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Post by Jack Bauer on May 24, 2022 8:57:51 GMT -4
McCain won't have the power to clean house since he will be selling the Seadogs to the Georgie Family. That info is from two sources. I've been hearing similar. Didn't buy it at first but its really picking up more momentum lately and we all know where there is smoke there's usually some fire. Seeing a big name like the McCain's go would be a blow to the league and SJ market in my opinion. Its not like people are super thrilled with what Georgie has done. |
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Post by Judas In My Mind on May 24, 2022 10:35:42 GMT -4
McCain won't have the power to clean house since he will be selling the Seadogs to the Georgie Family. That info is from two sources. I've been hearing similar. Didn't buy it at first but its really picking up more momentum lately and we all know where there is smoke there's usually some fire. Seeing a big name like the McCain's go would be a blow to the league and SJ market in my opinion. Its not like people are super thrilled with what Georgie has done. Even more interesting? I heard long ago that Trevor was planning to leave the team after this Memorial Cup hosting season and move on. The fact that he would be leaving but his family would be purchasing the team doesn't seem to make sense, at least to me. Also when McCain bought the team he made sure he had a local ownership group in on the purchase with him. Slowly but surely they all pretty much parted ways with the team, but to get Saint Johners to come out initially, McCain made sure to have some local owners. The team already is losing interest and having trouble keeping people coming to the games, let alone getting people that once were ticket holders to come back. If the Georgie's buy the team outright from McCain with no local involvement that could pound the last few nails into the coffin. |
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Post by Jack Bauer on May 24, 2022 10:49:53 GMT -4
I've been hearing similar. Didn't buy it at first but its really picking up more momentum lately and we all know where there is smoke there's usually some fire. Seeing a big name like the McCain's go would be a blow to the league and SJ market in my opinion. Its not like people are super thrilled with what Georgie has done. Even more interesting? I heard long ago that Trevor was planning to leave the team after this Memorial Cup hosting season and move on. The fact that he would be leaving but his family would be purchasing the team doesn't seem to make sense, at least to me. Also when McCain bought the team he made sure he had a local ownership group in on the purchase with him. Slowly but surely they all pretty much parted ways with the team, but to get Saint Johners to come out initially, McCain made sure to have some local owners. The team already is losing interest and having trouble keeping people coming to the games, let alone getting people that once were ticket holders to come back. If the Georgie's buy the team outright from McCain with no local involvement that could pound the last few nails into the coffin. Almost makes you wonder if we've seen the end of the "golden era" for the Q in the Maritimes. Nobody seems to be happy with their attendance. Almost every marketing team is wondering how the hell they get people to pay $20 for a product that is more down years then up for most teams. Ownership changes in CB and Bathurst and this rumor of SJ. Some point in 1992-1993ish the AHL felt like a sure thing in many communities and we seen how quickly that fizzled out. Halifax and Moncton have had their hands tied in terms of spending to bring in top Euro's and Americans. Result seems to have hurt Halifax for sure at the gate to the point they wouldn't let Eastlink broadcast their playoff games in Halifax I believe. But the most staggering at all is the complete leadership void overall. There's zero attempts to even see all this is happening so forget any plans to fix anything. The NHL once lost an entire season because they had to somehow tie revenue to player costs. Is there any attempts to create a healthy league or are we still looking to pat Quebec on the back for a big crowd in their NHL rink and ignore how them not being able to bring in Radulov's or be a gateway for solid American talent takes away from the entire product? Its like they just decided to give these big market owners less ways to spend money on their team and now dont know how to handle the fact people are not coming out to even watch good teams...Patrick Roy is asking for fans to come out for their 3rd round series which is just laughable at this point but thats what its come to...but zero signs that the leagues leadership views any of this as troubling. |
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Post by lirette on May 24, 2022 12:11:14 GMT -4
