All 3 CHL Championship Series End in Sweeps

[WarriorofTime]

Update: QMJHL, OHL and WHL all end in Sweeps in the Championship round.

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[Bubbles]

I think this is typical of most junior hockey anyways. It's always cyclical.

4 out of 8 in the dub was sweeps, and two more were 4-1. Most of the teams that swept loaded up big time (MJ, Saskatoon, SW and Portland).

 

[WarriorofTime]

I think this is typical of most junior hockey anyways. It's always cyclical.

4 out of 8 in the dub was sweeps, and two more were 4-1. Most of the teams that swept loaded up big time (MJ, Saskatoon, SW and Portland).

Yeah the WHL is also always pretty lopsided.

Not sure if I've ever seen advancing teams going (potentially) 32-3 collectively though.

 

[Hinterland]

5 of the eight series ended in sweeps, two of the series ended in five games, one series has a Game 5 today with the team at home today up 3 games to 1. 16 out of 18 teams in the QMJHL make the playoffs, is there a problem with parity and too big of a difference between the "haves" loading up and the "have nots" selling to a larger extent than is desirable? Does this kind of lopsided results throughout the League play a big role in why the QMJHL representative has done so well in the Memorial Cup in recent years?

I'm not an expert but watching all three leagues over the last years my impression is that the Q lost a step or two compared to the other two CHL leagues. That of course doesn't mean that loaded teams can't still be good.

Another impression of mine is that it mostly isn't the best but the most energized teams doing well at the Memorial Cup. CHL season is long, kids are still young, not grown men. They tire out eventually, pick up more and more bruises, even injuries. Since it's often easier to win the Q than the other two leagues, of course the Q teams tend to have more left in the tank for the memorial cup. I believe energy is also more important than home advantage.

I think 2022 is a pretty good example. Saint John just dominated loaded teams like Hamilton or Edmonton completely. Tired and banged up, they didn't stand a chance against Saint John.

Nothing against the Q though. I think it's a recent development and it might change again. Right now however, I do think that the league doesn't quite have the depth of the other two leagues.

 

[TimeZone]

What's ironic is two of the sweeps were the 7th and 6th seeds sweeping seeds #2, and 3.

 

[Mickey Marner]

The QMJHL also allows trading first round picks, so teams can really load up.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

The QMJHL also allows trading first round picks, so teams can really load up.

So does the WHL.

Only the OHL doesn't.

 

[justHypnos]

I'm not an expert but watching all three leagues over the last years my impression is that the Q lost a step or two compared to the other two CHL leagues. That of course doesn't mean that loaded teams can't still be good.

Another impression of mine is that it mostly isn't the best but the most energized teams doing well at the Memorial Cup. CHL season is long, kids are still young, not grown men. They tire out eventually, pick up more and more bruises, even injuries. Since it's often easier to win the Q than the other two leagues, of course the Q teams tend to have more left in the tank for the memorial cup. I believe energy is also more important than home advantage.

I think 2022 is a pretty good example. Saint John just dominated loaded teams like Hamilton or Edmonton completely. Tired and banged up, they didn't stand a chance against Saint John.

Nothing against the Q though. I think it's a recent development and it might change again. Right now however, I do think that the league doesn't quite have the depth of the other two leagues.

More excuses.

Last season the Remparts were 53-12-3 in the Q vs the Seattle Thunderbirds who went 54-11-3 in the WHL.

2022 Sea Dogs went 47-17-4 vs Hamilton Bulldogs who went 51-12-5 in their league
2019 Huskies went 59-8-1 vs Halifax 49-14-4 -> Guelph went 40-18-10, admittedly a nice run, and Raiders 54-10-4

2018 Titans 43-15-10 (their turn for a nice run) and the Pats 40-25-7, also good run -> Broncos 48-17-5 and Bulldogs 43-18-7

The only year you can definitely say a Q team "had it the easiest" of the bunch was 2019

While last year Quebec lost 2 playoff games in the Q, Seattle only lost 3 in the WHL. Hamilton lost 3 in 2022. Sea Dogs didn't even make it past round 1 in 2022 and Rouyn-Noranda lost 4 in 2019.

Remember, language don't make hockey players and 1980 was 44 years ago

 

[nbwingsfan]

5 of the eight series ended in sweeps, two of the series ended in five games, one series has a Game 5 today with the team at home today up 3 games to 1. 16 out of 18 teams in the QMJHL make the playoffs, is there a problem with parity and too big of a difference between the "haves" loading up and the "have nots" selling to a larger extent than is desirable? Does this kind of lopsided results throughout the League play a big role in why the QMJHL representative has done so well in the Memorial Cup in recent years?

