CHL playoffs start tonight

[puckhead]

Julian - how's Steve Anthony doing for the SeaDogs?
I think he's about the only Canuck prospect involved.

 

[Destroydacre]

When the host team wins their league then the team they beat in the finals gets the 4th spot. I'm not sure when the last time that happened was but I know in 2006 Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts got into the tournament that way and then they ended up winning the Memorial Cup.

Yup, only team ever to win the Memorial Cup that did not host and also did not win a league title. While I don't mind the set up of the Memorial Cup, it's not the greatest, so it's a good thing that doesn't happen often IMO. A more common occurrence is the host team losing (either in the finals or before) then going on to win the Memorial Cup. Now knowing that you're in the Memorial Cup already might change the way a team plays, which is too bad, but the Owen Sound/Missassauga series was pretty impressive. Reminded me of the Medicine Hat/Vancouver WHL championship in 2007. Both teams wanted it badly. I rank it as the 2nd greatest series in the WHL during my lifetime, the 2008 WCF between Spokane and Tri-City being #1 of course!

Anyone that's been following the CHL this season knows of the poor attendance the Majors have gotten this year, specifically in the playoffs. The game last night was a sellout, but by several accounts, the place had more Owen Sound fans than Missassauga fans. The video of the winning goal backs up this claim as well. It'll be interesting to see who exactly the crowd is pulling for in the Memorial Cup. It looks like the Majors won't be getting a boost from that home crowd though.

[YOUTUBE]GFD-bnMd1L0[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Destroydacre]

Oh and congrats Julian on the Sea Dogs winning the QMJHL title and making it to the Memorial Cup! Savor every game, because it goes by so damn quickly and in junior hockey there's absolutely zero guarantees a team will ever make it there again (although I will say that Saint John looks pretty loaded for the next few seasons).

 

[juliansteed]

Julian - how's Steve Anthony doing for the SeaDogs?
I think he's about the only Canuck prospect involved.

He was putting together a solid season and post-season on a 2nd line that could have been the 1st line on many teams. Often got over-shadowed by some of the other talented forwards but has been really good. Unfortunately he was injured in the 1st game of the finals and missed the rest of the games. He was the 2nd memeber of that 2nd line to go down and I think it really hurt the team and made this series closer than many were expecting with the Sea Dogs not having much secondary scoring. Its unclear whether or not he'll be able to play in the Memorial Cup tournament at all but I think he will. Here's hoping at least.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Hey Julian any chance Huberdeau is available at #5?

 

[juliansteed]

Oh and congrats Julian on the Sea Dogs winning the QMJHL title and making it to the Memorial Cup! Savor every game, because it goes by so damn quickly and in junior hockey there's absolutely zero guarantees a team will ever make it there again (although I will say that Saint John looks pretty loaded for the next few seasons).

Thanks! Sea Dogs should be strong next season as well even after probably losing Despres and a few others but the core of this team is 18 or under. There is a bit of concern about Huberdeau jumping to the NHL next year but I don't think it will happen, at least not beyond a few games. After next season I expect the team will be gutted and a rebuild will begin as most of our core of players should be moving onto the pro. But that's fine, we've had a great year last year and came up a bit short, won the Q this year and still hoping for the Memorial Cup, and should be about as good next year, so after 3 years we'd be due for a rebuild.

 

[juliansteed]

Hey Julian any chance Huberdeau is available at #5?

I think he could be but really not sure. I'm not too familiar with the other prospects other than by name but don't get to see them much. I've read a few scouting reports and have heard several members of the media that project him to go 5th or later while others have him going sooner. I suspect Lou Lamerello wathed these finals closely as Gatineau's goalie and Devil's prospect Maxime Clarmont played out of his mind and the Sea Dogs have a top Devils prospect on defense too in Eric Gelinas and of course by holding the 4th pick he would have been getting a good look at Huberdeau who just happened to win playoff MVP. I have a feeling he is going to go #4 to the Devils but its really hard to say.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I think he could be but really not sure. I'm not too familiar with the other prospects other than by name but don't get to see them much. I've read a few scouting reports and have heard several members of the media that project him to go 5th or later while others have him going sooner. I suspect Lou Lamerello wathed these finals closely as Gatineau's goalie and Devil's prospect Maxime Clarmont played out of his mind and the Sea Dogs have a top Devils prospect on defense too in Eric Gelinas and of course by holding the 4th pick he would have been getting a good look at Huberdeau who just happened to win playoff MVP. I have a feeling he is going to go #4 to the Devils but its really hard to say.

