Could you help with a QMJHL Expansion Idea?

[HugoSimon]

why would anywhere other than St. John's work, Hugo, even if NFLD/Labrador

Shorter travel distance.

It'd be 2.5 hours drive from the eagles instead of 10.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Shorter travel distance.

It'd be 2.5 hours drive from the eagles instead of 10.

no arena operator, like there is with SJSE, Hugo.... St. John's is the center of that province, it's not New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, google Mile One sometime, nevermind the history sidebar that MLSE has had with the city.... look up St. John's too as well, Cornerbrook doesn't move the needle and you won't get Courteau's attention.

 

[HugoSimon]

no arena operator, like there is with SJSE, Hugo.... St. John's is the center of that province, it's not New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, google Mile One sometime, nevermind the history sidebar that MLSE has had with the city.... look up St. John's too as well, Cornerbrook doesn't move the needle and you won't get Courteau's attention.

What if you add both at the same time?

Seems like a reasonable way to bridge travel costs and might spread interest in the league across the province.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

What if you add both at the same time?

Seems like a reasonable way to bridge travel costs and might spread interest in the league across the province.

already been done, and Mile One is a no..... you've got the Edge there as co-tenant, Hugo..... that's why the whole lease sidebar almost cost the the franchise known as the Growlers to bolt after a Kelly Cup championship on a temporary lease until a few months back when the current 10 year extension for both tenants were announced.... Q was tried AND failed by the ownership of Irving Oil, WHEN the Marlies were relocated to Coca Cola Coliseum after the Oilers tried setting up shop in MLSE'S Backyard.... the reason why the Leafs hold training camp in Mile One Centre the last 2 years, the Marlies were to St. John's what the Growlers are now, the difference is local ownership, not the Leafs, operating the franchise there with the Leafs affiliation

when the Marlies left, the Q took full advantage, and in retrospect, probably not the best timing to start a new league/franchise with the Leafs logos still adorning the arena and then Courteau's fascination/arrogance later on with having a franchise in Montreal so there's that as well.

The days of the Q in NFLD are likely history.

 

[Whaleafs]

Do you think it'd make any difference if the team was in corner brook(western newfoundland)?

I’m not as familiar with Newfoundland as the other places I mentioned, but just looking up Cornerbrook, they have about the same population as Bathurst which is the smallest market in the CHL.

 

[HugoSimon]

already been done, and Mile One is a no..... you've got the Edge there as co-tenant, Hugo..... that's why the whole lease sidebar almost cost the the franchise known as the Growlers to bolt after a Kelly Cup championship on a temporary lease until a few months back when the current 10 year extension for both tenants were announced.... Q was tried AND failed by the ownership of Irving Oil, WHEN the Marlies were relocated to Coca Cola Coliseum after the Oilers tried setting up shop in MLSE'S Backyard.... the reason why the Leafs hold training camp in Mile One Centre the last 2 years, the Marlies were to St. John's what the Growlers are now, the difference is local ownership, not the Leafs, operating the franchise there with the Leafs affiliation

when the Marlies left, the Q took full advantage, and in retrospect, probably not the best timing to start a new league/franchise with the Leafs logos still adorning the arena and then Courteau's fascination/arrogance later on with having a franchise in Montreal so there's that as well.

The days of the Q in NFLD are likely history.

I'm not understanding what you are saying the growlers are drawing flies.

There seems to be no indication that people are gonna ever support the team.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I'm not understanding what you are saying the growlers are drawing flies.

There seems to be no indication that people are gonna ever support the team.

typically, you don't enter another league's territory....Hugo.... the same applique that BD described about Lewiston/ Manchester applies to Newfoundland, it's not an option because it's already been done.... google St. John's Fog Devils and the history behind why the lease over Mile One Centre and why the agreement is between the ECHL, Deacon, Dean McDonald as well the St. John Edge and their ownership, both are a decade long now.... it's highly unlikely.

in simple terms, Newfoundland is not an open territory, after the way Courteau handled the Fog Devils and then proceeded to railroad Lewiston into submission.... when the La Presse article broke, it mentions 2 locations in Maine in addition to going to Manchester....why would any city do business with a President of a league that is deemed unstable, it's Courteau's way of doing business.... I honestly don't blame Mark Just or the ownership then, for what transpired at the end of the MAINEiacs tenure, it just wasn't fun anymore having too many hurdles to jump through, and it's easier now with the success of both the NA3/NAHL being in Lewiston.

