If a host crew developments to the championship activity and that host crew did not get as far as its league closing that 12 months, that host team need to then defeat its opponent two times to declare the Cup
The New Westminster Bruins franchise is the greatest in the background of main junior hockey in Canada — far better than any other in the Western, Ontario or Quebec Important Junior leagues.
By key junior hockey, we are referring to the era of 1970 to the current as the 1970-1971 season was when the Canadian Beginner Hockey Association divided junior A into important junior and junior A concentrations, with groups in the former vying for the Memorial Cup and clubs in the latter competing for the Centennial Cup.
The Huge, Undesirable Bruins had been led by coach Ernie “Punch” McLean and dominated the big junior hockey landscape in the 1970s from their house in overwhelming Queen’s Park Arena, qualifying for the Memorial Cup four several years in a row from 1975 to 1978 and successful the WHL title in each individual of people 4 a long time. They were being the dad or mum club of my hometown Abbotsford Flyers, a BCJHL junior A team coached by Doug Sauter and similarly as tricky as the Bruins, emulating the Broad Avenue Bullies of Philadelphia Flyers’ fame.
The Bruins went 2-2 at those people Memorial Cups, with each losses coming in the championship video game. And it is crucially vital to take note that results occurred prior to the host staff concept was launched to the event.
In other terms, teams playing for the Memorial Cup experienced to to start with gain their league championship.
Till the host workforce was introduced in 1983, the Memorial Cup was a accurate title take a look at, with the champions of the Western, Ontario and Quebec big junior leagues meeting in a round-robin tourney in pre-determined locales, rotating between the 3 leagues, that did not necessarily consist of a staff from that city. During New Westminster’s four-year run to the Cup tourney, the internet sites were being Kitchener, Montreal, Vancouver and Sudbury/Sault Ste. Marie.
The initial host team was the Portland Winter Hawks (the nickname was two phrases back then). The club —defending WHL winner and Memorial Cup contender in 1982 — was picked the 12 months ahead of to host the 1983 Memorial Cup tourney, signing up for the 3 league champions. Despite the fact that enjoying an automatic berth by using its host city standing, Portland was a powerhouse that period, finishing second overall in the WHL standings and creating it to the league ultimate right before bowing out to the Lethbridge Broncos in five video games.
But the Wintertime Hawks managed to win the Memorial Cup at the rear of Cam Neely’s hat trick in Portland’s 8-3 title sport victory around the Oshawa Generals. A double dose of historical past was designed as the Memorial Cup was held outdoors of Canada for the to start with time and the Winter season Hawks grew to become the very first U.S.-based mostly staff to acquire the trophy.
In addition, and importantly, attendance at that Memorial Cup tourney in Oregon was the 2nd-highest at any time recorded, with the 54,000 supporters attending the 8 game titles, second only to the 1977 Memorial Cup celebration at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, showcasing the Bruins from nearby New Westminster. Attendance only grew from there, as can be anticipated with a host workforce igniting community consideration.
And here’s the rub — if each and every host group was as excellent as that Portland club, or as excellent as the host Kamloops Blazers in 1995 — there would not genuinely be a host city discussion that has festered for 4 many years.
But when champions like the Saint John Sea Canines emerge, as they did very last thirty day period, that discussion is rekindled. Saint John had a good regular time, but was ousted by the Rimouski Oceanic in five online games (ideal-of-five) in the opening round of the QMJHL playoffs, regardless of ending 23 points in advance of the Oceanic in the frequent season. The Sea Canine experienced a 40-working day crack right before taking part in their to start with match in the Memorial Cup match. Saint John finally defeated OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs 6-3 to earn the Cup.
A equivalent situation happened in the 2017 Memorial Cup tourney. The host Windsor Spitfires ended up eradicated by the London Knights in seven online games in the opening round of the OHL playoffs. The Spitfires experienced a 46-working day crack in advance of actively playing their to start with video game in the Memorial Cup event. Windsor inevitably defeated OHL champion Erie Otters 4-3 to acquire the Cup.
In 2012, the host Shawinigan Cataractes shed to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in the next round of the QMJHL playoffs in seven games, irrespective of Shawinigan ending 18 details forward of Chicoutimi in the common period. The Cataractes had a 32-working day split in advance of playing their very first recreation in the Memorial Cup tournament. Shawinigan inevitably conquer OHL winner London 2-1 in time beyond regulation to get the Cup.
