Post by RespectableAndy on Dec 13, 2023 23:24:31 GMT -4
This thread has gone off in many wild directions, not saying I disagree with the overall message, just an interesting, if untrue, angle to take on the whole thing. When I first saw the "Quebec bias/ Maritime hate" enter the chat my first thought was - " Didn't a Maritime club host the past 2 Memorial Cups, pre and post COVID?" - Only to go check and see, yes, that is indeed the case.
So yeah, 5-4 Quebec vs. Maritimes in Mem Cups hosted since 2000, as someone noted above. 4 first time hosts in that era too, which may not look great now. Not exactly the most "let's boycott a larger and more historic portion of the league" material I've seen, but I suppose I understand the energy with many markets, including half of the Atlantic flat out overlooked.
But I believe 3 other points stick out to me and are pretty valid
- Cape Breton. 0 Memorial Cups hosted ever. I know people more connected/those who live in CB and follow the politics and club could explain in further detail, but as an outsider it looks strange and I don't fully get why. Capacity limits don't seem to be an issue. They seem an underrated junior program for the size of the market and economic situation it exists in (7 straight 40+ win seasons in the 2000's, 7 straight winning seasons in the 10's) but seems to be ignored at almost all turns by the area and the league
- Gatineau would have more of a beef with the league than Moncton. Has not hosted since 1997. New arena completed in 2021. If we're talking on-ice product, they are the most successful franchise in QMJHL history, with 7 league titles, including 3 since their last host, and back-to-back crowns in 2004.
P.s. - I assumed "slush puppie" was a nickname for the new rink but ... it's called the Slush Puppie Center. There's your reason for getting skipped over right there lol.
- I'm actually impressed by the league brass is finally showing restraint with Quebec City. They seem to go there every 10 years and with a new arena they would actually have reason for it now.
My god - they gave the Colisee the damn Cup in '91 when they didn't even have a team in the league!
Genuinely stunned they have not gone to the Videotron Center yet
But that last point really sums it up. They haven't even gone back to their darling and most beloved institution in the league despite having a 17,000+ arena, so I don't think anyone can yell corruption - this is ineptitude! Lol, it always has been, it always will. It's the QMJHL.
The damn website hasn't been usable since the update in 2003, you think they're going to get the most important decision the league faces every 3 years correct? HA!
So yeah, 5-4 Quebec vs. Maritimes in Mem Cups hosted since 2000, as someone noted above. 4 first time hosts in that era too, which may not look great now. Not exactly the most "let's boycott a larger and more historic portion of the league" material I've seen, but I suppose I understand the energy with many markets, including half of the Atlantic flat out overlooked.
But I believe 3 other points stick out to me and are pretty valid
- Cape Breton. 0 Memorial Cups hosted ever. I know people more connected/those who live in CB and follow the politics and club could explain in further detail, but as an outsider it looks strange and I don't fully get why. Capacity limits don't seem to be an issue. They seem an underrated junior program for the size of the market and economic situation it exists in (7 straight 40+ win seasons in the 2000's, 7 straight winning seasons in the 10's) but seems to be ignored at almost all turns by the area and the league
- Gatineau would have more of a beef with the league than Moncton. Has not hosted since 1997. New arena completed in 2021. If we're talking on-ice product, they are the most successful franchise in QMJHL history, with 7 league titles, including 3 since their last host, and back-to-back crowns in 2004.
P.s. - I assumed "slush puppie" was a nickname for the new rink but ... it's called the Slush Puppie Center. There's your reason for getting skipped over right there lol.
- I'm actually impressed by the league brass is finally showing restraint with Quebec City. They seem to go there every 10 years and with a new arena they would actually have reason for it now.
My god - they gave the Colisee the damn Cup in '91 when they didn't even have a team in the league!
Genuinely stunned they have not gone to the Videotron Center yet
But that last point really sums it up. They haven't even gone back to their darling and most beloved institution in the league despite having a 17,000+ arena, so I don't think anyone can yell corruption - this is ineptitude! Lol, it always has been, it always will. It's the QMJHL.
The damn website hasn't been usable since the update in 2003, you think they're going to get the most important decision the league faces every 3 years correct? HA!