Even more interesting? I heard long ago that Trevor was planning to leave the team after this Memorial Cup hosting season and move on. The fact that he would be leaving but his family would be purchasing the team doesn't seem to make sense, at least to me. Also when McCain bought the team he made sure he had a local ownership group in on the purchase with him. Slowly but surely they all pretty much parted ways with the team, but to get Saint Johners to come out initially, McCain made sure to have some local owners. The team already is losing interest and having trouble keeping people coming to the games, let alone getting people that once were ticket holders to come back. If the Georgie's buy the team outright from McCain with no local involvement that could pound the last few nails into the coffin. Almost makes you wonder if we've seen the end of the "golden era" for the Q in the Maritimes. Nobody seems to be happy with their attendance. Almost every marketing team is wondering how the hell they get people to pay $20 for a product that is more down years then up for most teams. Ownership changes in CB and Bathurst and this rumor of SJ. Some point in 1992-1993ish the AHL felt like a sure thing in many communities and we seen how quickly that fizzled out. Halifax and Moncton have had their hands tied in terms of spending to bring in top Euro's and Americans. Result seems to have hurt Halifax for sure at the gate to the point they wouldn't let Eastlink broadcast their playoff games in Halifax I believe. But the most staggering at all is the complete leadership void overall. There's zero attempts to even see all this is happening so forget any plans to fix anything. The NHL once lost an entire season because they had to somehow tie revenue to player costs. Is there any attempts to create a healthy league or are we still looking to pat Quebec on the back for a big crowd in their NHL rink and ignore how them not being able to bring in Radulov's or be a gateway for solid American talent takes away from the entire product? Its like they just decided to give these big market owners less ways to spend money on their team and now dont know how to handle the fact people are not coming out to even watch good teams...Patrick Roy is asking for fans to come out for their 3rd round series which is just laughable at this point but thats what its come to...but zero signs that the leagues leadership views any of this as troubling. Perhaps abit of a hot take but I'd really like to see them lower the number of teams in the league to improve the quality and perhaps the parity. Each year I find myself more thinking just how ridiculous some of these all in runs can be when you consider the risk of an early playoff exit. Saint John won 2 playoff games and have essentially no picks the next 3 drafts. Championship calibre teams are great an all but I dont think you can continue this pattern of having to deal with 2-3 down years, lose interest and then hope you can regain it when the team is good again. The competition for entertainment dollars is just much stiffer than it was 10 years ago. I'm not sure what the solution is but I think they should do something to limit the amount of trades. Trade deadlines are fun but its really only for the hardcore fans. For everyone else its just confusing. Imagine trying to find a way to convince SJ fans to get season tickets next year when you have absolutely nothing to sell them on. THe 2nd half of the Wildcats season was just playing the same 3 loaded up contending teams over and over with very little chance at a win. In a perfect world teams who are contenders would be allowed to make 1 or 2 trades to add a veteran at the deadline and a younger team could add a prospect. None of these adding 4-5 players and sacrificing your drafts for multiple seasons. Its also terrible for rivalries, once you are not lined up on your rivals cycle the interest just isnt there. Moncton has not had a good team when SJ has had one for 12 years. |
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Post by Jack Bauer on May 24, 2022 12:29:58 GMT -4
Almost makes you wonder if we've seen the end of the "golden era" for the Q in the Maritimes. Nobody seems to be happy with their attendance. Almost every marketing team is wondering how the hell they get people to pay $20 for a product that is more down years then up for most teams. Ownership changes in CB and Bathurst and this rumor of SJ. Some point in 1992-1993ish the AHL felt like a sure thing in many communities and we seen how quickly that fizzled out. Halifax and Moncton have had their hands tied in terms of spending to bring in top Euro's and Americans. Result seems to have hurt Halifax for sure at the gate to the point they wouldn't let Eastlink broadcast their playoff games in Halifax I believe. But the most staggering at all is the complete leadership void overall. There's zero attempts to even see all this is happening so forget any plans to fix anything. The NHL once lost an entire season because they had to somehow tie revenue to player costs. Is there any attempts to create a healthy league or are we still looking to pat Quebec on the back for a big crowd in their NHL rink and ignore how them not being able to bring in Radulov's or be a gateway for solid American talent takes away from the entire product? Its like they just decided to give these big market owners less ways to spend money on their team and now dont know how to handle the fact people are not coming out to even watch good teams...Patrick Roy is asking for fans to come out for their 3rd round series which is just laughable at this point but thats what its come to...but zero signs that the leagues leadership