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Post by mlh01 on Apr 22, 2024 16:48:28 GMT -5
Yep, agree, anything can happen. Looking forward to tonight. McCoys haven't played a team that hits like Innisfail since....well...last year when they played Innisfail LOL
Ontario ACH needs to find a way to increase intensity during the season.
If all games were like last night, or even close, crowds would return in droves. Non-contact hockey just doesn't sell
Should be a good one tonight
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Post by mlh01 on Apr 22, 2024 8:51:31 GMT -5
After watching both opening games live:
Stoney Creek looks to be strongest team all around. Good goaltending. Good positional play. Roll their lines well. Likely my pick.
Innisfail plays physical game. Most hitting we have seen all year in Ontario. But like previous Alberta teams they lack top-end talent. Bentley would win on heart. I can say, imo, Innisfail has the heart for sure. But I feel will fall short.
Newfoundland struggled positionally and on special teams. Had tough time setting up on PP. But same as Innisfail, those guys want to win.
Last, host Dundas. Have the best high end talent (as they always do). Issue is icing a full team with the better players coming out. MVP Goalie Mike Mole out for year as is his backup Davies. Missing Mackenzie Wood is huge. Chris Campoli, Brad Bonello, Darren Haydar, etc and the supporting cast need to play perfect games if they want to advance. Hearing Campoli may not play next 2 games. As mentioned this years MVP Wood is stuck in the States. And Haydar has only played a handful of games this year.
My pick is Stoney
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Post by mlh01 on Apr 3, 2024 20:21:55 GMT -5
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Post by mlh01 on Mar 24, 2024 18:59:52 GMT -5
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Post by mlh01 on Mar 13, 2024 16:42:03 GMT -5
Only centres I heard that could potentially look at 2025 are the 2 Alberta teams. Would be great to get the tournament out West again
Also, I am curious if AA teams will be allowed to enter in their regions. I am thinking they would need to meet certain criteria- ie financial commitment, elevated roster talent that can compete at the AAA level, etc
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Post by mlh01 on Mar 12, 2024 18:18:54 GMT -5
Is it actually this years Newfoundland champion not last years champion Last years champion…. This is how Newfoundland, in the modern era, has always handled it. Gives the team ample time to raise expenses. North Shore Breakers is what I have heard.
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Post by mlh01 on Mar 12, 2024 9:05:44 GMT -5
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Post by mlh01 on Mar 9, 2024 17:59:46 GMT -5
Tournament confirmed now to be full week long. Original plan was start on weekend and have a mid week championship.
Will be 4 team tournament starting either Fri Apr 19 or Sat Apr 20. Championship game following Saturday Apr 27
Teams that I heard are confirmed:
NFLD - South Shore Breakers
ON - Dundas Real McCoys (Host)
ON - Winner or highest seed between Stoney Creek and Wentworth (currently both teams with 2 wins in round robin. If they finish 1-2 they will play best of 5 championship. Otherwise if either team finishes 3rd, then other team gains auto entry. Championship against Dundas wouldnt mean anything
ALB - Winner of Innisfail vs Stony Plain. Innisfail leading 1 game to 0 in best of 5
Looking forward to a great week of Allan Cup AAA hockey !!
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Post by mlh01 on Mar 5, 2024 20:16:45 GMT -5
I will reply on a few of these posts:
1). Years ago teams did chip in a nominal amount to declare AAA. The difference is there were 20+ teams each year. Everyone wanted to declare AAA. Costs were no where near where they are today. Inflation on airfair, accommodations, not to mention even the crazy cost of sticks and skates (which back in the day most teams bought for the players) has meant that the cost of running a AAA team has skyrocketed. Asking for more money now is a deterrent. To me, sponsorship is the only way to allow the Allan Cup to return to where it should be. Not talking huge cash. But a few major sponsors to pay the way to the Cup. If travel and hotels are paid, I honestly feel the floodgates would open for teams to move from AA to AAA
2) Golden Horseshoe general area is about 8 mil now. Yes. However within an hour of Toronto you have about 12 mil. So even more of an advantage for Ontario. Newfoundland MUST add players or they cannot compete. It always has been the case.
3). Announcement. I expect an announcement this week. I think they are just finalizing participation.
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Post by mlh01 on Feb 25, 2024 10:54:02 GMT -5
Ironic thing is Clarenville knocked out South Shore last night in the Avalon League 2024 playoffs.
Reason Newfoundland always sent the previous years winner was it gives the team a full year to fund raise. Travelling from the Rock to anywhere for a full team is quite expensive. And we all know how little support Hockey Canada provides financially to Senior hockey. Not sure when this was decided but hoping moving forward they permanently go back to sending the previous years champion.
The yearly hope is that Hockey Canada recognizes the importance of Senior hockey. Senior AAA Allows players to continue playing at a very high level. It should be supported in the same manor that Major Junior is supported !!
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Post by mlh01 on Feb 25, 2024 10:48:05 GMT -5
Hearing Clarenville will not be representing Newfoundland. Going back to the old formula. Rumour is the South Shore Breakers, winner of the 2023 Herder Cup (Newfoundland’s famous and long running Senior hockey championship) will be making the trip down to Allan Cup in Dundas.
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Post by mlh01 on Feb 21, 2024 23:30:53 GMT -5
I will also add that one of the reasons the old “outlaw” WOAA hockey league disbanded and formed the new Ontario Elite Senior Hockey League under the Hockey Canada umbrella was to hopefully have movement between the two leagues - players and potentially teams moving from AA to AAA
Other rumblings from the rink have Oakville and Niagara interests for next year in ACH
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Post by mlh01 on Feb 21, 2024 23:09:13 GMT -5
Why would Creemore join this league when there is only 3 teams. Double AA hockey is booming and there is 11 teams in there loop.Maybe its time to re think senior AAA hockey and re brand it AA.That designation never affected the Clarenville Caribous last year as they nearly won it. The difference in level of play between most of the AA teams and the AAA is enormous. There are many restrictions in place that prohibit teams from carrying too many ex-pro players. The AAA leagues do not have these restrictions. Most AAA players are ex pros whereas most AA players are lower level Jr or Cdn university level players. As for Clarenville, that was not their AA team. They picked up about 10 players from the other AA teams. Was essentially an all star team from Newfoundland. In fairness, even in the glory days this happened with Nfld teams. The island population is less than Hamilton, Ontario. Very hard to build a true competitive AAA team nowadays. I believe the Nfld team will be built similarly this season. To designate all teams as AA would be a huge mistake. The goal is not to water down the hockey, but to build high level Senior hockey. AA hockey has its place.
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Post by mlh01 on Feb 13, 2024 22:35:45 GMT -5
Brampton will not finish the season ….
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Post by mlh01 on Feb 10, 2024 9:24:30 GMT -5
Until officially announced by Hockey Canada, tentative start to Allan Cup will be Friday April 19th in Dundas. Four team Challenge cup.
More to come shortly
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