Post by countryboy on Mar 23, 2021 23:03:23 GMT -4
No doubt many readers have seen that earlier this evening the QMJHL announced the playoff format for 2021.
theqmjhl.ca/article/the-qmjhl-unveils-the-2021-president-cup-playoffs-scenarios
Briefly, for us in the Maritimes, we'll continue the regular season until the end of April. Then #5 and #6 will play a single game knockout. Whoever wins that will play the #4 seed in another single game knockout.
This sets up a pair of best of 5 quarterfinal series between #2 vs. #3 and #1 vs. the eventual winner of the knockout round. Then the winner of these two series will playoff in another best of 5 and eventually compete with the teams coming out of the Quebec based divisions.
Up in Quebec, things will operate a little differently. In each of the two Quebec based divisions, the playoffs will start in early April. The top two teams in each division will have a bye and #3 plays #6 and #4 plays #5 in a best of 5. The winners of these series will play another best of 5 against the seeds who received byes, then finally these series winners will face off in a best of five to crown a division champion.
If you're still able to follow this, what results is that the three division winners (two Quebec and one Maritime team) advance to a semifinal tournament. These teams play a 6 game tournament (so each team plays each other twice) and the top two teams advance to the President's Cup final. If there's a tie at #2 and #3 there will be a single game play in to oppose the top team. There's no mention of what happens if there is a three way tie (yikes!). Plus, it's not clear if the President's Cup final is a best of 5 or a best of 7.
Certainly, given the position we are in, we have to think closely about this because we have a team that has played well so far. Of course, anything can happen, but we continue to be running hot. It's really hard to get a measure on things, of course, since we've only played Cape Breton and Halifax since the season resumed, and both teams have really struggled against us.
There will be a later round of Maritime games announced soon. The current set of NS-PEI games and NB games come to an end this coming weekend. I'm really hopeful we are able to see the Islanders go up against the NB teams to get a better sense of how they stack up. I think Saint John will be significantly improved since the last time we played and you can't count Bathurst out either.
If we're fortunate enough to come out of the Maritimes, of course, going up against Quebec is a complete unknown. Val-d'Or has a tremendous group of players on the roster right now. Shawinigan and Chicoutimi should also be strong. I think this is a season where star power will go a long way. Val-d'Or have tons of talent and guys like Mavrik Bourque and Hendrix Lapierre should be hugely important in this post season. We have to give ourselves credit too. Ellis provides superior strength in goal, our defense is very tight, and Casey and Desruisseaux can put up points at a rate that no one else in the league has been close to touching. Sure, they've torched Halifax and CB routinely, but they are both significantly ahead by miles in point production this season.
I don't like that the series are best of 5 contests... a lot can go wrong there. Plus, it is pretty much a certainty that if we end up coming out of the Maritimes Division, we'll be on the road long term.... likely playing at a host hub, and if not, then maybe a designated location in the province of Quebec.
It's just a positive thing to see playoffs, and even if this is a crazy year and crazy format, provided that we can go deep, that only serves to help gain experience to take into 2021-22, which is hopefully a more normal season and also a year in which we should continue to be a strong team.
theqmjhl.ca/article/the-qmjhl-unveils-the-2021-president-cup-playoffs-scenarios
Briefly, for us in the Maritimes, we'll continue the regular season until the end of April. Then #5 and #6 will play a single game knockout. Whoever wins that will play the #4 seed in another single game knockout.
This sets up a pair of best of 5 quarterfinal series between #2 vs. #3 and #1 vs. the eventual winner of the knockout round. Then the winner of these two series will playoff in another best of 5 and eventually compete with the teams coming out of the Quebec based divisions.
Up in Quebec, things will operate a little differently. In each of the two Quebec based divisions, the playoffs will start in early April. The top two teams in each division will have a bye and #3 plays #6 and #4 plays #5 in a best of 5. The winners of these series will play another best of 5 against the seeds who received byes, then finally these series winners will face off in a best of five to crown a division champion.
If you're still able to follow this, what results is that the three division winners (two Quebec and one Maritime team) advance to a semifinal tournament. These teams play a 6 game tournament (so each team plays each other twice) and the top two teams advance to the President's Cup final. If there's a tie at #2 and #3 there will be a single game play in to oppose the top team. There's no mention of what happens if there is a three way tie (yikes!). Plus, it's not clear if the President's Cup final is a best of 5 or a best of 7.
Certainly, given the position we are in, we have to think closely about this because we have a team that has played well so far. Of course, anything can happen, but we continue to be running hot. It's really hard to get a measure on things, of course, since we've only played Cape Breton and Halifax since the season resumed, and both teams have really struggled against us.
There will be a later round of Maritime games announced soon. The current set of NS-PEI games and NB games come to an end this coming weekend. I'm really hopeful we are able to see the Islanders go up against the NB teams to get a better sense of how they stack up. I think Saint John will be significantly improved since the last time we played and you can't count Bathurst out either.
If we're fortunate enough to come out of the Maritimes, of course, going up against Quebec is a complete unknown. Val-d'Or has a tremendous group of players on the roster right now. Shawinigan and Chicoutimi should also be strong. I think this is a season where star power will go a long way. Val-d'Or have tons of talent and guys like Mavrik Bourque and Hendrix Lapierre should be hugely important in this post season. We have to give ourselves credit too. Ellis provides superior strength in goal, our defense is very tight, and Casey and Desruisseaux can put up points at a rate that no one else in the league has been close to touching. Sure, they've torched Halifax and CB routinely, but they are both significantly ahead by miles in point production this season.
I don't like that the series are best of 5 contests... a lot can go wrong there. Plus, it is pretty much a certainty that if we end up coming out of the Maritimes Division, we'll be on the road long term.... likely playing at a host hub, and if not, then maybe a designated location in the province of Quebec.
It's just a positive thing to see playoffs, and even if this is a crazy year and crazy format, provided that we can go deep, that only serves to help gain experience to take into 2021-22, which is hopefully a more normal season and also a year in which we should continue to be a strong team.
