Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire ” brought to you by your local Auto Logic…the Logical Choice.
The Memorial Cup Hockey Tournament begins tomorrow night in Red Deer, Alberta as the host Rebels entertain the Ontario Hockey League Champion London Knights.
The Quebec League champion Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Brandon Wheat Kings who took the WHL crown are also in the Final 4.
The 4 team format, established in 1983, remains the same; each team plays a true round robin of 3 games leading to the tiebreaker game if needed on Thursday, followed by the semifinal game May 27th and the Championship Final May 29th.
Whether you like the format or not, there is a certain appeal to the condensed nature of the Canadian Hockey League Championship.
Outside of Red Deer and Brandon, everybody is pretty much a stranger and thus handicapping the outcome is best left to the NHL scouts who crossover and have a better gauge of the teams.
Of course, I should note, at least three of those same crossover scouts told me they felt Sarnia would win the OHL Championship and unfortunately for the Sting, their playoff stay lasted just 7 games.
By this time next week the picture will be much clearer, and fans in our region will know if London’s remarkable playoff win streak continued or whether someone somewhat unknown will be in the driver’s seat at the 2016 Memorial Cup
I’m Fred Wallace