The Glorious Sons will help kick off the 2023 Memorial Cup in Kamloops on May 25.

The JUNO award winning band will play at the Molson Canadian Hockey House, an entertainment zone that will set up outside Sandman Centre for the duration of the tournament.

Dubbed The Riverside Party, the opening concert – which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. that day – will be the first in a series of events taking place between May 25 and June 4. It will be a paid event, with tickets starting at $49.50 (plus fees & tax).

Tickets will go on sale to the public here this Friday, April 14, at 10 a.m. Memorial Cup ticketholders can will have a presale period between 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 12 and 10 p.m. Thursday, April 13.

In addition to The Riverside Party, all other events hosted at the Molson Canadian Hockey House will be free, though there will be capacity limits. That includes concerts by DJ Shub (May 31), Gord Bamford (June 1), Dear Rouge (June 3), and several yet to be announced Kamloops musicians.

Memorial Cup games will run from May 26 to June 4. The Kamloops Blazers will be joined by the champions of the OHL, WHL, and the QMJHL. If the Blazers win the WHL title, the WHL runner up will qualify for the tournament.

Among the many other off-ice events being held during the Memorial Cup, 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. She will speak at noon on May 31 at Sandman Centre. Tickets are free and available here.

Other speakers at the Leadership Series will include Marie-Philip Poulin, Meghan Agosta, Ken Hitchcock, Kirk McLean, and Manon Rhéaume, along with Blazers alumni Darryl Sydor, Jarome Iginla, Scott Niedermayer, Darcy Tucker, and Mark Recchi. They will also be speaking at the Molson Canadian Hockey House.

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.

Other Events

• The Arrival of the Cup (May 25 @ 4:00 p.m. at the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Powwow Arbour): Just a day before the puck drops, fans can obtain a free ticket to come witness this celebration that will mark the arrival of the prestigious Memorial Cup trophy and feature a welcome & prayer by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc along with introductions of all four Memorial Cup teams
• Fan Zone (May 26 – June 4 @ Sandman Centre): Featuring an impressive line-up of activities, including interactive skills games from TopShot Hockey, this area will be a must-see stop for hockey fans of all ages
• Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) (May 26 – June 4 @ Kelson Hall): The HHOF will showcase its most prized artifacts and trophies in Kamloops, something that is usually only available to fans who visit the HHOF in Toronto. They will also provide one-of-a-kind experiences, such as Aboriginal Hockey, & have displays honouring esteemed Blazers alumni like Niedermayer, Iginla & more
• On-Ice Skill Development Sessions (May 26 – June 3 – McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre & Sandman Centre): 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 this unique opportunity to improve their skills while being inspired by hockey superstars & Kamloops Blazers alumni
• Memorial Cup Ball Hockey Tournament (May 27 & 28 – 300 St. Paul St.): Organized by the Kamloops Ball Hockey League, interested participants aged 5-13 can register a team or as individuals in this 3-on-3 ball hockey tournament – registration to this event includes an official Memorial Cup jersey & other great souvenirs
• FemSport Athletics (June 3 @ 10:00 a.m. – 300 St. Paul St.): Women of all backgrounds demonstrate their incredible skill and strength as they compete in a series of challenging fitness tests including a car pulling contest

A limited number of Memorial Cup tickets can be found here and with the full tournament schedule here.

For more information on the 2023 Memorial Cup, go here.