views any of this as troubling. Perhaps abit of a hot take but I'd really like to see them lower the number of teams in the league to improve the quality and perhaps the parity. Each year I find myself more thinking just how ridiculous some of these all in runs can be when you consider the risk of an early playoff exit. Saint John won 2 playoff games and have essentially no picks the next 3 drafts. Championship calibre teams are great an all but I dont think you can continue this pattern of having to deal with 2-3 down years, lose interest and then hope you can regain it when the team is good again. The competition for entertainment dollars is just much stiffer than it was 10 years ago. I'm not sure what the solution is but I think they should do something to limit the amount of trades. Trade deadlines are fun but its really only for the hardcore fans. For everyone else its just confusing. Imagine trying to find a way to convince SJ fans to get season tickets next year when you have absolutely nothing to sell them on. THe 2nd half of the Wildcats season was just playing the same 3 loaded up contending teams over and over with very little chance at a win. In a perfect world teams who are contenders would be allowed to make 1 or 2 trades to add a veteran at the deadline and a younger team could add a prospect. None of these adding 4-5 players and sacrificing your drafts for multiple seasons. Its also terrible for rivalries, once you are not lined up on your rivals cycle the interest just isnt there. Moncton has not had a good team when SJ has had one for 12 years. I'm with you. I don't know how these marketing people are supposed to do it. And its not like we're saying this stuff as Canadian Hockey is dominating everywhere...I feel like there's been a decade long conversation about our complete ignoring of how we develop goaltenders in this country that's been ignored by those within the Hockey Canada bubble and now you compare us to others and its scary how the gap has been closed. We need to change up how we're doing things a bit unless we're content with the American's moving past us while teams like Switzerland, Denmark, Germany all makes huge strides in closing the gaps everwhere else. A CHL super league wouldn't be a terrible idea as I see it. But my markets future could be as a Jr A or CIS market if this keeps up so I can admit some bias in wanting more of the status quo but with some rule changes to encourage bringing in talented Americans and Europeans and stop pretending like teams like Quebec and Halifax can't afford it just because smaller markets don't like that they can. |
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Post by Slap Shooter on May 24, 2022 13:02:41 GMT -4
I think Covid has kept alot of fans away. Not only the fear that alot of people still have of being around crowds but also the money lost by alot of Businesses and people that work for those businesses.
There has also been no atmosphere in the rink most nights. And the way the game is played now their are no big rivalries. No fighting , No hitting.
Georgie still hasn't recognized what has been wrong with this team the past couple of years. I don't think you can blame 4 coaches.
Hopefully this will not hurt them for hiring a good coach in the future.
Next year we will have a new coach and a new core of players. Maybe then we will see what the problem has been and maybe not.
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Post by Jack Bauer on May 24, 2022 13:16:10 GMT -4
I think Covid has kept alot of fans away. Not only the fear that alot of people still have of being around crowds but also the money lost by alot of Businesses and people that work for those businesses. There has also been no atmosphere in the rink most nights. And the way the game is played now their are no big rivalries. No fighting , No hitting. Georgie still hasn't recognized what has been wrong with this team the past couple of years. I don't think you can blame 4 coaches. Hopefully this will not hurt them for hiring a good coach in the future. Next year we will have a new coach and a new core of players. Maybe then we will see what the problem has been and maybe not. The rivalry stuff is a big one. They try and market geographic rivals to us but we all know that those are only meaningful when the teams are both good. SJ residents may hate Moncton but unless both teams are good...1 beating the other in 7 of 8 games isn't a rivalry no matter which side of it you are on. Especially as you say there is no hitting or fighting or other things that create the feel of a rivalry during times the teams may have a big gap between them. |
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Post by yesisaiditfirst on May 24, 2022 13:31:26 GMT -4
Saint John was the last place to get AHL hockey in the maritime region. Primarily because the lack of a rink allowed to host professional hockey. The area fell in love with minor pro moreso than other communities in the maritimes. And it's not like the Leafs or Habs were affiliates with any of the Saint John teams.
When QMJHL came to region Saint John was the late entry but also had the most success the fastest of any of the teams. It was 5 years to build an elite team. 2009-10,they were really really good and pretty competitive for 4 seasons.
