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Post by mlh01 on May 16, 2024 22:21:03 GMT -5
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Post by mlh01 on May 16, 2024 22:14:12 GMT -5
No as of now they have lost the Allan Cup. Pre-requisite of them joining the new league was to relegate down to AA.
Only AAA teams can host Allan Cup.
With Ontario allowing AA teams to compete, I wouldn't be surprised if there will be some negotiating to allow Innisfail to host while declaring AA.
My understanding is the new league does not want an association with the Allan Cup.
Could mean no Western representation next year
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Post by mlh01 on May 9, 2024 8:53:52 GMT -5
On that note, if Lacombe or Red Deer are potentially coming back to Allan Cup competition....
Wade - I hope you are doing well. If you check this board, I would love to hear your opinion on the health, or hopefully renewed health of Senior in Alberta?
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Post by mlh01 on May 9, 2024 8:52:14 GMT -5
No , I get and understand all that. My concern is if the AA team is good enough to defeat ONT ACH champion team, they are good enough to go to Nationals as is. No need to stack the team further with other 5 top players from the loop. I understand the reasons why, but I don't have to agree with it. Win as a team, lose as a team. Yes that is a very good point. Should a AA team defeat a AAA team, then yes they are quite capable of icing their regular roster. This certainly applies for Ontario. Newfoundland is, and always will be, a different animal. There are only 500,000 people on the whole island. It's smaller than Hamilton. The southern Ontario teams have. 10mil + population to draw from. So I do see the need for pickups out East. Great discussion though. Its honestly terrific to be talking about new teams, and player's eligibility, Allan Cup, etc. Rather than the demise of Senior hockey that our old regular poster "Wade" would predict yearly
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Post by mlh01 on May 8, 2024 21:02:50 GMT -5
The 5 extra roster players should not be an issue at all. Newfoundland has always had the same allowance.
We also have to remember, the OEHL Senior AA has some very hard regulations. Each player is designated Level 1 to 4. A level 1 player is anyone who played pro, Europe, AHL, NHL etc....and each team is only allowed TWO of these players. Only TWO ex pros. Dundas' roster is comprised of 80% ex-pros
Level 2 - Major Jr A (OHL, WHL or the Q) and NCAA Div 1 - each team can only have FOUR of these players.
Level 3/4 - the rest of each teams roster must be made up of NCAA Div 3 and Tier 2 Jr A, Jr B and Jr C
Honestly - it would take one special group of players that are coming from the lower levels to beat a team in AAA that is comprised of players with pro experience.
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Post by mlh01 on May 8, 2024 21:02:39 GMT -5
The 5 extra roster players should not be an issue at all. Newfoundland has always had the same allowance.
We also have to remember, the OEHL Senior AA has some very hard regulations. Each player is designated Level 1 to 4. A level 1 player is anyone who played pro, Europe, AHL, NHL etc....and each team is only allowed TWO of these players. Only TWO ex pros. Dundas' roster is comprised of 80% ex-pros
Level 2 - Major Jr A (OHL, WHL or the Q) and NCAA Div 1 - each team can only have FOUR of these players.
Level 3/4 - the rest of each teams roster must be made up of NCAA Div 3 and Tier 2 Jr A, Jr B and Jr C
Honestly - it would take one special group of players that are coming from the lower levels to beat a team in AAA that is comprised of players with pro experience.
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Post by mlh01 on May 7, 2024 19:29:43 GMT -5
Heard some rumours today. Both from executives on Ontario based teams.
1) Good possibility that Alberta has 4 teams declare AAA next year - No towns were talked about but if I was to guess - Lacombe & Red Deer? Hoping someone in the pulse of Alberta hockey can comment
2) Newfoundland may follow their old tradition of teams declaring AAA while still playing against predominantly AA teams. Or, possibly following the Ontario model and have a AAA division and a AA division. Same as above, hoping anyone in Newfoundland can add any info they hear out there.
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Post by mlh01 on May 6, 2024 16:23:26 GMT -5
Starting a new thread to try and ascertain # of teams declaring AAA
I remember the creator of this site, Doug Matheson, starting this thread yearly. If memory serves correctly, one year the # of AAA teams in Canada topped 25 teams.
So - Ontario so far looks like this:
Dundas Wentworth Stoney Creek Richmond Hill
Please add any info over the summer. I am thinking a good # would be 10 for next year. (Baby steps 🙂)
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Post by mlh01 on May 6, 2024 16:19:43 GMT -5
Definitely not abnormal for a few players to not attend. That happened 10 years ago, 20 years ago as well.
Next year will be no different. There will be work commitments and/or family commitments.
But I have talked to Executives from all 3 teams. And have no doubt that whomever wins from the 3 current teams will travel to Alberta.
Interesting side note - rumours are that the winner of the Ontario Elite AA winner could playoff against the winner of the ACH AAA for Ontario championship. I can see it happening, however with the player restrictions associated at the AA level, I do not see how any AA team could compete.
Either way, good things finally happening in Senior hockey. And, agree that the Cup going West is essential to re-grow Senior AAA hockey in the West.
Hearing (although these rumours are more "hope") that Sask and Manitoba will have a few teams declare AAA. And am almost certain that Powell River BC will declare.
Lets start a new thread for AAA teams declaring
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Post by mlh01 on May 3, 2024 10:16:50 GMT -5
Now continuing on that:
1) Yes promotion could have been better. Advertise all season. Issue was they couldn't. The tournament and participants (or lack thereof) was not finalized until new year.
2) Stoney Creek does not have a good fan base like Dundas. They did not bring in the crowds like say Cambridge or Brantford did for road games.
Next year should be much better attended. Tournament is already announced. Innisfail has 12 full months to advertise and put bums in seats.
I guarantee when it comes back to Ontario in 3-4 years, and Senior hockey is on better footing the crowds will be better
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Post by mlh01 on May 3, 2024 10:12:53 GMT -5
Where were all the fans, only game with a crowd was the Champiomship game ? If Dundas was not in the Champ game, would there still be a crowd ? The hockey was great,,playoffs did not help. All tournaments are like that. Home team or home country gets larger crowds. Watch the Mens World championship next week. Or any World Junior tournament. If in Canada and Latvia is playing Austria, how many fans will be there? Very few It was same here in Dundas. When Southern Shore plays Innisfail, there weren't as many in the seats as the Dundas games.
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Post by mlh01 on Apr 27, 2024 18:37:52 GMT -5
Dundas wins second consecutive Allan Cup. First team to win back to back in 30 years !
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Post by mlh01 on Apr 25, 2024 15:18:44 GMT -5
Wednesday Southern Shore Breakers 2 Innisfail Eagles 0
Dundas Real McCoys 3 Stoney Creek Tigers 2
Thursday is day off for tournament
Dundas finishes first and receives bye to Allan Cup Championship on Saturday
Southern Shore vs Stoney Creek Tigers play in Semifinals on Friday
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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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