Unrelated/related…but I often wondered about the advantage to playing the QF match up on a Thursday or Friday. Playing the QF on Friday = 3 games in 3 days to win like you said Drummie. The host does get to decide when they play, but I’m not sure what weight that holds if any. Under the current format and if history tells us anything, we can’t really say either way that there’s a clear advantage for playing the QF on Thursday or Friday. I suppose if you’re a confident group who’s been there done that, a QF #1 or #2 match up on Thursday and Friday rest would be desirable. On the other hand, if you’re looking at the gate and keeping your host team “in it” for the fans, QF #4 would make sense too.
2022 – UQTR plays in QF #4 on Friday, beats UBC 2-1 (2OT) and later takes down Alberta 5-4 (2OT) in the final to win.
2019 – UNB plays in QF #3 on Friday, beats Carleton 2-1 and later beats Alberta 4-2 in the final to win
2018 – Alberta plays in QF #3 on Friday, beats Acadia 8-6 and later beats X 4-2 in the final
2017 – UNB plays in QF #2 on Thursday, beats a travel-weary Queen’s team 5-1, and then Sask 5-3 to win in the final
2016 – UNB and Western in QF #3 on Friday, UNB wins 5-1, and later beats X 3-1 in the final to win…note X did have that 3OT win over Sask in the semis and were gassed
2015 – Alberta plays in QF #4 on Friday, Alberta beats X 5-1, and then takes down UNB in the final 6-3
I think at the end of the day it really comes down to the match up for this tournament and who’s got it. After seeing Alberta’s 2017 and UNB’s 2022 QF losses though, the upsets definitely exist!!