St. John's history with both MTL/ATL/WPG was always deemed short-term the years of the IceCaps, the Growlers represent what the Marlies originally intended when MLSE placed them there after the experiment in St. Catherines and Newmarket.

 

[BrunetHockey]

[Deleted]

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

QJMHL Expansion 2022: Akwesasne Cornwall Royals

The Akwesasne/Cornwall Royals should be back in the league by 2222. Imagine the day where the QJMHL takes back the team that has already won 3 Memorial Cups. (The most in QJMHL history) A historic franchise that drafted players from Ontario and Quebec then played in the Quebec circuit. Legendary players who made it to the NHL such as; Owen Nolan, Dale Hawerchuck and Doug Gilmour, developed their hockey prowess.

How does a historic franchise lose their team? In the words of Doug Gilmour he states, “The Royals moved from the Quebec Junior League to the Ontario Hockey League before my second season with the team. The move didn’t go over well with the fans. Most of the city of Cornwall was French. Our attendance had been about 3,000 fans per game. After the move to the Ontario loop, it dropped by probably 1,000. Part of the problem with the move was that the Royals had to draft out of Ontario, not Quebec, which meant that there would be fewer French players to cheer for. “

The point that is being made is that the Akwesasne/Cornwall region has many fans that are predominantly French speaking. Therefore, in order to survive as a franchise, the teams needs to be able to draft French players and play against other French communities (QJMHL).

This leads to the greatest concern that the Canadian Hockey League should be discussing in their annual meetings. Are we doing everything to maximize the potential of all of our French Canadian hockey players? The region of Eastern Ontario, where most of the region is predominantly French speaking would argue that they are misrepresented in the OHL draft, year after year. The OHL scouts have their eyes fixated on the Greater Toronto Area that many players go undrafted in the region of Eastern Ontario. Therefore, many French Canadian players are not even on the OHL drafting list because they simply live on the wrong side of the border. Some players will move to the GTA from Eastern Ontario just to increase their chances of being drafted to the OHL. Also, even some solid English speaking players are forced to use their political connections and try and arrange a walk on tryout with a QJMHL team. This should never be the case. I believe the QJMHL should be allowed to scoop up all the talent that the OHL misses because, it happens way too often. This is the issue that the OHL faces when they have too many quality players to choose from. Players who had CHL and even NHL potential, go undrafted.

Imagine if the QJMHL did not give the opportunity to players like Claude Giroux, Paul Byron, Mike Hoffman, Simon Lacroix and many other Ontario born players; would they have endured the same destiny? Would they all have to grind through the NCAA circuit like Mark Borowiecki. All these players went undrafted in the OHL and would have wasted their talent if it weren’t for the QJMHL or NCAA. My biggest concern is how many players have been wasted throughout this process? Which players never received the opportunity to tap into their potential? I believe that there are equally skilled players that the QJMHL can select that reside in Eastern Ontario. Give these French Canadian players the opportunity. It amazes me how Montreal and Ottawa have NHL clubs, yet the representation of junior clubs between these two cities are heavily disproportionate compared to the Greater Toronto Area. Essentially, less scouts are watching the talent in Eastern Ontario and Southern Quebec with 2 NHL teams influencing these players. Adding a team in Akwesasne/Cornwall would help alleviate the lack of representation and help thoroughly scout the area that the OHL can afford to overlook. There are many diamonds in the rough that are just waiting for the QJMHL to harvest them.

The counter argument that would prevent Akwesasne/Cornwall from joining the QJMHL is resistance from the OHL claiming territorial rights as both arenas the team can play out of are located in Ontario on the “map”. The arenas are the Ed Lumley Arena (5000 seats) situated in Cornwall, Ontario and the A'nowara'ko:wa Arena (3000 seats) located in Akwesasne, Ontario. The OHL have deemed the area a potential expansion destination, however, at 20 teams and approximately 30 years of waiting; they have no real interest in expanding the league.