I have a feeling he's going 4th as well. The stupid lottery hurt the Isles this time. Oh well I still think they're going to get a good player.

How well represented do you think the Sea Dogs will be at the Memorial Cup? Is the fanbase planning to invade Mississauga?

 

[juliansteed]

I have a feeling he's going 4th as well. The stupid lottery hurt the Isles this time. Oh well I still think they're going to get a good player.

How well represented do you think the Sea Dogs will be at the Memorial Cup? Is the fanbase planning to invade Mississauga?

I think I'd prefer to see him goto the Isles because I think the Isles are going to be a very good team in a few seasons and it would be fun to see him be a part of that. My only concern is, would the Isles be likely to bring him upto the NHL next season? I'm hoping he's back in junior for at least 1 more season and 2 would be nice so the Sea Dogs could trade him to help their rebuild. The Devils I suspect would leave him in junior for at least another season.

I think there will be a few fans making the trip. Most people around here know people in the Toronto area they could visit. In fact there are tons of people from here living in Toronto, but not sure how many of them really follow the Sea Dogs who have only been around for 6 seasons. My father was hoping to make the trip and visit my sister and nephew in the process but he has other committments that won't allow it. He's 1 of the team doctors and I just found out that he was in Gatineau last night and even got in on the team picture with the President's Cup (QMJHL championship trophy).

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I think I'd prefer to see him goto the Isles because I think the Isles are going to be a very good team in a few seasons and it would be fun to see him be a part of that. My only concern is, would the Isles be likely to bring him upto the NHL next season? I'm hoping he's back in junior for at least 1 more season and 2 would be nice so the Sea Dogs could trade him to help their rebuild. The Devils I suspect would leave him in junior for at least another season.

I think there will be a few fans making the trip. Most people around here know people in the Toronto area they could visit. In fact there are tons of people from here living in Toronto, but not sure how many of them really follow the Sea Dogs who have only been around for 6 seasons. My father was hoping to make the trip and visit my sister and nephew in the process but he has other committments that won't allow it. He's 1 of the team doctors and I just found out that he was in Gatineau last night and even got in on the team picture with the President's Cup (QMJHL championship trophy).

That's AWESOME for your Dad. He'll be a part of that team forever.

The Islanders rushed Bailey because to be honest they didn't really have a choice. I believe they realize it was a mistake. Hopefully he bounces back this season.

Nino was sent back to Portland after 8 games. Three of the 4 center spots are locked up already. Tavares, Neilson & Bailey. The top two lines are set on the Wings. If Huberdeau were their pick at 5 he'd have to blow them away at prospects & training camp to make the team. I'd say there's a good chance Huberdeau would be playing in Saint John next year if the Islanders chose him.

 

[puckhead]

He was putting together a solid season and post-season on a 2nd line that could have been the 1st line on many teams. Often got over-shadowed by some of the other talented forwards but has been really good. Unfortunately he was injured in the 1st game of the finals and missed the rest of the games. He was the 2nd memeber of that 2nd line to go down and I think it really hurt the team and made this series closer than many were expecting with the Sea Dogs not having much secondary scoring. Its unclear whether or not he'll be able to play in the Memorial Cup tournament at all but I think he will. Here's hoping at least.

thank you sir! good luck in the Memorial Cup.

 

[dash]

I'm rooting for Kootenay as the WHL rep in the Memorial Cup, but my 2nd pick is Saint John. Good to see a Maritime based team in the tourney. As far as the two OHL teams are concerned, they can rot in hell.

 

[Destroydacre]

I'm rooting for Kootenay as the WHL rep in the Memorial Cup, but my 2nd pick is Saint John. Good to see a Maritime based team in the tourney. As far as the two OHL teams are concerned, they can rot in hell.

Same here. Rooting for the WHL rep (as usual) but Saint John would be worthy champions for sure. I have to admit it's kind of cool to see Owen Sound win the OHL championship because they've never won anything, but they don't need more than one championship this year! :p


Here's to a Kootenay/Saint John championship game!

 

[juliansteed]

thank you sir! good luck in the Memorial Cup.

No problem and thanks. He'll be out of the lineup for the 1st game tomorrow night but he is hoping to be back by the 2nd game on Monday so you might get a chance to get a look at him.