Quote:
Originally Posted by moon
I guess for me it was on the fact they only have two wins in 8 years and not exactly a stellar record before that. With 3 leagues competing that isn't a great record. The only two wins coming in Quebec and the last time they won outside of Quebec was all the way in 1996.
With the tournament being played in only three zones every year you would think that the Q would have won at least once outside of Quebec in the past 10+ years.
In a 4 team tournament where you often get two teams in you had better have some runner -up places. They aren't complete crap but their record in terms of winning when it isn't in Quebec quite frankly speaks for itself in my books.
I don't think it is that surprising the Q should be the weakest as it has the shallowest/smallest pool of players to draw from.
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I agree the Q has the smallest pool to draw from, and right now there are too many teams in the league the small talent pool is spread thin. However to make the Memorial Cup Final seven years in a row shows weakness? If anything it's impressive that they manage to win on home ice as more teams make the Q-Host year their "go for it" year. I know Victoriaville and Val d'Or lost in overtime (I believe double OT in both cases) when they were in the final. I'm trying to remember if London beat Rimouski in OT or not (I don't think but it was a close game).
Seems to me that if an OHL or WHL team don't make the finals they don't show up at the tournament (judging solely on who is in the finals). At least the Q teams are competitive year in year out. But I suppose if you don't win you're not competitive at all as the Q only seems to win on home ice, you know with Moncton fans loathing the Quebec Remparts in the stands.
Last year there were only three legit contenders for the Q-title, this year it was the same. However next year I fully expect to see 5 or 6 teams make a viable run for the Memorial Cup.
Gatineau loses in OT to the all mighty Kitchener Rangers in front of Kitchener's fans while coming back from the three goal deficit twice. Clearly Gatineau doesn't deserve to be there.
I should also point out that Belleville came back from a 3-0 series deficit to force game 7 in the OHL final, and they are getting no respect in this thread either.