Two of the teams (Moncton and Halifax) were favourites who got swept. Halifax especially was by far the favourites

So id say no.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Through two rounds, here are the stats on the number of Series that ended in sweeps:
QMJHL: 7/12
OHL: 6/12
WHL: 6/12

Total CHL: 19/36

3 of the 5 QMJHL series that did not end in Sweeps were decided in 5 games
1 Series ended in 7 games
1 Series is ongoing and heading to a Game 6

2 of the 6 OHL series that did not end in Sweeps were decided in 5 games
3 Series were decided in 6 games
1 Series is ongoing and heading to a Game 6

5 of the 6 WHL series that did not end in Sweeps were decided in 5 games
1 Series was decided in 6 games

In the CHL, in total: 29 out of 36 Series were decided in 5 games or fewer.

 

[Flamesfan62]

I'm not an expert but watching all three leagues over the last years my impression is that the Q lost a step or two compared to the other two CHL leagues. That of course doesn't mean that loaded teams can't still be good.

Another impression of mine is that it mostly isn't the best but the most energized teams doing well at the Memorial Cup. CHL season is long, kids are still young, not grown men. They tire out eventually, pick up more and more bruises, even injuries. Since it's often easier to win the Q than the other two leagues, of course the Q teams tend to have more left in the tank for the memorial cup. I believe energy is also more important than home advantage.

I think 2022 is a pretty good example. Saint John just dominated loaded teams like Hamilton or Edmonton completely. Tired and banged up, they didn't stand a chance against Saint John.

Nothing against the Q though. I think it's a recent development and it might change again. Right now however, I do think that the league doesn't quite have the depth of the other two leagues.

Anything to cope

 

[WarriorofTime]

Hot Take - CHL Playoffs should be "best of 1" instead of this Best of 7 drawn out sweeps

 

[Schenn]

Hot Take - CHL Playoffs should be "best of 1" instead of this Best of 7 drawn out sweeps

Hotter Take - The memorial cup should be a nationally televised, single knockout, March Madness style tournament that would revitalise junior hockey popularity in this country.

 

[robertmac43]

The OHL felt like it was going to be a clear sweep. Oshawa should have won game 3, even if they did, 5 was as long as that series was going to go.

 

[Squats]

I'm not an expert but watching all three leagues over the last years my impression is that the Q lost a step or two compared to the other two CHL leagues. That of course doesn't mean that loaded teams can't still be good.

Another impression of mine is that it mostly isn't the best but the most energized teams doing well at the Memorial Cup. CHL season is long, kids are still young, not grown men. They tire out eventually, pick up more and more bruises, even injuries. Since it's often easier to win the Q than the other two leagues, of course the Q teams tend to have more left in the tank for the memorial cup. I believe energy is also more important than home advantage.

I think 2022 is a pretty good example. Saint John just dominated loaded teams like Hamilton or Edmonton completely. Tired and banged up, they didn't stand a chance against Saint John.

Nothing against the Q though. I think it's a recent development and it might change again. Right now however, I do think that the league doesn't quite have the depth of the other two leagues.

My eyes are hurting. How the hell is it easier to win in the Q? They play best of 7 playoffs with 4 rounds just like the other leagues lmao.

This is just lame excuses. By the way, playoffs in the Q used to end after playoffs of WHL and OHL. So less rest. The years Q didn't win was 100% because of this. Right?

 

[WarriorofTime]

Hotter Take - The memorial cup should be a nationally televised, single knockout, March Madness style tournament that would revitalise junior hockey popularity in this country.

Maybe 8 teams per league, 24 team field, best 8 teams (2 or 3 per league) get a first round bye?

 

[AUAIOMRN]

Hotter Take - The memorial cup should be a nationally televised, single knockout, March Madness style tournament that would revitalise junior hockey popularity in this country.

That would be pretty awesome. Best-of-1 might be more "fun" than meaningful , but the Memorial Cup format isn't very meaningful anyway.

 

[TheKingSlayer]

That would be pretty awesome. Best-of-1 might be more "fun" than meaningful , but the Memorial Cup format isn't very meaningful anyway.

Double elimination would be even better! Winners bracket and losers bracket. Meet at the end and loser has to win two to take the cup.

 

[Hinterland]

My eyes are hurting. How the hell is it easier to win in the Q? They play best of 7 playoffs with 4 rounds just like the other leagues lmao.

