Chicoutimi Saguenéens’ Jordan Tourigny has been suspended for the remainder of the Memorial Cup tournament for stomping on the leg of Christian Humpreys of the Kitchener Rangers.
Tournigny and Humphreys were battling for the puck along the boards deep in the Chicoutimi zone. With his stick tied up, the Saguenéens defenseman began kicking at his opponent’s skate. After three forceful kicks, Humphreys fell to the ice in pain as the whistle sounded to stop play.
Referees Mike Campbell and Jeff Ingram issued Tourigny a match penalty for intent to injure, ending his night.
The Chicoutimi blueliner has since been suspended by the CHL for the remainder of the tournament. All Player Safety rulings at the Memorial Cup are handled by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
Tourigny released a statement regarding his suspension:
“I am sorry not to be able to continue the tournament and help my teammates. At no point did I touch or intend to hit his skate boot or his ankle. My intention was only to reach the blade of his stick. I regret using my skate in that type of situation and I am aware that this kind of action is prohibited. I am relieved to learn that he is not injured and that he will be able to play in Sunday’s final.”
Kitchener Rangers head coach Jussi Ahokas blasted Tourigny for the skate stomp.
“That’s a cowardly play stomping with the skate,” said Ahokas. “That’s not tough hockey, that’s coward hockey. That’s not in our values. If someone does that, that’s cheap, cheapest thing you can do in hockey… I like tough hockey, I like physical hockey, but that has nothing to do with playing well.”
From the CHL:
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today that Jordan Tourigny of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens has been suspended for the remainder of the 2026 Memorial Cup.
The suspension is as a result of the match penalty assessed to Tourigny during the Saguenéens’ game against the Kitchener Rangers on Tuesday, May 26.
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. That recommendation was accepted by the Memorial Cup Games Committee and the CHL Executive Council.
The suspension is effective immediately. The CHL will not be providing further comment on this matter.
Tourigny, 21, is not eligible to return to the CHL once his suspension is up; this ban has effectively ended his junior hockey career. He is committed to play NCAA hockey at Northeastern University next season.
Kitchener went on to defeat Chicoutimi 3-2; the Rangers, undefeated in the tournament, automatically advance to Sunday’s championship match. Officials for the game were referees Mike Campbell (#89) and Jeff Ingram (#82) with linespersons Luke Pye (#25) and Philippe Pilon (#40). The Memorial Cup Tournament runs through May 31.
