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Post by Scooter on May 16, 2019 12:31:41 GMT -5
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Post by southoftheborder on May 16, 2019 22:31:13 GMT -5
Ouch, that one is gonna hurt. Hopefully the league can rebound and hopefully get some new teams to join. There are 36 Senior AA teams that played in the province last season, hopefully one or two will make the jump to AAA to give the league a shot in the arm. This may have some impact on the rest of Senior AAA hockey as well, with the qualifying. The first article states that the team is not playing next year at all. The qualifying isn't looking like it will be loaded up with teams for 2020, at most three teams for the Pacific spot (all ACHW teams), at most 3 teams for the Western spot, 2 or 3 teams for the Ontario spot (if Brantford returns). Quebec being a question mark with the Outaouais league becoming a possibility for 2020 based on their previous statements, and at best one team from the Atlantic region (Haut Madawaska didn't win their league playoffs so who knows on what will happen there, and Newfoundland is in about as bad of shape as ACHW in terms of facing a possibility of collapsing, with the defending Herder champion questioning their own viability in the current situation in the province which has been ugly to put it politely). Possibly only 7 returning teams trying to qualify for four spots with two hosts. At this rate everyone could potentially qualify. Would have to wonder if all three of the ACHW teams would try a three team league as they have all been around for 20 years.
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Post by wade on May 17, 2019 20:56:35 GMT -5
A couple possible names were dropped when I spoke briefly to a few people during Allan Cup week. Neither of the two are actually existing SR teams, rather parties interested in creating teams to play in the ACHW.
In Alberta, teams must play at the “AA” level for a year prior to registering “AAA”. Therefore, it’s looking like 3 SR “AAA” teams, at the most, for next season.
When we were still known as the Chinook League, there were many seasons where a double-tiered league worked amicably. But...I’m skeptical about this still being any kind of solution...as The Gens’ are frankly too much to handle for “AA” teams in Alberta these days.
Makes me wonder if maybe the 4 time Allan Cup Champs’ have essentially reached “End Game” as the biggest powerhouse the tournament era has ever seen?
There is almost NOBODY within about 3 1/2 Provinces willing to make a serious effort to keep pace with them.
I think this moment has been on the horizon for awhile and I’ve been saying for over a year now...Allan Cup isn’t really “alive” anymore.
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Post by slapthepuck on May 27, 2019 19:27:49 GMT -5
Just read that the Lacombe Generals are also dropping out of the league for the 2019-2020 season. Is this true or someone just joking around? What will the Innisfail Eagles and Stony Plain Eagles do?
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