Ultimately, it really depends on what “map” you are observing and perhaps the CHL should be honoring the boundaries that these First Nations have created. For example, when you examine the area of Akwesasne/Cornwall closely, you will come to understand that the Ed Lumley Arena is very close to Akwesasne and is separated by the St. Laurence River. Literally, Cornwall and Akwesasne are separated by an Olympic size hockey rink of water and are very close. Akwesasne is a Mohawk reserve that resides over Quebec, Ontario and New York collectively. The Ed Lumley Arena is directly situated on the St. Laurence River which is considered traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee people. Essentially, if the team is registered out of Akwesasne, Quebec, I believe that it should make the team eligible to play in the QJMHL. Also, the team should be able to play in Cornwall, Ontario or Akwesasne, Ontario because it acknowledges and respects the traditional land of the Haudenosaunee. Therefore, Akwesasne/Cornwall is a special circumstance due to the traditional territorial rights the Haudenosaunee have over the land. In essence, it is important to be respectful and acknowledge those lands to the Haudenosaunee. Otherwise, in some views, it could be viewed as a form of discrimination against the Mohawks of the Haudenosaunee.

I do not believe this to be the case at all with the OHL, and I believe they are in favor of creating an inclusive hockey environment that is in support of First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations. Therefore, I believe Akwesasne/Cornwall could make a case that it has the Indigenous right to play in the OHL or QJMHL. I think this would be a great way to restore and continue the reconciliation process for the area and allow Akwesasne/Cornwall to rekindle their historic franchise and help stimulate both economies.

In conclusion, the Akwesasne-Cornwall Royals should be allowed to play in the QJMHL and be able the opportunity to draft players in Eastern Ontario. Put the team back in the QJMHL where they belong. A franchise known to have success and develop Canadian born players. It has been 28 years overdue. The community is still waiting patiently.

Potential Draft Option:
A possible solution the CHL could adopt is to introduce a Safety Net Inter-Provincial Draft (SNIPD). This draft would have every team in the CHL participate and could serve just like their International Draft. However, this draft would allow a team to draft a player from a province or state outside of their jurisdiction. This draft could occur after all teams have concluded drafts in their own league. Essentially, their picks are aimed at selecting minorities. For example, QJMHL teams might want to select French speaking players that live in Ontario that went undrafted in the OHL. Perhaps a team from the WHL would like to draft a player that resides in Northern Quebec of Cree origin. The draft needs to evolve and become more inclusive. In essence, no player should be left behind.

Lots of issues with this.

President of the QMJHL has said he doesn't want to expand and there are no teams who are looking to relocate as their foundations are in place. So while the good people of French-speaking Eastern Ontario might want the QMJHL, they're not going to get it.

Even if they were, the drafting issues would be enough to kill the project. The OHL isn't just going to give up a fertile recruiting ground because of minorities. And that draft idea is a good idea until you realize that if players were not drafted, they weren't drafted for a reason. They can get picked up as free agents from another camp like Claude Giroux did. A "minorities draft" is extremely demeaning and would be a token event. In addition, the QMJHL is already struggling with the image that they are falling far behind the OHL and the WHL. It's foolish to suggest that they should try drafting players who weren't good enough for a single team in the OHL since they're already getting reamed out for taking OHL cuts. The point of the draft is that players get left behind. The point of taking the best players is the entire reason for the draft. Not wanting players to get left behind is being inclusive for the sake of being inclusive. This is major juniors, not Timbits. Edit: the point is that the best players are taken and the ones with the skill to play still have plenty of opportunities. Players who deserve to be in major juniors will be there, regardless of whether they are from an underrepresented minority or not.

 

[BrunetHockey]

[Deleted]

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

Since there is a lot of nonsense in here to sift through, I will do it by point.

Your views is "exactly" the problem and the same views OHL scouts have adopted. Basically, players like Claude Giroux were not "good" enough for the entire 15 rounds of the OHL draft. Let me reiterate, not skilled enough to play for a team in the OHL. Yet, is an NHL superstar? Paul Byron and Mark Boroweicki are impact players in the NHL, yet did not get drafted in 15 rounds within of the OHL?

Get off Claude Giroux. He was not drafted because he was not only a late bloomer of small stature, but he also contracted mononucleosis. He had three major factors behind every single OHL team thinking he was not good enough. He was small, hadn't developed comparatively to his peers, and he had an infectious disease that was difficult to treat. He was only offered a tryout by the local team, not any other QMJHL team so don't think he had obvious talent and was a bonafide future NHLer. He took off because he started developing getting more than +25 minutes per night on a team that had little offense outside of him. Get real.

Players slip through the drafting cracks. Giroux, BoroCop, and Byron are all undrafted players. There will always be undrafted players. What you're suggesting is solutionism: finding solutions for problems that don't exist. You need serious help if you can't see why a single team wouldn't take a player in Claude Giroux who clearly has some talent, but is undersized, is clearly a late bloomer developmentally, but also had a horrible virus that disrupted his season and wouldn't be the first or the last player to have their development stopped by disease. Get over yourself.

