The Memorial Cup - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Commandant · 05-19-2016, 05:11 PM

Red Deer is hosting this year's Memorial Cup, and this might be the strongest 4 team field we've had in some time.

Here's our tournament preview. The event kicks off tomorrow night with a game between the London Knights and the host Rebels.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2016/05/...w-predictions/

loob job · 05-20-2016, 06:45 AM

Seems pretty clear the host team will be in tough. The three champs are all very good.

Northendzone · 05-20-2016, 07:07 AM

my father in law is a Rebels season ticket holder - he is taking my son to the games tonight and tomorrow night - he offer me his ticket - but I declined as I would not feel good about taking his ticket

red deer is a great rink to watch jr hockey

CroFlames · 05-20-2016, 08:47 AM

Mem Cup is such an underrated tournament IMO.

undercoverbrother · 05-20-2016, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Mem Cup is such an underrated tournament IMO.

Sorry CroFlames (not at you per se.) but I agree, which is why it drives my crazy when people shorten it to "Mem Cup". Memorial Cup, it ain't too hard.

CroFlames · 05-20-2016, 09:52 AM

Sorry, the Memorial Cup is so underrated.

I guess we shouldn't use SCF to describe the final series of the NHL playoffs.

troutman · 05-20-2016, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Mem Cup is such an underrated tournament IMO.

I don't like that the host team gets a free ticket and home ice advantage.

RyZ · 05-20-2016, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't like that the host team gets a free ticket and home ice advantage.

I floated the idea of sending the USHL Champ as the 4th team to Button, Pronman and a few other Junior scouts on twitter before the tourney last year but they all seemed to think that other than the USNDTP team, the USHL Champs would be cannon fodder and wouldnt be competitive.

TomLeeMC · 05-20-2016, 10:07 AM

Going to tomorrow's game, and will probably end up getting another couple games in next week as most of my buddies are Rebels season ticket holders and I've had a few invites. Really hoping to see London play and scout Tkachuk and Juolevi. Agreed Rebels are going to be in tough but if anyone can get them there it would be Sutter.

CroFlames · 05-20-2016, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't like that the host team gets a free ticket and home ice advantage.

I don't mind it to be honest. Gives a 4th team a chance to play who may otherwise never see Memorial Cup action. Gets fans involved and the host city energized.

Not to mention there is probably some economic benefit to hosting.

Cecil Terwilliger · 05-20-2016, 10:14 AM

I think it is probably the worst format for a championship in all of sports. It's fine at the Spengler Cup because that's a fun little xmas tourney.

You take a 72 game regular season and 4 rounds of grueling playoffs and then you have teams play 3 games, one of which against a team that didn't even earn the right to be there?

It's a fun tourney and has produced some entertaining finals but it could be done a lot better.

TomLeeMC · 05-20-2016, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I don't mind it to be honest. Gives a 4th team a chance to play who may otherwise never see Memorial Cup action. Gets fans involved and the host city energized.

Not to mention there is probably some economic benefit to hosting.

This! It's really good for the city. I've heard that scouts from all around have been booking tees times at golf courses around the area. Also, the last time it was hosted in Alberta was 1974. There has been quite a buzz around it. Also, gives the people who stick around town something to do for the may long weekend.

Buff · 05-20-2016, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't like that the host team gets a free ticket and home ice advantage.

It helps the CHL to determine proper places to play. If they alternated between the league champions each year it would be difficult to prepare in short notice once they find out who win their league.

They also get to award the location to only cities that are capable of hosting the event. Some places just couldn't handle it and if that team won their league it wouldn't look good for the CHL plus they then get to maximize their profits by having the event at locations with proper facilities and interest.

Scornfire · 05-20-2016, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I think it is probably the worst format for a championship in all of sports. It's fine at the Spengler Cup because that's a fun little xmas tourney.

You take a 72 game regular season and 4 rounds of grueling playoffs and then you have teams play 3 games, one of which against a team that didn't even earn the right to be there?

It's a fun tourney and has produced some entertaining finals but it could be done a lot better.

I think the issue is mainly that the tournament requires a good deal of planning beforehand, and if you decide on hosting it in a city that doesn't have a team participating in the tournament itself, who are you selling the tickets too? The tournament is great and all but I'd hardly consider traveling across the country to go see it.

Can't really wait until the end and pick one of the 3 champs to host it, even if you did how would you go about deciding which of 3 top tier teams from completely different leagues gets home ice advantage

Cecil Terwilliger · 05-20-2016, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scornfire

I think the issue is mainly that the tournament requires a good deal of planning beforehand, and if you decide on hosting it in a city that doesn't have a team participating in the tournament itself, who are you selling the tickets too? The tournament is great and all but I'd hardly consider traveling across the country to go see it.

Can't really wait until the end and pick one of the 3 champs to host it, even if you did how would you go about deciding which of 3 top tier teams from completely different leagues gets home ice advantage

Well ideally they should have either a single championship game between the two league winners (doesn't work with 3 leagues) or have a best of 7 series.

Given that there are 3 leagues there is no good scenario. With 4 leagues you could have a proper CHL semi final then a proper CHL championship with 7 games played between the two teams. But then you'd have 6 rounds of playoffs and that means the league playoffs would have to get shorter.

Ruttiger · 05-20-2016, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Given that there are 3 leagues there is no good scenario.

Earlier you'd said it could be done a lot better. Which is it?

I think it's good the way it is. By naming the host city in advance you give that franchise the ability to prepare their team in advance and, in theory, be competitive. And as mentioned, this way you don't run the risk of a city having to host by virtue of winning their league that really doesn't have the capability of properly doing it.

I think given all the parameters, it's good as is.

SuperMatt18 · 05-20-2016, 11:27 AM

Yeah I can't really think of an example where the host was just cannon fodder and didn't at least put up a bit of a fight (Maybe Saskatoon having a disappointing season).

Think it is fine the way it is as well IMO.

Cecil Terwilliger · 05-20-2016, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

Earlier you'd said it could be done a lot better. Which is it?

I think it's good the way it is. By naming the host city in advance you give that franchise the ability to prepare their team in advance and, in theory, be competitive. And as mentioned, this way you don't run the risk of a city having to host by virtue of winning their league that really doesn't have the capability of properly doing it.

I think given all the parameters, it's good as is.

It's both.

GirlySports · 05-20-2016, 11:55 AM

the only other way would be a NCAA style Frozen Four tournament

I don't know. 4 teams from each league plus 4 wildcards? But then there will complaints of a wildcard team winning it all or a team going through 4 rounds of playoffs and then getting knocked out in the first round.

DSIM420 · 05-20-2016, 12:04 PM

I think they should revamp the tournament so that the top 2 teams in each league qualify as well as the final 2 in the RBC cup. 6 CHL teams 2 Junior A teams. 2 divisions based on points in regular season, each division gets 1 Junior A team. Round robin top 2 move on, and have a best of 3 final. Ya it is a lot of hockey but it would be a way more interesting tournament.