DUPONT’S AROUND THE DUB
The final copy for another hockey season in the dub. Let’s go!:
1. GO RAIDERS! – We are starting this on a positive note. What an incredible season it was for the Prince Albert Raiders! You guys captured the spirit of junior hockey and a community exploded with passion.
Well done!
2. TOUGH LUCK – As you likely know by now, the Raiders were sent home from Halifax after going 0-3. It was the first time all season that the Raiders had lost three in-a-row. For whatever reason, it came at the worst possible time. No point in looking back at the what-ifs right now if you’re part of the team. Enjoy the memories that will last a lifetime.
We will do the looking back. It’s our job, not yours.
3. MEMORIES – When you look back at last season and the heroics in SW Saskatchewan, people remember the great run to the WHL Championship… NOT the Memorial Cup. That’s hard to imagine right now, but it will be the truth very soon.
As for the WHL champs, it’s now 13 losses in-a-row for the league representative at the Memorial Cup. Is this a problem? Sure. However, I don’t believe it’s an issue of the other leagues being head and shoulders above the dub… at least not yet. But it’s never a good idea to ignore a potential issue.
4. CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN – I’ve heard this before when looking at teams in the national event. The saying goes ‘some teams climb their mountain in the league playoffs.’
Last year with the Broncos, I truly believe that winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup was their mountain. You could feel the weight lifted off their shoulders. They had gone through an emotional playoff and came out on top. I don’t believe that was the case with the Raiders this time around.
5. LOOKING FOR ANSWERS – Then what was it? Some chalk up the lack of success in the tournament to the grueling travel schedule, and going across the country to a significant time change. Combine that with the fact that the team just came off a tough, seven-game series with Vancouver (that took overtime to decide a winner in game seven) and you have all the reason you need. I believe that plays a part.hadButt I have my thoughts on it.
6. TELEVISION HURT THE RAIDERS? – The Raiders were scary good. Top to bottom they could beat you with anyone they put on the ice. They have exceptional young talent too, and a back end that can compete with any in the country. They have one of the top goalies in Canada in Ian Scott and can match up four lines maybe better than anyone in the CHL.
So why did they lose?
If I have to find something, it was simply the team was overmatched when it came to their top end talent. At the Memorial Cup, the other team’s better players were a little bit better. At this event, it makes a WORLD of difference.
When the games are on national television there are more TV timeouts. More timeouts means more rest for high-end players. That equals more minutes. In the Western Hockey League, teams don’t have the luxury of extra TV timeouts and depth is much more of a factor. The Raiders were so far ahead in the depth department and it showed in the results. Unfortunately, they didn’t really get the chance to flex that particular muscle in Halifax.
7. NEXT UP, KELOWNA – All eyes now point to the Okanagan Valley where Adam Foote and the Kelowna Rockets are preparing to host next year’s Memorial Cup. Who will join them as the 2nd dub representative? I have some early ideas.
8. EARLY FAVOURITES – Around this time last year we were talking about the Lethbridge Hurricanes as the top team heading into a brand new season and there was some chatter that PA was going to be ok. This time around there isn’t quite as much talk.
That being said, in the East, you’d have to think Saskatoon is an early favourite with their core becoming a year older. That has to get people in the bridge city excited. I also like what Calgary is building with the addition of Jett Woo at the WHL Bantam Draft.
9. MORE PREDICTIONS – I believe the Pats take a big step forward and challenge for a playoff spot… Winnipeg will be competitive but still a couple years away from taking their run… Prince Albert will be a solid team again and won’t take the step back that others in the past have…
10. FINAL THOUGHTS – It’s officially the offseason and we can all take a breath. Congratulations to all around the league for another tremendous year. My offseason beard is in full swing (though very unimpressive!) and the tropical resorts, dead of all mainstream travellers, become filled with those of us who can’t get away in the fall and winter.
I get asked on a regular basis if I know anything of the future of WHL television broadcasts and if fans can hope to watch games in their living rooms across Western Canada anytime soon. Sadly I have nothing to report on that front, but I will continue to be a strong supporter of whatever the league does and I’ll continue to be a proponent of getting the games back on air!
For now, enjoy the summer! I’ll talk to you soon.
(Follow Darren Dupont on Twitter at @darrendupont)