The QJMHL could scoop up at least 20 more of these players in this region that went undrafted in the OHL. At least give them a chance. Perhaps, this will allow the QJMHL to catch up; as it is clear, that there are NHL caliber players that simply go undrafted.

Or they could sign them to tryouts as a lot do. And they could cut them as almost all of them do every single year. There are NHL caliber players that simply go undrafted. If they have talent, they will move forward. Get real.

You say, "Players who deserve to be in the major juniors will be there." I'm telling you it is not the case as many players go undrafted in Eastern Ontario. Forced to find alternative routes. I'm just saying that some undrafted players could of benefited from the same path like a Claude Giroux and Paul Byron because the OHL does not value the area, or hold the leagues to the same standards, as they do with the Greater Toronto Area.

There have been three players you've named that have fit this model. In over 70 years of hockey, there have been three players. One of which, as I pointed out above, is a complete outlier that for some reason you cannot understand. Get real.

You are right, it is not "Timbits". Yet the OHL scouts draft like it is "Timbits", as clear NHL'ers go undrafted. It could be deemed that the Eastern Ontario region has become a political drafting" joke". The QJMHL should capitalize on a Eastern Ontario market that have many NHL caliber prospects leftover from the OHL draft. They should use this new agreement between Quebec and Ontario governments to help create a system to draft more players from the Eastern Ontario region. Here is the article: New Agreement Builds on Ontario-Quebec Collaboration. Ontario and Quebec Increasing French Cultural Learning Opportunities for Youth.

They're scouting drafts like professionals who occasionally miss talent. It's human. It also doesn't happen often. Not nearly enough to justify something like this. You previously suggested a draft purely for minorities, which is actually offensive to minority players. Get real.

Also, the QJMHL has no intention of expanding. However, views can change very quickly if they can realize that Akwesasne Cornwall is an untapped market. The region of Akwesasne Cornwall will not only draw American fans out of New York, but fans from Eastern Ontario and Southern Quebec. What better place then a team who has already won 3 Memorial Cups out of the QJMHL.

Logic: Courteau doesn't want to expand, no teams are for sale or looking to be sold. Courteau is on record as saying the only two places he would expand would be in Montérégie or the United States.
Your logic: He just needs to see how great Akwesasne is.

Akwesasne is untapped for a reason. They have a small arena, it's a small community, and those are two things that not only the QMJHL but all hockey leagues avoid. It's barely bigger than Bathurst, which have the lowest level of support in all of major juniors. Get real. They couldn't even support a Federal Hockey League team, you think they have the capability to support the Q?

The community believes it makes sense, it just takes Gilles Courteau to get on board. Also, the fact that so many players from Eastern Ontario that are not drafted by the OHL, is an encouraging factor. The team could provide scouting reports for Southern Quebec and Eastern Ontario. Obviously, Akwesasne-Cornwall would have to draft players eligible to the QJMHL. However, after the OHL draft, the QJMHL could invite about 20 of the best players of Eastern Ontario who went undrafted and give them tryouts with a QJMHL team.

They currently host no form of hockey. Gilles Courteau won't get on board. So get over it.

These reports could be conducted by Gatineau and Akwesasne-Cornwall. Players like Paul Byron, Mark Borowiecki, Claude Giroux was just the surface. There were many more players who deserved a shot. I believe, that this is one the greatest issues the CHL faces. The QJMHL has a chance to patch the problem and increase their talent pool and put a better hockey product on the ice by tapping into this market.

They won't be. This is major junior hockey. No one deserves a shot. The QMJHL doesn't have the chance to increase their talent pool because Eastern Ontario belongs to the Ontario Hockey League.



All in all, you're trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist. It's ridiculous. Not only is the suggestion that there a problem ridiculous, but your solution is not even borderline rational. Not a single shred of thought you have put forward has made any sense or been based in fact or rationality. Get real.

