Kelowna Rockets, City of Kelowna announce leadership for Memorial Cup Bid

News Release

The Kelowna Rockets and the City of Kelowna are pleased to announce that David Rush and Steve Thomson have agreed to lead the 2026 Memorial Cup bid as co-chairs of the campaign team. Both David and Steve bring years of experience and dedicated service to Kelowna, making them ideal candidates to spearhead this important initiative.

Rush and Thomson expressed their enthusiasm for the campaign, stating, "We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to leading the team to put the best bid forward to ensure the City and Kelowna Rockets have the greatest chance for a successful bid."

The bid will build on the extensive work done by the committee in preparation for the 2020 Memorial Cup, which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If successful in their bid, it would mark the second time that the Rockets would host the prestigious ten-day tournament. 

The 2026 Memorial Cup will be the 106th edition of the tournament, which features the playoff champions from the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, in addition to the WHL host team.

About David Rush
David is an accomplished litigator and the co-founder of Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP. He has been extensively involved in various boards and advisory committees, including the City of Kelowna Advisory Planning Commission, as president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, amongst many others. 

About Steve Thomson
Steve Thomson also has a long history of community involvement, serving three terms as the Kelowna-Mission MLA and as speaker in June 2017 during the first sessions of the 41st parliament. He was past minister of forests, lands and natural resources operations, minister of natural resource operations, minister of energy, minister of agriculture and lands and served as a past president of the Rotary Club of Kelowna and the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.