Maybe major junior hockey is waning in the region. Maybe it is across Canada. It costs more to run these leagues and host these players.But Saint John is always the exception in this. SJ will always have something when other places don't or have nothing when other places do.
If anything I believe SJ hockey fans were spoiled by the success of the last few seasons of Flames and fast pivot to junior success.
The people who have been running the team are trying to feed that appetite.
In this region Halifax considers itself as a major city and really wanting to compete with the Ottawas, Toronto, Quebec City, Saskatoons of the country. Saint John & Moncton are always the awkward teen trying to find where they fit and be recognized. Little big cities. Small enough to know everyone but not big enough to be noticed. And maybe they are both outgrowing junior but there isn't another level where they fit just yet.
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Post by eagle23 on May 24, 2022 20:03:00 GMT -4
The issue with junior hockey in the Maritimes is the aging population and the smaller fan base. CB and Bathurst are old and getting older. Saint John population is dropping too. People have dozens of other options and today the cost of living hurts. A family of 4 to a sea dogs game would cost about 60-80 dollars with tickets and food. Maybe more. That’s a lot of money for families in this economy.
Also it’s late May. People are hockey’d out some. NHL playoffs is on tv and the weather is nicer. Still think there is a good market for junior hockey but covid and lack of money is hurting the league.
People can stay home a watch a movie or hockey on tv. And more and more are doing that.
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Post by j3e4 on May 24, 2022 23:05:26 GMT -4
People in SJ show up for rare/unique events. Only a few show up for much else. Regular season and early rounds of playoffs aren't something most people make priority anymore aside from the occasional game here and there, of which there are many to choose from. The occasional promotion can also attract a decent crowd.
Those Canada vs. Russia games always sell well despite being mid-week as will the Memorial Cup. A popular country and/or pop singer could probably sell out TD station any night of the week. People are already getting excited for Bryan Adams. He seems to stop by every 5-10 years which is infrequent enough to get people around here excited for his mediocre music.
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Post by puckguru on May 25, 2022 11:10:58 GMT -4
So 29 says until the tournament... Will a new coach succeed in less than a month where Dwyer has apparently failed this postseason? As well as every other coach before the last 5 years. Heard a rumour with Gardiner Macdougall taking the position. |
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Post by puckguru on May 25, 2022 11:16:20 GMT -4
Think MacDougall will put players in positions to succeed. That certainly wasn’t the appearance in the first round against Rimouski. This team was built to play offensively need to play that strength. Be responsible in your own end but push the play.
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Post by Slammer on May 25, 2022 11:19:48 GMT -4
Perhaps abit of a hot take but I'd really like to see them lower the number of teams in the league to improve the quality and perhaps the parity. Each year I find myself more thinking just how ridiculous some of these all in runs can be when you consider the risk of an early playoff exit. Saint John won 2 playoff games and have essentially no picks the next 3 drafts. Championship calibre teams are great an all but I dont think you can continue this pattern of having to deal with 2-3 down years, lose interest and then hope you can regain it when the team is good again. The competition for entertainment dollars is just much stiffer than it was 10 years ago. I'm not sure what the solution is but I think they should do something to limit the amount of trades. Trade deadlines are fun but its really only for the hardcore fans. For everyone else its just confusing. Imagine trying to find a way to convince SJ fans to get season tickets next year when you have absolutely nothing to sell them on. THe 2nd half of the Wildcats season was just playing the same 3 loaded up contending teams over and over with very little chance at a win. In a perfect world teams who are contenders would be allowed to make 1 or 2 trades to add a veteran at the deadline and a younger team could add a prospect. None of these adding 4-5 players and sacrificing your drafts for multiple seasons. Its also terrible for rivalries, once you are not lined up on your rivals cycle the interest just isnt there. Moncton has not had a good team when SJ has had one for 12 years. I'm with you. I don't know how these marketing people are supposed to do it. And its not like we're saying this stuff as Canadian Hockey is dominating everywhere...I feel like there's been a decade long conversation about our complete ignoring of how we develop goaltenders in this country that's been ignored by those within the Hockey Canada bubble and now you compare us to others and its scary how the gap has been closed. We need to change up how we're doing things a bit unless we're content with the American's moving