Player suspended for stomping on skate at Memorial Cup

The Kitchener Rangers are guaranteed a spot in the Memorial Cup finals, while a player for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens was ejected from the game.

The Canadian Hockey League has suspended a player who stomped on a rival’s skate at the 2026 Memorial Cup.

The controversial move happened Tuesday night during a game between the Chicoutimi Saguenéens and Kitchener Rangers.

Chicoutimi’s Jordan Tourigny was ejected from the game after he repeatedly stepped on the foot of Kitchener’s Christian Humphrey.

Humphrey was taken to his team’s locker room and never returned to the ice.

Tourigny was also out for the rest of the match.

The Rangers ultimately won the game 3-2 and secured their spot in the final.

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Jussi Ahokas, Kitchener’s head coach, shared his thoughts after the game.

“Well, that’s a cowardice play stomping with the skate. That’s not tough hockey, that’s coward hockey, that’s not in our values,” he said. “If someone does that, that’s cheap, cheapest thing [that] you can do in hockey for me.”

Statement from QMJHL

On Wednesday morning, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League issued a statement about the online reaction to the game.

“Jordan Tourigny made a regrettable play in the third period, one he deeply regrets,” the league wrote. “However, the hate, threats and violent messages being directed at him on social media have absolutely no place in our game or in our community.”

“Our players are young athletes between the ages of 16 and 20,” the statement continued. “They deserve respect and support, even in difficult moments. Hockey is a game. Please treat these players with dignity. Thank you.”

CHL/NHL decision

Later that afternoon, the CHL also weighed in on Tourigny’s behaviour.

“All discipline matters, along with officiating assignments, at the 2026 Memorial Cup are handled by the NHL. Following its review, the NHL recommended that Tourigny be suspended for the duration of the tournament,” a statement said. “That recommendation was accepted by the Memorial Cup Games Committee and the CHL Executive Council.”

The suspension remains in effect for the rest of the Memorial Cup.

The CHL said it would not comment any further on the incident.