 

[BrunetHockey]

[Deleted]

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

We can both agree to disagree with each other. Akwesasne Cornwall can support a QJMHL or OHL team. Especially if they can play out of the Ed Lumley Arena. They have the population. Sorry, but I don't think people can get very excited about a LNAH or FHL team for the long term. Especially, when they used to own a QJMHL/OHL team and an AHL team. Quebec moved to Colorado along with there AHL team. I'm just saying, many players do not get drafted into the OHL however, could technically crack a Major Junior Hockey team if given the opportunity. Many players from the Eastern Ontario region end up going the NCAA route because the OHL shut the door on them. Many of whom play professionally in Europe. The OHL scouts are indeed, professional, however are overburdened with the amount of "small undersized talent" the province has to offer. Essentially, Eastern Ontario has many players who just don't get the same opportunities to players who live in the GTA. The QJMHL could provide these players with those opportunities, which they do to some extent, but could do it on a larger structured scale.

If you need facts, you can research many players who are from Eastern Ontario playing or played hockey in Europe or the NCAA who went undrafted in the OHL. I'm just saying these players deserved the opportunity to play major junior in Canada. However, for what ever your reasons, you vow that our system has been working for 70 years and I'm telling you it is a bit flawed. Could be a factor why other countries are catching up to us in talent. If you want facts, check the database of players who go undrafted in the Eastern Ontario region to the OHL, yet good enough to play in the NCAA or play professionally abroad or in North America. I'm just using those 3 players as examples of how there development is affected and not everyone find there way like you are claiming. Many of these undrafted OHL players have bright futures that the QJMHL could exploit. Thanks for being so diplomatic Barclay! Get real! Haha!

You're disagreeing with facts. The QMJHL doesn't need more small markets. Gilles Courteau has said this multiple times, he has said he has too many as it is. This whole "Gilles Courteau just needs to get on board" is delirium. He isn't going to get on board. Akwesasne Cornwall is a small market. The QMJHL is not going there. They will never go there. Get over it.

Major junior is for the highest quality player. Your qualifiers for "highest quality player" are far too low. Just because someone goes undrafted by the OHL, yet goes on to play in the NCAA or pro in Europe doesn't mean they could play major junior. If they go undrafted, they can easily play in the QMJHL. But they don't. Because they're not good enough to play major junior. You're still trying to find a solution for a problem that doesn't exist. You think future NHLers are slipping through the cracks every day and they are not. Three notable players, one of which is the Claude Giroux situation which I already explain. It isn't an issue, stop thinking that it is.

But I encourage you to remain blissfully ignorant of both of these things. Continue thinking the QMJHL will go to Akwesasne Cornwall and NHL-bound players aren't getting drafted by the OHL and then not immediately getting picked up by the QMJHL. You're going to be bitterly disappointed when you wake up one day and realize that neither of these things are going to happen, or even should happen.

 

[JMCx4]

... The Akwesasne/Cornwall Royals should be back in the league by 2222. ...

Now THAT'S a return date that makes some sense.

 

[BrunetHockey]

[Deleted]

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

"Logic: Courteau doesn't want to expand, no teams are for sale or looking to be sold. Courteau is on record as saying the only two places he would expand would be in Montérégie or the United States."
Akwesasne is in Montérégie-check
Akwesasne is in the United States-check
Akwesasne Cornwall won 3 Memorial Cups: Priceless

Population of Cornwall is 47,000
Population of Akwesasne is 12,000
47,000+12,000= 59,000
Baie-Comeau= 22,000
Val d'or= 32,000
Rouyn-Nourada- 42,000
Bathurst= 12,000
Victoriaville= 45,000
Shawinigan= 50,000
Charlottetown= 36,000
Rimouski=49,000

With all due respect, Akwesasne-Cornwall is not a small market when you look at this list? Looks like Akwesasne-Cornwall would be in the middle of the pack with respect to the league. I think it would be an excellent choice as it hits all of your credentials Barclay.

The ignorance here is unbelievable.

First, Akwesasne and Cornwall are not the same market. They're 30 minutes away from each other.
Second, Akwesasne is part of Ontario, Québec, and mostly New York. That doesn't qualify it at all. https://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/49315553-ad40-4a9a- b7e0-98f14556837c__7C___0.html?utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=Internal+Share&utm_content=Screen. If you don't speak French, they're looking at the big cities on the south shore of Montréal, specifically only Saint-Hyacinthe, à Saint-Jean, à Vaudreuil. Akesasne is not that. They want big markets in New England, of which Akwesasne is not. Akwesasne won 3 Memorial Cups a long time ago, that counts for absolutely nothing.

