Around the CHL ~ volume #1 preview edition #12

We are just days away from the Canadian Hockey League beginning the 2026-27 regular season with puck dropping on September 17 in the OHL. So I figured it would be nice to recap how last year ended and point out some important events below. Check back all year long for more stories on the CHL and our Mooseheads. 

here are last year's leaders:
Division champions 2025-26
WHL - Everett Silvertips (U.S.) 68 games played, 57-8-2-1 record, 117 points, 304 goals for/173 goals against; Prince Albert Raiders (East) 68 games played, 52-10-5-1 record, 110 points, 310 goals for/165 goals against; Medicine Hat Tigers (Central) 68 games played, 50-10-5-3 record, 108 points, 348 goals for/208 goals against; Penticton Vees (B.C.) 68 games played, 44-14-6-4 record, 98 points, 268 goals for/188 goals against; 

OHL - Brantford Bulldogs (East) 68 games played, 48-10-8-2 record, 106 points, 296 goals for/190 goals against; Kitchener Rangers (Midwest) 68 games played, 47-14-5-2 record, 101 points, 261 goals for/179 goals against; Barrie Colts (Central) 68 games played, 45-14-5-4 record, 99 points, 246 goals for/194 goals against; Windsor Spitfires (West) 68 games played, 44-15-6-3 record, 97 points, 264 goals for/173 goals against

QMJHL - Moncton Wildcats (Maritimes) 64 games played, 50-10-2-2 record, 104 points, 302 goals for/164 goals against; Chicoutimi Sagueneens (East) 64 games played, 49-10-3-2 record, 103 points, 321 goals for/150 goals against; Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (West) 64 games played, 40-17-5-2 record, 86 points, 221 goals for/178 goals against; Drummondville Voltiguers (Central) 64 games, 40-18-3-3 record, 86 points, 240 goals for/195 goals against

League championships 2026
President's Cup - Moncton Wildcats vs. Chicoutimi Sagueneens (Sagueneens won series 4 games to 2 games)
J. Ross Robertson Cup - Kitchener Rangers vs. Barrie Colts (Rangers won series 4 games to 0 games)
Ed Chynoweth Cup - Everett Silvertips vs. Prince Albert Raiders (Silvertips won series 4 games to 1 game)

Memorial Cup 2026
Teams - Chicoutimi (QMJHL champion), Everett (WHL champion), Kelowna (Hosts) and Kitchener (OHL champion)

Final May 31, 2026 Everett vs. Kitchener 2-6

KITCHENER RANGERS WIN 2026 MEMORIAL CUP!!!


Kitchener will look to repeat as Memorial Cup champions. This year the Memorial Cup will be held in Guelph, home of the Guelph Storm who will be in the tournament no matter what. The 2025 CHL USA Top Prospects two game series will be hosted by the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and the Quebec Remparts on December 1 and 2, respectively. Multiple rules changes were announced by the Western Hockey League for this season. 

Regular season roster announced

YOUR 2026-27 HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS

6  Brady Smith  D  (Englewood, CO, USA)

10  Oleg Kulebiakin  LW  (St. Petersburg, Russia)

11  Paul Sintschnig  LW  (Klagenfurt, Austria)*

12  William Bent  RW  (Dover, MA, USA)

16  Mateo Nobert  C  (Beaconsfield, QC)

17  Patrick McNab  C  (Beaconsfield, QC)

20  Daniel Walters  C  (Halifax, NS)

23  Cameron Minella  D  (Darien, CT, USA)

26  Owen Phillips  D  (Hammonds Plains, NS)

28  Cole MacLeod  C  (Porters Lake, NS)*

30  Jack Fichthorn  G  (Darien, CT, USA)

35  Carson Mertz  G  (Coventry, RI, USA)*

43  Evan Nee  LW  (Arlington, MA, USA)

51  Eddy Doyle  D  (Tignish, PE)

55  Shawn Carrier  LW  (Trois-Rivieres, QC)

71  Nathan Langlois  LW  (Levis, QC)

77  Malik L'Italien  D  (Montreal, QC)

79  Duncan Anderson  D  (Antigonish, NS)*

81  Nico Uschan  D  (Villach, Austria)

86  Jackson Smail  C  (Milton, VT, USA)*

88  Quinn Kennedy  C  (Upper Tantallon, NS)

92  Jayden Napon  LW  (Montreal, QC)*

93  Paulo Gualberto Jr  C  (Bamstable, MA, USA)

*indicates rookie

Events

The regular season schedule was released back in mid-June and now our Halifax Mooseheads have announced their promotional schedule for 2026-27. There are more events than what is shown below but these continue to be the team continually has and are special games. 

Annual events
HOME OPENER - September 19 vs. Moncton Wildcats
90's Night - October 24 vs. Charlottetown Islanders
DND Appreciation Night - November 14 vs. Quebec Remparts
Toque Toss - December 13 vs. Saint John Sea Dogs
Moose Fight Cancer - February 6 vs. Charlottetown Islanders
Fan Appreciation - March 20 vs. Moncton Wildcats

See the full promotional schedule in the 'Schedule' tab above. 

Season schedule released for 2026-27

Photo - Q website

The QMJHL announced the 2026-27 regular season schedule on Tuesday. 

Halifax will play 64 games, including 32 at the Scotiabank Centre once again. The Mooseheads will begin on the road with a visit to their provincial rivals Cape Breton Eagles on September 18 at 7:00pm. It will be one of eight games on opening night in the league, which is not normal and neither is the first match being on a Friday. 

Other highlights from the schedule include:

• The Herd's home opener is set for September 19 against the Moncton Wildcats, puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm. 
• Halifax will make four trips to the province of Quebec with the first one being October 29-November 1 as the team visits Gatineau, Victoriaville and Sherbrooke. 
• A breakdown of the home schedule includes 11 Saturday games, eight Sundays, five Fridays, five Thursdays, two Wednesdays and one on Monday. 
• The longest home-stand of the season is six matches between October 8-24 while the Mooseheads are set to have two road trips of 4 games each. 
• Halifax's home finale on March 20 versus the Wildcats is also the club's last game of the regular season. 

Events will be announced at a later date. The team's pre-season schedule was announced already. Fans can purchase ticket packages now for what some are anticipating should be an exciting contender season.