This is just lame excuses. By the way, playoffs in the Q used to end after playoffs of WHL and OHL. So less rest. The years Q didn't win was 100% because of this. Right?

Calm down. All I'm saying is that with current system, the hosts of the Memorial Cup will always have a significant advantage if they don't go all the way in their respective league because playoff schedules are tough and every bit of rest helps.

Also, the QMJHL is kinda lacking depth because hockey is struggling in Québec (which can also be seen in the NHL) and the Q obviously has less provinces to draft players from than the other leagues. The Q has been a deeper league in the past and will be again as hockey in Québec recovers. It also doesn't mean that loaded Q teams can't still be very good or even the best team in the entire CHL.

 

[WarriorofTime]

That would be pretty awesome. Best-of-1 might be more "fun" than meaningful , but the Memorial Cup format isn't very meaningful anyway.

Yeah, 22/45 CHL Playoff Series ended in Sweeps. 12/45 ended in Five Games, 7/45 ended in Six games and only 4/45 went to Seven games.

Average Series length was 4.84 Games, not even a full 5.

Don't think the meaningfulness of a seven game series designed to mimic the NHL Playoffs is very necessary here just to make sure the "right" champion is picked. Most people aren't going to be super entertained with watching drawn out whoopings that result in 4 or 5 game series.

A single (or double) elimination tournament though, especially with cross-league matchups you don't typically see, would be a lot of fun and I think people would get into it.

 

[Kingpin794]

Everyone understands this season was an outlier right? Like this isn't a typical thing.

 

[ForumNamePending]

Hotter Take - The memorial cup should be a nationally televised, single knockout, March Madness style tournament that would revitalise junior hockey popularity in this country.

I'm really not a follower of Junior/CHL hockey, so people who are can tell me why it's a bad idea or would never work, but ya, turning the Memorial Cup into something like what college basketball does is a interesting idea.

Just thinking out loud... The three CHL leagues should continue to operate as is, have their regular season and playoffs to crown their respective league champion, and have the Memorial Cup operate as a separate entity. Make it a single elimination tournament opened to all CHL teams... Maybe even open it up to teams from the top Junior "A" leagues. Hold the entire thing at the end of the year, or perhaps even run it in parallel to the various leagues' seasons... So I guess what I'm suggesting is something closer to how Cup competitions in soccer sort of work.

 

[Kingpin794]

I'm really not a follower of Junior/CHL hockey, so people who are can tell me why it's a bad idea or would never work, but ya, turning the Memorial Cup into something like what college basketball does is a interesting idea.

Just thinking out loud... The three CHL leagues should continue to operate as is, have their regular season and playoffs to crown their respective league champion, and have the Memorial Cup operate as a separate entity. Make it a single elimination tournament opened to all CHL teams... Maybe even open it up to teams from the top Junior "A" leagues. Hold the entire thing at the end of the year, or perhaps even run it in parallel to the various league seasons... So I guess what I'm suggesting is something closer to how Cup competitions in soccer sort of work.

Problem is talent gap. Each league has 3-6 teams load up at the deadline each year. Typically the first round is a cake walk but you often get some decent match ups from the 2nd round onward. The teams play over 60 games in the regular season so buy the time you get done with playoffs your looking at 80+ games played. The format as is at the moment is pretty solid. The only thing people like to harp on is the host team. You could solve this by just not having a host team. So bye bye to places like Shawinigan, Saginaw, etc from hosting. Instead you have set locations. OHL year it would either be in London or Windsor. Q would be Quebec or Halifax. WHL would be Idk Saskatoon and Red Deer. All three champs would be in as well as the championship loser of the host league. But again that takes away from having the event go to smaller areas that are the backbone of junior hockey. Above all else the event is a showcase and a celebration of these communities.

 

[landy92mack29]

Everyone understands this season was an outlier right? Like this isn't a typical thing.

shh that doesn't fit the narrative

 

[Schenn]

Maybe 8 teams per league, 24 team field, best 8 teams (2 or 3 per league) get a first round bye?

See I was thinking grander. If the CHL and NCAA ever figure out what they are doing with some sort of agreement where CHL players can play there eventually, you could open up the ushl to this tournament as well. I think there is only like 16-18 teams there now but we are getting closer to having a full 64 team bracket. Now you're getting quite a bit of American exposure as well.

Obviously it would be a large undertaking to get the ushl and CHL lined up on all rules/regulations/ages of players and everything but it would be so awesome.