Summerside Mayor Dan Kutcher stands near a Centennial Cup display in Credit Union Place on Oct. 1. Kutcher was on hand for the announcement that the 2026 Centennial Cup will be held in Summerside. Photo by Kristin Gardiner /Journal PioneerArticle contentSUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Canada’s National Junior A Hockey Championship is returning to Summerside for the first time in 13 years.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe 2026 Centennial Cup will take place over 10 days, from May 7 to 17. There, 10 teams across Canada will compete, which includes the host team, the Summerside Western Capitals.Article contentArticle contentSummerside Mayor Dan Kutcher said it’s exciting to see the tournament return to the city, not just for sports, but for boosting tourism and the economy. Per a press release from the city, the event is estimated to have an economic impact of $5 million.Article contentArticle content“I’m a hockey fan, I’ve played hockey,” said Kutcher. “I think it’ll be great for the community, great to see the best Junior A teams from across the country playing right here in Summerside.Article content“In a lot of ways we’ve been spoiled lately, with the quality of hockey we’ve gotten, both from the Canada-U.S. rivalry series, the U17 World Championships and now we’ve got the Centennial Cup back in Summerside, which I’m sure is gonna be fantastic.”Article content Next May, the Summerside Western Capitals will compete against nine other teams in their home city for the 2026 Centennial Cup. Kristin Gardiner Journal PioneerArticle contentEvent returns to P.E.I.Article contentSummerside has hosted the event three times before, in 1989, 1997 and most recently in 2013. Charlottetown, meanwhile, has hosted the event twice, in 1971 and again in 2003.Article content“It’s great for our community, it’s great for the young people in our community to see that national talent,” said Kutcher.Article content“And to get out to cheer on their home team in a national tournament is a pretty unique experience. These young men inspire a lot of young people in our community to be better players and achieve their best self. That’s really inspiring.”Article contentArticle content Mayor Dan Kutcher announces the return of Canada’s National Junior A Hockey Championship to Summerside for the first time in 13 years. Photo by Kristin Gardiner /Journal PioneerArticle contentMatt Moore, commissioner of the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL), is likewise looking forward to seeing the tournament return to a smaller city in the Maritimes.Article content“I’ve been in the role for five and a half months, so to see a national championship come to our league in my first year, the bar is set extremely high,” he said.Article content“For several years, the Maritime (Junior) Hockey League’s been going across the country as one of the top Junior A leagues in Canada. The Summerside Caps certainly lead the pack.”Article content Matt Moore, commissioner of the Maritime Junior Hockey League, was at Credit Union Place on Oct. 1 for the announcement that the 2026 Centennial Cup will be coming to Summerside, P.E.I. Photo by Kristin Gardiner /Journal PioneerArticle contentThis past May, Moore attended the 2025 Centennial Cup in Calgary. While he had a good time, in his opinion, there’s something special about bringing an event like this to a rural area.Article content“I think there’s such a big market. There’s NHL teams there, there’s Western Hockey League teams there, there’s just such a big population that sometimes events like this are often not seen,” said Moore.Article content“I think what we’re known for in the Maritimes, when we have opportunities to bring national championships and world championships back, the communities really roll out the red carpet.… There’s a certain sense of pride and belonging and community spirit that we have in Summerside and across the Maritimes.”Article contentArticle contentStay informed: Don’t miss the news you need to know. Sign up for our newsletter today.Article contentArticle contentKristin Gardiner is a reporter for the Journal Pioneer in Prince Edward Island. She can be reached at kgardiner@postmedia.com.Article content
The Centennial Cup returns to P.E.I., May 7-17
