Disappointing that USports hockey continues to be so criminally underrated and undersupported in this country.
I still would like to see The Ryerson Rams host at the refurbished Maple Leaf Garden. Surely the population in Toronto is big enough to put up decent Attendance now or at Varsity Arena or Ricco Coliseum. Keep in mind when Toronto last hosted the U-Cup it was the 4 team format so they didnt always get a city team in the Tourney. They'd have a host now (Ryerson, York, U of T) + 2 Other OUA schools. TO is an Easy trip for AUS Fans.
I agree. However, when the same two teams play eachother in the finals year after year it doesn't create a lot of buzz in the hockey community.
Pretty Nasty Attendance numbers for the University Cup. I want to see a bigger variety of cities host it, but those numbers are not going to help that aspect at all. Either will Lethbridges participation in the Tournament. On the other hand, if the CIS is okay with the attendance numbers from Lethbridge than that means a number of teams could host the tournament.
Fredericton, Moncton and Halifax are proving locations. Charlottetown, PEI could do it no problem. If Antigonish and Wolfville had slightly larger rinks they could host easily in their towns and do a great job at it.
Edmonton and Saskatoon are proving. Im sure Calgary could do it at the stampede corral or something for U of C or MRU. UBC has a beautiful rink to do it, but not sure how that would click in Vancouver. Winnepeg I believe would support it, but not sure about a secondary rink, were both the Jets/Moose hog the Big Rink.
Im surprised McGill or UQTR have never bid. Ottawa could be a good 2 year city, rotate Carlton/U Of Ottawa both having CIS Success now.
I still would like to see The Ryerson Rams host at the refurbished Maple Leaf Garden. Surely the population in Toronto is big enough to put up decent Attendance now or at Varsity Arena or Ricco Coliseum. Keep in mind when Toronto last hosted the U-Cup it was the 4 team format so they didnt always get a city team in the Tourney. They'd have a host now (Ryerson, York, U of T) + 2 Other OUA schools. TO is an Easy trip for AUS Fans.
Who sponsored in Lethbridge? Cavendish Farms? whose president is Robert Irving, you know how often he is on PEI? He loves PEI, I was talking to him about it before. Government of Canada? why do they care where it is held? As for accommodations, you know how big tourism is in PEI, there are at least 10 hotels more than capable than handling a hockey team, that I could name right now. Four of them are within walking distance of the Eastlink arena and Charlottetown is an international airport. For the record, the CIAU championship of 1969, was held at UPEI..UPEI would not have the sponsorship dollars. I'm also unsure if they have enough hotels. Teams would prob have to fly into Halifax and bus over. Calgary or MRU do not have the fan support. neither does most of the places you named. Trois Rivieres has a bunch of peeler bars and not much else. A Carleton/ Ottawa bid would be nice.
UPEI would not have the sponsorship dollars. I'm also unsure if they have enough hotels. Teams would prob have to fly into Halifax and bus over. Calgary or MRU do not have the fan support. neither does most of the places you named. Trois Rivieres has a bunch of peeler bars and not much else. A Carleton/ Ottawa bid would be nice.
Final
I think the Red Army's intensity and strength down low was something the Bears aren't accustomed to playing, on the other hand Alberta's speed and transition was quicker than any AUS opponent. Both programs skilled!!
Shots were close at 34-31, but Alberta had much more time on the pp compared to the UNB, an extra 8 minutes.
Dubeau, with his best game of the year.
UNB's win gives them 3 titles in 4 appearances when the West has hosted. (11-1)
* The allocation of a berth for the RSEQ is a joke, and has been for years. If they want a berth, they should be ineligible for OUA playoffs and their top two teams should meet the teams eliminated from the CW and AUS semi-finals.
I agree. However, when the same two teams play each other in the finals year after year it doesn't create a lot of buzz in the hockey community.
What happens if no one puts in a bid to host? Does it just fall on U Sports shoulders?
When Marchand is ON, the X offence counter-attacks and takes advantage of their opportunities. Shots on goal mean nothing. We've seen this movie so many times before.
The RSEQ doesn't get an allocated berth.
There are only 3 teams in Quebec; Concordia, McGill and UQTR and they play out of OUA-East with six teams from Ontario. This year, none of them advanced.
The comment by another contributor here or on twitter had a screen capture of a manual, but it is not reflective of the current process.
More hockey teams play in the OUA (including the 3 RESQ teams) than the AUS and CanWest combined, so I don't really see the big deal in having an OUA East and OUA West rep treated on par with the AUS and CanWest champs when it comes to championship allocations. If anything, they are under served, as AUS and CanWest get two spots each, and the OUA gets three (when it probably should be four).
Now, that is equity based on math, not strength of conference. I would sooner seen 1+1+2 in a final four than 2+2+3+host in the current final 8 format, but it is what it is.
What might make the Final 8 format more palatable is if it was more like basketball - allocate 4 spots to AUS, CanWest, OUA East and OUA West, one to the host, and the remaining three as true wildcards (which probably would be AUS and CanWest teams).
Why on Earth would you bus people from Halifax with Moncton next door?UPEI would not have the sponsorship dollars. I'm also unsure if they have enough hotels. Teams would prob have to fly into Halifax and bus over. Calgary or MRU do not have the fan support. neither does most of the places you named. Trois Rivieres has a bunch of peeler bars and not much else. A Carleton/ Ottawa bid would be nice.