Those markets are small markets. You clearly didn't understand what "the QMJHL is in enough small markets, they don't want more" because you just listed a ton of tiny markets that are having issues because they're small markets and then said "by comparison, if you combine the two individual cities 30 minutes away from each other they are small than these cities by themselves." You're saying it's not a small market when compared to Bathurst, which is famously not capable of supporting their team. I'm trying to figure out if you're actually this ignorant or not. It's really hard to tell. The league commissioner says they have enough small markets already and they want big cities and you go ahead and for some reason say that the two cities combined are a little bigger than the smallest markets in the entirety of major juniors. That's laughable. If the QMJHL wanted Akwesasne, they would have been there a long time ago.

 

[BrunetHockey]

[Deleted]

 

[BrunetHockey]

Now THAT'S a return date that makes some sense.

2022!

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

The fact that you mentioned that "Akwesasne and Cornwall are not the same market" is completely ignorant. You should come to that area and see how close the two places are. People cross the river all the time. They are actually 1 minute apart if you cross the river. Google maps would have you go all away around and make you believe it is 30 minutes apart. Absolutely ridiculous. Go look at a map! Also, Cornwall is very French. I'm sure they would want Akwesasne-Cornwall back in the QJMHL if they could generate revenue. The fact that there is still a huge following makes me believe they will. Akwesasne-Cornwall Royals 2022!

Orléans is French-majority and double the population. They’re not getting a QMJHL team.

They’re not getting a team. Accept that. They’re not big enough to get an expansion team. That’s been established. Gilles Courteau is on record as saying he doesn’t want any more small market teams, he wants one on the south side of Montréal or a big market New England and that’s it. I don’t know where you see yourself getting a team through that, but you’re not going to be the first person waiting endlessly for a team and a minorities draft that will never arrive.

 

[BrunetHockey]

[Deleted]

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

I know the league wants to expand to larger markets, however, many of them are occupied by current QJMHL

Now I know this is a joke. You know the QMJHL wants to expand to big markets, but many of them are occupied already by current QMJHL teams? That’s a perfect way to sum up your rationality through this.

60 km rule. Way too close to Gatineau. Also, they have the 67's and the Ottawa Senators. Why not let the Akwesasne-Cornwall Royals, all time leader in QJMHL Memorial Cups, rejoin? They have not been in the league for over 30 years and, still, they have the most Memorial Cups in QJMHL history. Let the team rejoin and allow them to continue their reign. Vaudreuil is too close to Blainsville, within 60 km. Grandby and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu look like viable options. However are their rinks suitable to host a QJMHL team? I think those could be potential spots if they have a QJMHL sized rink. I just think Akwesasne-Cornwall is a viable option in the meantime as it is south of Montreal and are just waiting for their opportunity to return. Why not go back to a place that had so much success? I know the league wants to expand to larger markets, however, many of them are occupied by current QJMHL, AHL and NHL hockey teams. Why not go with something that is available and ready to go? I just think it is worth exploring. It could become a very successful franchise as they have proved to do it in the past.

Oh my goodness, you actually do have listening issues.

QMJHL territorial rights are 40km. Not 60 km. Nice try though.

Why not let them? Because the league doesn’t need any more small markets that will have difficulty financially surviving. Like I have said many times. That’s why. Winning 3 Memorial Cups 30 years ago isn’t a qualifier for a great market. They won the Mem Cup 3 times and relocated because of poor attendance. It didn’t work then and won’t now.

And the poor attention span continues. They would only put a team in those locations. You know why they haven’t put a team in those locations? Because there isn’t a facility! They stated in that article that it would need to be bigger than 5,000 and there isn’t one.

Cornwall was successful on the ice. They relocated because they weren’t successful off the ice. Their attendance was pitiful despite being a dominant team. Winning doesn’t mean the team is financially doing well. Only one of those things matter at the end of the day. A former team in the city winning doesn’t mean anything. That’s not a qualifier for being capable of supporting a team. Accept that.

 

[dwgs]

@ Barclay Donaldson, I know we all have a lot of time on our hands these days but I suggest you just back away slowly...

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

@ Barclay Donaldson, I know we all have a lot of time on our hands these days but I suggest you just back away slowly...

Is this an “ignorance is bliss” type of thing or a “certain people can’t be helped” kind of a situation?

 

[dwgs]

More the latter but I guess you could flip a coin. I don't think logic is going to work here.

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

More the latter but I guess you could flip a coin. I don't think logic is going to work here.

There has to be some sort of reasoning masked deep under these ridiculous suggestions. Actually, looking back on that minorities draft idea maybe there isn't.