957 | Flin Flon Bombers | 4–3 | Ottawa-Hull Junior Canadiens | Flin Flon and Regina |
| 1958 | Ottawa-Hull Junior Canadiens | 4–2 | Regina Pats | Ottawa and Hull |
| 1959 | Winnipeg Braves | 4–1 | Peterborough TPT Petes | Winnipeg and Brandon |
| 1960 | St. Catharines Teepees | 4–2 | Edmonton Oil Kings | St. Catharines and Toronto |
| 1961 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 4–2 | Edmonton Oil Kings | Edmonton |
| 1962 | Hamilton Red Wings | 4–1 | Edmonton Oil Kings | Hamilton, Guelph and Kitchener |
| 1963 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 4–2 | Niagara Falls Flyers | Edmonton |
| 1964 | Toronto Marlboros | 4–0 | Edmonton Oil Kings | Toronto |
| 1965 | Niagara Falls Flyers | 4–1 | Edmonton Oil Kings | Edmonton |
| 1966 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 4–2 | Oshawa Generals | Toronto |
| 1967 | Toronto Marlboros | 4–1 | Port Arthur Marrs | Thunder Bay |
| 1968 | Niagara Falls Flyers | 4–1 | Estevan Bruins | Niagara Falls and Montreal |
| 1969 | Montreal Junior Canadiens | 4–0 | Regina Pats | Montreal and Regina |
| 1970 | Montreal Junior Canadiens | 4–0 | Weyburn Red Wings | Montreal |
| 1971 | Quebec Remparts | 2–0 | Edmonton Oil Kings | Quebec City |
1972 to 1982
In 1970, the CAHA divided the Junior A ranks into two levels, creating a Major–Junior tier that consisted of three leagues: the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey Association and the Western Canada Hockey League. It was decided that the Memorial Cup would be the championship trophy of the Major Junior leagues, while the Manitoba Centennial Trophy was created as the Junior A championship. The CAHA decided that beginning in 1972, the Memorial Cup would be determined via a double round-robin tournament between the champion of the three leagues, featuring a single game championship involving the top two finishers in the tournament. The creation of the WHL's Portland Winter Hawks in 1976 opened the competition up to non-Canadian teams for the first time, and in 1982, the Winter Hawks became the first American team in Memorial Cup history to compete for the trophy.| Cup | Champion | Score | Runner-up | Additional participants | Host location |
| 1972 | Cornwall Royals | 2–1 | Peterborough Petes | Edmonton Oil Kings | Ottawa |
| 1973 | Toronto Marlboros | 9–1 | Quebec Remparts | Medicine Hat Tigers | Montreal |
| 1974 | Regina Pats | 7–4 | Quebec Remparts | St. Catharines Black Hawks | Calgary |
| 1975 | Toronto Marlboros | 7–3 | New Westminster Bruins | Sherbrooke Castors | Kitchener |
| 1976 | Hamilton Fincups | 5–2 | New Westminster Bruins | Quebec Remparts | Montreal |
| 1977 | New Westminster Bruins | 6–5 | Ottawa 67's | Sherbrooke Castors | Vancouver |
| 1978 | New Westminster Bruins | 7–4 | Peterborough Petes | Trois-Rivières Draveurs | Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie |
| 1979 | Peterborough Petes | 2–1 | Brandon Wheat Kings | Trois-Rivières Draveurs | Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières and Verdun |
| 1980 | Cornwall Royals | 3–2 | Peterborough Petes | Regina Pats | Brandon and Regina |
| 1981 | Cornwall Royals | 5–2 | Kitchener Rangers | Victoria Cougars | Windsor |
| 1982 | Kitchener Rangers | 7–4 | Sherbrooke Castors | Portland Winter Hawks | Hull |
1983 to present
The Memorial Cup tournament was expanded to four teams in 1983; a pre-determined host team was added in place of holding the tournament in a neutral host city. The first such host team was the Portland Winter Hawks, who set numerous firsts in the 1983 tournament. It represented the first time Memorial Cup games were held outside Canada, and by virtue of winning the tournament, the Winter Hawks became the first American team to win the Cup. The Winter Hawks also became the first team in Memorial Cup history to win the championship despite failing to win its own league title—they had been defeated by the Lethbridge Broncos in the WHL playoffs.The four-team format remains in use, and the host team cycles evenly between all three leagues. In 1987, however, only three teams competed for the Memorial Cup. To determine the host team for that tournament, the OHL held a "super series" between its two regular season division winners before the start of the playoffs. The tournament was won by the Oshawa Generals, who went on to win the OHL championship. As a result, the OHL chose to send only Oshawa to the Memorial Cup. In all other tournaments, if the host team had also won their league title, the runner-up from the championship series qualified for the Memorial Cup as their league's representative.