past us while teams like Switzerland, Denmark, Germany all makes huge strides in closing the gaps everwhere else. A CHL super league wouldn't be a terrible idea as I see it. But my markets future could be as a Jr A or CIS market if this keeps up so I can admit some bias in wanting more of the status quo but with some rule changes to encourage bringing in talented Americans and Europeans and stop pretending like teams like Quebec and Halifax can't afford it just because smaller markets don't like that they can. Hot take from me here, I've said since Covid started that I think the Q Maritime teams should have merged with the MHL. Become one league and market it as a premier junior A league, have your maritime draft but allow kids from all over to sign contracts like the BCHL does. I think the league would be competitive and I don't think we are from that potentially being the future of these teams. |
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Post by Jack Bauer on May 25, 2022 13:04:00 GMT -4
I'm with you. I don't know how these marketing people are supposed to do it. And its not like we're saying this stuff as Canadian Hockey is dominating everywhere...I feel like there's been a decade long conversation about our complete ignoring of how we develop goaltenders in this country that's been ignored by those within the Hockey Canada bubble and now you compare us to others and its scary how the gap has been closed. We need to change up how we're doing things a bit unless we're content with the American's moving past us while teams like Switzerland, Denmark, Germany all makes huge strides in closing the gaps everwhere else. A CHL super league wouldn't be a terrible idea as I see it. But my markets future could be as a Jr A or CIS market if this keeps up so I can admit some bias in wanting more of the status quo but with some rule changes to encourage bringing in talented Americans and Europeans and stop pretending like teams like Quebec and Halifax can't afford it just because smaller markets don't like that they can. Hot take from me here, I've said since Covid started that I think the Q Maritime teams should have merged with the MHL. Become one league and market it as a premier junior A league, have your maritime draft but allow kids from all over to sign contracts like the BCHL does. I think the league would be competitive and I don't think we are from that potentially being the future of these teams. Thats definitely a unique approach. I think it would have a tough time succeeding because our hockey fans are too used to the Q culture and overall would have a tough time adapting. Players like Newhook would still be picking their team essentially so the draft process would be even worse then the Q's in some ways. And most of the top kids from the region would still pick USHL/Prep/CHL over that league. Creating another option would just weaken all the options further in my view but its an interesting idea. I'd honestly prefer a CIS team playing out of CBU vs a Jr A franchise at this point if I had to pick 1 or the other. |
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Post by scotiahockey on May 25, 2022 21:45:17 GMT -4
Hot take from me here, I've said since Covid started that I think the Q Maritime teams should have merged with the MHL. Become one league and market it as a premier junior A league, have your maritime draft but allow kids from all over to sign contracts like the BCHL does. I think the league would be competitive and I don't think we are from that potentially being the future of these teams. Thats definitely a unique approach. I think it would have a tough time succeeding because our hockey fans are too used to the Q culture and overall would have a tough time adapting. Players like Newhook would still be picking their team essentially so the draft process would be even worse then the Q's in some ways. And most of the top kids from the region would still pick USHL/Prep/CHL over that league. Creating another option would just weaken all the options further in my view but its an interesting idea. I'd honestly prefer a CIS team playing out of CBU vs a Jr A franchise at this point if I had to pick 1 or the other. The only problem with CIS around here is that there’s 1 consistently dominant team in UNB and then you have X/Acadia/SMU that are usually getting good recruits and roster solid teams but have down years. Moncton/UPEI/Dal usually struggle with Dal being a door mat most seasons. Can you recruit against those other teams to be competitive? Or will you become one of the bottom teams year after year? Not that the level of hockey would be diminished but it would get old going to a team every year that sucks with no draft or young players to look forward too, only optimism that the right guy could come in and turn it around. Kids want to play AUS hockey so there’s that going for you but can CBU compete against perennial contenders, offer programs that entice kids and against the lifestyle of Halifax for a 21-25 year old? Some kids are there to play hockey and bridge that gap between playing pro without wasting their education money but taking joke programs at good schools to do it… some are serious about education… some just want to party and keep being a “hockey player” because it does have its perks. |
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