Quote:
Originally Posted by Taoiseach
I'd like to see the first three, I think that Saint John's might be a flop though. They didn't really care for the Fog Devils, and that was when there wasn't AHL hockey there. The travel would be awful too. Trois-Rivières needs a team back though. And bring back the Éperviers! Sorel's arena (Colisée Cardin) is apparently one of the best arenas in Québec without a major (i.e. QMJHL or NHL) tenant.
My issue with American teams is that I don't see there being two, and having one is just sort of annoying. I know that this isn't that big of a deal, but everyone is going to have to get passports (and visas for the Euro players) all to accommodate one team. It just seems easier to keep it a Québec/Maritime league.
What about places like Sallaberry-de-Valleyfield? If it isn't too close to Boisbriand, and if they figured out getting a new arena, we could even look at making a return to Saint-Jérôme. I really can't think of anywhere else in Québec, save for more Montréal area teams. I'm not sure that Greater-Québec would be a good idea (i.e. Beauport).
There's certainly always Cornwall too, but that has issues of its own.
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Well you have to think most of these kids have passports to begin with going to minor hockey tournaments across North America and some cases going to Europe.
If the Q wants to compete with the other two leagues, getting back to the United States is a must down the road. Although I highly doubt it will happen. To me it doesn't make sense to fold your only American franchise, then right after send out a press release saying you are going to have scouting combines in New England and extend the draft two more rounds to require each team to draft two American players in the draft.
There has been nothing announced in terms of scouting combines in New England.
If the Q really wanted to make a point of teams drafting American players they shouldn't have thrown the two extra rounds into the draft because it just makes look like those American picks are "throw away picks."
If the draft was still 12 rounds teams would have to make tougher decisions who they draft.
I don't think the Q is coming back to New England for at least a decade. I hope I am wrong, but I think the QMJHL is just happy to be in Canada at this moment.