Post by wade on Apr 10, 2015 14:34:38 GMT -5
This has got to be the most confusing & most annoying pre-tournament build-up I have ever been part of.
Broken rules, twisted arguments and...now...threats of even more SR AAA teams pulling the pin on Allan Cup participation. I think...its needless & silly to comment on the idea NFLD won't be back next year. We're not even close to done with the active season...so...I am going to show the 6 tournament teams a little bit of respect by staring down what...exactly...each teams chances of an AC title are in 2015:
1) Clarenville Caribous: The HOST team is...ALWAYS...the #1 ranked team in every tournament. I can think of 2 times where I strayed from this GOLDEN RULE and I was burned by it. Twice. The 2015 Bous' might have a good deal of murk around their line-up in the days leading up to puck drop...but...that's normal. Confusion & controversy is a typical effect which takes form when a team has a massive amount of recruitment flex. We really have NO IDEA how its actually going to translate for the 2011 Allan Cup Champs...but...we KNOW they are the favorite. They always have strong goaltending, they always have a quick, skilled team and they've clearly put everything on the line to TRY and put a winner together. HOST teams get a very sweet deal in terms of scheduling. I think its an underrated reason why they have so much historical success in the AC.
2) GFW Cataracts: I think the Cats' could quite possibly have the best #1 line in the country.Cam Fergus is a huge weapon and he's a decent pick to be the top scorer in the tournament. The Cats' might be in the most uniquely leveraged position in the modern era...they aren't the HOST team...so...they don't have the PSI building up the same as Clarenville...but...they've had the same preparation window of a HOST team + they have plenty of tournament experience + they'll have an exceptionall strong contingent of very passionate fans helping them out in their back yard The other thing the Cats' have is a decent round robin set-up. They play the first game of the round robin (against Dundas) and the 2nd last game of the round robin against a team who will be playing back<>back games (SEPT). Tough opposition to be sure...but...I like their chances of coming away with a BYE. Not a boy. A bye.
3) SEPT: I had the opportunity to see Rosetown earlier this season and the SASK REP looked...to me...to have the making of a pretty good SR AAA squad. For SEPT to go into Rosetown and sweep the Wings is really impressive and not entirely surprising when you delve into how exactly they combine the use of AP's and the high end former PROS' Marv always seems to have such an eye for. SEPT has a really tough schedule. I don't think you ever want to be playing back<>back games if you don't have to and they're already locked into that situation...playing Dundas & then GFW on the 2nd & 3rd days of Round Robin play.
They've got a jaw-droppingly solid group of defencemen and likely will approach this challenge with a defence-first game plan. That's always a good idea, IMO.
4) Bentley Generals: This is a tremendous team...again...coming from Alberta. But...they're coming from Alberta...and the only people who like The Army...are...people from Alberta. The target on the backs of this squad has...I think...outgrown their backs. You can see it in the results from the Dundas2014 tournament...The Army was ambushed from all angles. Everyone had a hard-on for "our" soldiers' scalps and to the credit of the 2014 field...they took a big time pound of flesh. I feel like I am partly to blame for some of the heat the Gens' face...but...this year in particular...I have had very strong personal feelings on some hot button topics. I sincerely HOPE I haven't perpetuated the Anti-Army sentiment...as I always say...The DCOSH is NOT any kind of official representative of the Bentley Generals Hockey Club. To be honest...the Gens' have created more than enough attention for themselves just by accomplishing what they have accomplished up to this point. I highly doubt a few of my haters really needed me pushing any extra buttons. The Gens will open their schedule against the HOST team...that right there is a huge challenge for them. Its the one game nobody wants and yet The Army seem to get it...Every. Single. Year.
5) The Defending Champions: I am not at all convinced the defending champs are as "bad-off" as some of the Real McCoys' fan base seems to THINK they are. These same people have argued HARD in favour of the theory the ACH is the BEST league in Canada. I had a hard time convincing anyone otherwise and so it should stand...somewhat...to reason that the best team from the best league could/should/would be a solid threat in Clarenville. One key argument which I think I need to step back from and admit I might have lost is...Dundas PROBABLY DOES have the best goaltender in Canada right now. Churchill and a couple others are worthy of consideration for sure...but...Mike Mole has been magnificent in every big game he's played the past 2 years. That's a critical aspect to have covered in a short tournament, obviously.
6) What a Mess: What else can you say?! I have no idea how this NB team is going to work out. One thing I will say is...the precious few posters who know anything about this team have been very cordial, informative and forthcoming when they've tried to post here and I don't get any sort of indication they feel entitled or defensive about the questionable circumstance that's brought them to this point as a team. I know there has been plenty of You-Tube examinations about how they may or may not play the game and its troublesome to think they MIGHT be a bunch of ruthless, coothless bastards...but...they're also a first year Allan Cup team...and that's w/o a doubt in my mind the biggest problem for them. They should be judged accordingly.
So...this is an opening state of the galaxy report...not too in-depth...and hopefully not too biased.
Lots of BS has went down...I really just HOPE beyond HOPE to see "my" team on TSN this year. I have NEVER watched The Army on LIVE TV. In fact...I still haven't seen a replay of the 2013 final, either. Time flies when your having fun.