It's been posted in the past, but Q clubs usually struggle in tournaments hosted by the WHL and WHL clubs usually struggle in tournaments hosted by the Q.
It's never really been discussed ad nauseum if this is a product of travel or if it has to do with "going for it" cycles (ie the Q has so many teams load up when two teams play in the Memorial Cup that there is often very few good teams the year after they host (and they are usually weaker to begin with, because they don't build up for years only to not go for it when the Q is hosting, Halifax aside). I don't know if the WHL would have an opposite trend (where teams won't add the year before they host, because they want to have all their assets available for the big year, but it does make some sense in theory that prices don't accommodate loading up.
The OHL doesn't seem to have these problems, but frankly, the OHL seems to always have at least one team that is loaded up.
It's been posted in the past, but Q clubs usually struggle in tournaments hosted by the WHL and WHL clubs usually struggle in tournaments hosted by the Q.
It's never really been discussed ad nauseum if this is a product of travel or if it has to do with "going for it" cycles (ie the Q has so many teams load up when two teams play in the Memorial Cup that there is often very few good teams the year after they host (and they are usually weaker to begin with, because they don't build up for years only to not go for it when the Q is hosting, Halifax aside). I don't know if the WHL would have an opposite trend (where teams won't add the year before they host, because they want to have all their assets available for the big year, but it does make some sense in theory that prices don't accommodate loading up.
The OHL doesn't seem to have these problems, but frankly, the OHL seems to always have at least one team that is loaded up.
It's an interesting question.
SJ didn't "load up" this year compared to what fans wanted -- we wanted Gormley and Coyle The Cats I guess loaded up quite a bit. As hosts trying to defend the "Québec" decision to host there, they really had to load up to compete. Two years ago Moncton loaded up then got blasted out west. That is still a mystery to me.
I saw an Edmonton team that I thought any of the Q top 8 could beat. They just didn't compete. I saw slow legs and no follow-through in all their games. Why?
i have slammed the WHL team before but really, why did they not compete. They were so soft and disinterested. Not being sarcastic, but can any of the WHL fans understand any of this.?
SJ didn't "load up" this year compared to what fans wanted -- we wanted Gormley and Coyle The Cats I guess loaded up quite a bit. As hosts trying to defend the "Québec" decision to host there, they really had to load up to compete. Two years ago Moncton loaded up then got blasted out west. That is still a mystery to me.
I saw an Edmonton team that I thought any of the Q top 8 could beat. They just didn't compete. I saw slow legs and no follow-through in all their games. Why?
Moncton's team hit mass injuries and the flu.
I think Edmonton got destroyed by the bad ice. They wore themselves out on it. They aren't quite as fast as Shawinigan or Saint John and London scored first and trapped (which was aided by the bad ice).
Plz stop feeding the troll. Edmonton was just tired in this memorial cup and Shawinigan was on break for about a month to prepare for this so don't jump to conclusion....
crickets from i am the liquor, mr. "shawinigan won't win a game"
but seriously though, Shawinigan was heavily underestimated heading in, and are showing people why they were #4 in the Q; great forward depth and a strong defense. Hoping for a great game tonight!
Kudos to Shawinigan for playing an entertaining, fast and open style. I'm sick of watching defence-first teams that clog everything up and insist that even the trainers block shots. Should be a great game tonight.
Kudos to Shawinigan for playing an entertaining, fast and open style. I'm sick of watching defence-first teams that clog everything up and insist that even the trainers block shots. Should be a great game tonight.
Talking about any team in specific?
The reality with London is that if they played a run and gun style they would lose to the teams from the Q and wouldn't have won the OHL. They don't have the offensive firepower & slickness of some other teams. However, because of the style they adopted they're one game away from a Memorial Cup win. Not bad if you ask me. It's the same thing the Rangers are doing. It may not be exciting but it's very sound hockey.
We had an exciting, high scoring team in the memorial cup in 2005 - and everyone hated us anyway.
crickets from i am the liquor, mr. "shawinigan won't win a game"
but seriously though, Shawinigan was heavily underestimated heading in, and are showing people why they were #4 in the Q; great forward depth and a strong defense. Hoping for a great game tonight!
Playing every game at home in the Memorial Cup has nothing to do with their success, either, I'm sure
The Cats I guess loaded up quite a bit. As hosts trying to defend the "Québec" decision to host there, they really had to load up to compete. Two years ago Moncton loaded up then got blasted out west. That is still a mystery to me.