Since the current format was adopted, the Memorial Cup has been won by each league:
- Western Hockey League : 16 times
- Ontario Hockey League : 12 times
- Quebec Major Junior Hockey League : 9 times
- Host teams that have won league championship: 6
- Host teams that have won Memorial Cup: 10
- Host teams that have won Memorial Cup without winning league championship: 7
- Teams that have won the Memorial Cup without winning the league championship or being the host team: 1
Tournament appearances by current CHL teams
A bolded year denotes a Memorial Cup win.
An italicized year denotes team was host of the tournament.
| Tournament Appearances | Final Appearances | Team | Modern League | Wins | Runnerup | Third | Fourth | Tournament Win % | Years of appearance |
| 16 | 14 | Regina Pats | WHL | 4 | 10 | 1 | 1 | .250 | 2018, 2001, 1980, 1974, 1969, 1958, 1956, 1955, 1952, 1950, 1933, 1930, 1928, 1925, 1922, 1919 |
| 12 | 11 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | .417 | 2015, 1997, 1990, 1987, 1983, 1966, 1944, 1943, 1942, 1940, 1939, 1938 |
| 9 | 7 | Peterborough Petes | OHL | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | .111 | 2006, 1996, 1993, 1989, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1972, 1959 |
| 7 | 4 | Quebec Remparts | QMJHL | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .286 | 2015, 2006, 2003, 1976, 1974, 1973, 1971 |
| 7 | 4 | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | .143 | 2008, 2004, 2003, 1997, 1995, 1988, 1986 |
| 6 | 3 | Kamloops Blazers^^ | WHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 1995, 1994, 1992, 1990, 1986, 1984 |
| 6 | 6 | Kitchener Rangers | OHL | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .333 | 2008, 2003, 1990, 1984, 1982, 1981 |
| 6 | 3 | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .000 | 2016, 2010, 1996, 1995, 1979, 1949 |
| 6 | 2 | Guelph Storm | OHL | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .000 | 2019, 2014, 2004, 2002, 1998, 1996 |
| 5 | 3 | Portland Winterhawks^ | WHL | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .400 | 2013, 1998, 1986, 1983, 1982 |
| 5 | 3 | London Knights | OHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .400 | 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2005 |
| 5 | 3 | Medicine Hat Tigers | WHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .400 | 2007, 2004, 1988, 1987, 1973 |
| 5 | 3 | Ottawa 67's | OHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .400 | 2005, 2001, 1999, 1984, 1977 |
| 5 | 3 | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .200 | 2015, 2009, 2005, 2004, 2003 |
| 4 | 4 | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .750 | 2017, 2010, 2009, 1988 |
| 4 | 2 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .250 | 1993, 1992, 1991, 1985 |
| 4 | 2 | Rimouski Océanic | QMJHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .250 | 2015, 2009, 2005, 2000 |
| 3 | 2 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 2008, 1998, 1991 |
| 3 | 1 | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2018, 1993, 1989 |
| 3 | 1 | Kootenay Ice | WHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .333 | 2011, 2002, 2000 |
| 3 | 1 | Saint John Sea Dogs | QMJHL | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 2017, 2012, 2011 |
| 3 | 2 | Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .333 | 2019, 2013, 2000 |
| 3 | 1 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .000 | 2009, 1991, 1988 |
| 3 | 1 | Val-d'Or Foreurs | QMJHL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .000 | 2014, 2001, 1998 |
| 3 | 0 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | QMJHL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .000 | 1997, 1994, 1991 |
| 2 | 2 | Shawinigan Cataractes | QMJHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 2012, 1985 |
| 2 | 1 | Acadie–Bathurst Titan | QMJHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | 2018, 1999 |
| 2 | 1 | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 2016, 2001 |
| 2 | 1 | Vancouver Giants | WHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 2007, 2006 |
| 2 | 1 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | 2014, 2012 |
| 2 | 2 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | QMJHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 2019, 2016 |
| 2 | 1 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 2010, 1999 |
| 2 | 1 | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2010, 2006 |
| 2 | 1 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2013, 1989 |
| 2 | 1 | Erie Otters | OHL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 2017, 2002 |
| 2 | 1 | Prince Albert Raiders | WHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | 2019, 1985 |
| 2 | 0 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | 2017, 1992 |
| 1 | 1 | Barrie Colts | OHL | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 2000 |
| 1 | 1 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | WHL | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1997 |
| 1 | 1 | Victoriaville Tigres | QMJHL | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 2002 |
| 1 | 0 | Owen Sound Attack | OHL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2011 |
| 1 | 0 | Hamilton Bulldogs | OHL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 2018 |
- Three team competition from 1972-1982 and 1987. Since 1983, third place goes to loser of semi-final game.
^^Kamloops Blazers excludes 1 appearance as the Estevan Bruins and 4 appearances, including two wins, as the original New Westminster Bruins.