In 2004, the host Kelowna Rockets concluded with the most points in the WHL, but shed to the Everett Silvertips in the league semifinals in 7 video games. Everett finished 18 factors guiding Kelowna in the frequent season. The Rockets had a 19-working day split ahead of actively playing their initially sport in the Memorial Cup tournament. Kelowna at some point defeated QMJHL champion Gatineau Olympiques 2-1 to win the Cup.
In 1999, the host Ottawa 67’s lost to the Belleville Bulls in the 2nd spherical in five online games, irrespective of Belleville finishing 18 details guiding Ottawa in the normal period. The 67’s experienced a 37-day break ahead of taking part in their first sport in the Memorial Cup event. Ottawa eventually defeated WHL winner Calgary Hitmen 7-6 in additional time to gain the Cup.
Individuals five championships really should have an asterisk affixed to the names of the winners as they are tainted titles.
In the 40 many years because a fourth (host) group was additional to the Memorial Cup tourney, 8 host groups have received the championship.
The over 5 are asterisk champions. 3 other people are legitimate Cup holders as they gained it all by either declaring their league championships or earning it to their league finals en route to the Memorial Cup tournament.
These contain the 1993 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (who dropped the OHL closing to Peterborough in five video games and won the Memorial Cup with a 4-2 gain more than people exact same Petes), the 1995 Kamloops Blazers (who ended up WHL champions and defeated OHL winner Detroit Junior Purple Wings 8-2 to get the Cup) and the 1997 Hull Olympiques (who gained the QMJHL title and defeated WHL champion Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-1 to get the Cup).
So, while 8 host city titles in 40 years of host town inclusion does not always reveal an epidemic of asterisk titles, owning 5 of people eight host cities hoist the Cup without even advancing as far as their league finals is indeed a dilemma.
How to deal with it? There have been several recommendations offered due to the fact the Sea Dogs gained the Cup past thirty day period. One — including quite a few more groups and turning the event into a March Insanity style of function — is flawed in that carrying out so only dilutes the relevance of league titles and the arduous trek a staff usually takes in successful them.
I have a couple of concepts, a person of which I like improved than the other. Develop a fourth main junior league by hiving off groups from one particular of the three existing circuits (possibly the WHL’s East Convention gets its personal Prairie Hockey League) and have 4 league champions (accurate champions) meet each and every calendar year in a pre-established metropolis, rotating the locale amid the 4 leagues, as was performed pre-1983. The downside to this strategy is there is no assure a host metropolis will be competing and, thus, attendance (and earnings, which is the most critical consideration in athletics these times) would very likely be impacted.
Failing that, if the host city thought is to be retained, then the playoff system within just the Memorial Cup match must be transformed. If the Canadian Hockey League can abruptly modify the points procedure for wins and losses at the final minute (as it did ideal prior to the puck dropped at this year’s Memorial Cup), surely it can devise a way to blur all those asterisks from title holders a year before the Blazers host the tourney.
Here’s my suggestion — implement a Website page playoff program to the Memorial Cup final. If a host crew developments to the championship video game and that host staff did not get as significantly as its league last that yr, that host crew need to then defeat its opponent (which will be 1 of three league champions) twice to claim the Cup.
It’s not a great solution, but it benefits a league champion for obtaining to the tourney the good way and troubles a host town that faltered in the playoffs to show its mettle the moment once again.
We all appreciate the Blazers and the city is thrilled the 2023 Memorial Cup is coming to the Event Cash. On the other hand, if Kamloops does not at minimum advance as considerably as the WHL remaining future period, then wins the Cup on residence ice, a further asterisk will be added to the venerable trophy.
Now, let us circle back again to my declare at the top rated of the column that the New Westminster Bruins franchise is the most effective of all time in contemporary-working day important junior hockey.
Just before any Blazers admirers increase up and start the argue, relax.
As some may know, the Kamloops Blazers of right now — the team that has been to six Memorial Cups, profitable 3, and nine WHL finals, successful six — is that extremely similar New Westminster Bruins franchise, acquiring moved to Kamloops in 1981. In overall, the New Westminster/Kamloops 51-year lineage involves an impressive 10 Memorial Cup appearances (about a person just about every five yrs), five Memorial Cup titles (when per 10 years), 13 WHL last appearances and 10 league titles.
And nary an asterisk to be identified on any of all those accomplishments.
Twitter: @ChrisJFoulds