2012 Allan Cup

[Shootmaster_44]

I couldn't figure out where this should best be posted since none of the forums seem quite appropriate. But the Allan Cup (Canadian Senior championship) kicks off tomorrow here in Lloydminster. Anybody into senior hockey? I'm not a huge fan of Senior hockey, but I figured the Allan Cup is a big event I better go. So I'm hitting the Kenora/Lloydminster game tomorrow night.

A quick scan through the rosters of the teams that made it shows a lot of former CIS players (and likely some ECHLers too), but no big name NHLers like Theo Fleury. Is there a rule that has banned them now in Senior hockey or just none of the teams have any?

[BK Triple Threat]

Is this where dead beats like Donald Brashear go when they dont want to get a real job and their days of doing anything competitively are over??? I can think of former UHL Guys who then went and played in leagues like this that had a lot of goonery and no other purpose. The U was a lot like this but you would still have some rookies sign up and all.

[Shootmaster_44]

Originally Posted by Green Men Rule

Is this where dead beats like Donald Brashear go when they dont want to get a real job and their days of doing anything competitively are over??? I can think of former UHL Guys who then went and played in leagues like this that had a lot of goonery and no other purpose. The U was a lot like this but you would still have some rookies sign up and all.

You're thinking of the LNAH in Quebec. That league when they were still the QSPHL played for the Allan Cup. However, there was always complaints from the other teams saying they were a pro league, not a amateur Senior League. So I believe in 2005, they finally admitted to being pro and stopped going to the Allan Cup.

This is more super competitive, contact adult leagues. The teams are usually dotted with players who have CIS, ECHL (or lower pro) and lower end European experience. You occasionally have a former NHLer or two playing on the teams. In 2005 Theo Fleury played for Horse Lake and Brent Gretzky was playing for Brantford still. But they are officially playing for the love of the game and community. I believe you have to live within a certain radius of the community to play for the team. Otherwise, you are considered an import and I believe teams are limited to only a few (3 or 4 I think). At one point the Allan Cup was more important in Canadian hockey circles than the Memorial Cup. However, Senior Hockey lost its importance in the late 70s/early 80s and hasn't gotten back to the level it once was.

Here's the link to the Pointstreak rosters, flip through as an ECHL fan I'm sure you'll find a few familiar names. http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/...&seasonid=8449

[BK Triple Threat]

Saw Brent Gretzky in the UHL...wow, he made the NHL? He had some offensive talent for AA but that was about it.

[Shootmaster_44]

Originally Posted by Green Men Rule

Saw Brent Gretzky in the UHL...wow, he made the NHL? He had some offensive talent for AA but that was about it.

He sure did. He is a co-holder of a NHL record, most points by a brother duo in NHL history. He played all of about 5 games in Tampa in 1994. One of them was against LA Kings and he actually took face-offs against his brother. Made an interesting anecdote I read somewhere. Apparently, Wayne said he played harder against his little brother than normal just because it was his little brother. Brent said something about Wayne schooling him and making him realize that he wasn't the awesome player he thought he was.

[Trevor3]

Senior hockey is really big in Newfoundland, it has been picking up steam a lot over the past few years. This season was the first for an island wide league since the late 80s and featured 5 teams, expanding to a 6th next year. The rule is 2 imports, which are defined as 2 players who are not from Newfoundland and Labrador or never played minor hockey as a member of a Newfoundland minor hockey association (or something to that effect). It was 3 and 4 at one time but has been scaled back in order to keep small market teams competitive, a little town like Deer Lake with 4,000 people can't come up with the same finances as Mount Pearl, the second largest city with 25,000. They would end up with import cards left open while teams in bigger centres with bigger rinks could fill them all.

There have been a number of former NHL players to play out here, mostly Newfoundlanders coming home after years in the minors.

I can't speak for other provinces/leagues, but NL teams pay their players. It's under the table and nobody admits it openly but knowing players that play, I can tell you they do. Its too bad, it kills teams. My hometown Stephenville Jets folded in 1990 under a $750,000 debtload incurred from paying players, flying them in, competing in the Allan Cup etc...

Clarenville is planning on bidding to host the 2016 Allan Cup after having won it in 2011. They'll also be competing again in 2013, earning that right after winning the Herder (NL championship) for 2012.