Memorial Cup Couch Potato

By Jeff Bromley

With the annual passing of the Victoria Day long-weekend signifying not only the start of camping season in these parts but the culmination of the year’s Major-Junior hockey in the Memorial Cup in Regina. Four teams, round-robin and playoff format with the hardware of the Memorial Cup clearly in sight.

All the trades Regina Pats G.M. Brent Parker made to sacrifice the near future of the Pats in the name of competitiveness with the champions of the WHL, OHL and QMJHL as host of the Memorial Cup and it appears that he may of forgot one key aspect – goal- tending. Not to put too fine of point on it but Pats goaltender Donald Choukalous has had better outings. Regina looked like it could play with any one of the Cup teams save for one aspect – goal-tending. If the Pats are to have any hope at all even to make it to Friday’s Tie-Breaker game stopping the puck has to be essential. Otherwise the Pats will have be content with their ‘Host’ moniker and bow out quickly. Near the conclusion of the first game of the Memorial Cup involving the Pats and the OHL champion Ottawa 67′s, a 5-2 win by the 67′s, Ottawa captain Joe Talbot scored an empty net goal to seal the victory. Shortly there after Pat Captain Barret Jackman leveled him. Of course, a melee ensued involving almost everyone on the ice with the TV cameras rolling. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the CHL on national TV. Nevertheless this is hockey and sometimes this stuff happens. Jackman pulled a bonehead move, misconducts were handed out and Jackman probably deserved a suspension.

The Calgary Hitmen might remember that it was the ’67′s Lance Galbraith who knocked out star D-man Brad Stuart with a dirty elbow two years ago when the M-Cup was hosted by Ottawa. This stuff happens and nobody’s condoning or saying its right but Brennan needs to stay a little more neutral. Being the home team reporter is fine but lets try and stay within the realm of credibility. Why is it that there is now instant replay in the Memorial Cup? Logistics dictate that the CHL can’t institute it throughout the three leagues on a regular basis so why would they use it at the cup just because Sportsnet is broadcasting it? The instant replay rule is good, but for fairness and continuity’s sake to all the other teams that didn’t make it to the big dance in Regina, the rule shouldn’t be in place now. Not that there was a specific happenstance but what if there was a goal disallowed or vice-versa for one of the conference or league final clubs that instant replay could’ve made a difference on?….

On the same token you might be wondering why the Memorial Cup isn’t using the two referee system that the WHL was subjected too for some of the regular season and all of the playoffs? Apparently the OHL and QMJHL don’t use the two-zebra system. Fair enough. So why then is the WHL the lone guinea pig in this experiment? Shouldn’t all three league’s have to be subject to the same growing pain that is the two-ref system?

The bright-spot of the tournament so far has to be Val D’Or’s 16-yr-old goaltender Maxime Daigneault. If he keeps this play up the Foreurs might have a chance to steal the cup. Even if they don’t, Daignealt should be given consideration for MVP…