Could you help with a QMJHL Expansion Idea?

[Liam Whitton]

blocked UNB wanted or wants nothing to do with a professional team (Q, or otherwise) in Fredericton even back when the Express and the Canadiens were based there..... it's very similar to why Lowell is simply a 1 team hockey market and that is UMASS-Lowell....

Your right. Just a theory though. However the city is large enough for a team

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

Your right. Just a theory though. However the city is large enough for a team

There are plenty of cities large enough for a team. Fortunately there are a dozen or so other criteria that every viable hockey market must meet. This thread would never end if every people were just blurting out every city in the league footprint with a large enough population to support a team and then saying it is just a theory.

 

[Teaspoon salami]

I would love to see a team in the newly renovated Verdun Auditorium. I do think attendance would be better this time around because Verdun is no longer verdump anymore, but I doubt it would happen.

 

[ErikaPEI]

I would love to see a team in the newly renovated Verdun Auditorium. I do think attendance would be better this time around because Verdun is no longer verdump anymore, but I doubt it would happen.

I don't see an expansion happening, but I wouldn't be shocked to see a team like Bathurst, Cape Breton, or Val d'Or move; most likely to Verdun or Sorell. I know when Charlottetown was almost relocated, it would've been to Sorell.

 

[paul-laus]

I wonder if the Trois Rivières franchise with their new building would be considered by the Q if the current ECHL franchise eventually falters in that league with no natural rivals, no history in that league, and almost no emotional attachment for fans to connect with…

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I wonder if the Trois Rivières franchise with their new building would be considered by the Q if the current ECHL franchise eventually falters in that league with no natural rivals, no history in that league, and almost no emotional attachment for fans to connect with…

unlikely, since St. John's collapsed in Mile One after the interference from SJSE

 

[Joe Lamb]

unlikely, since St. John's collapsed in Mile One after the interference from SJSE

What is SJSE ?

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

What is SJSE ?

the owner/operator and landlord of Mary Brown's Centre in St. John's.... home of the ECHL Growlers, now that the Edge have collapsed

 

[paul-laus]

Love to Fredericton in the Q at some point:..

 

[paul-laus]

With New Foundland gone from the ECHL and Trois Rivière probably not too much longer for the ECHL, would either of these markets or even Fredericton ever be considered for expansion?

With New Foundland gone from the ECHL and Trois Rivière probably not too much longer for the ECHL, would either of these markets or even Fredericton ever be considered for expansion?

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

With New Foundland gone from the ECHL and Trois Rivière probably not too much longer for the ECHL, would either of these markets or even Fredericton ever be considered for expansion?

With New Foundland gone from the ECHL and Trois Rivière probably not too much longer for the ECHL, would either of these markets or even Fredericton ever be considered for expansion?

Trois Rivieres is alive for at least another decade under Spire Hockey, the same group owns Rapid City and Greenville in the ECHL....UNTIL THE University of New Brunswick collapses.... no league is looking at Fredericton as a pro market.... Newfoundland is all but done as a pro or junior market after DSE and SJSE CANCELLED each other out of Mary Browns Centre, based off the history of the Maple Leafs/Ice Caps (Marlies); the Fog Devils, or the Growlers

@paul-laus

the Fog Devils have relocated twice since leaving St. John's in 2008.... to Montreal as the Junior from 2008-11, and have been Blainville-Boisbriand as the Armada since 2011 in the QMJHL

 

[paul-laus]

I have a hard time believing Trois Rivière as the lone Canadian outlier will stick it our for the full ten year duration…..It’s not as if when the fan apathy and indifference in a league that doesn’t offer a single natural rival, the plug couldn’t be pulled prematurely

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I have a hard time believing Trois Rivière as the lone Canadian outlier will stick it our for the full ten year duration…..It’s not as if when the fan apathy and indifference in a league that doesn’t offer a single natural rival, the plug couldn’t be pulled prematurely

NOT w/ Spire Hockey and Entertainment fully behind it.... the decision was made it's a 5 and 5..... Spire Hockey and its Motorsports division are fully invested.... if not aggressive..... the lease was extended as soon as the SALE/ transfer was made.... what does T/R have to do w/ the Q anyway.... DSE is gone now..... Spire has shown w/ its plan w/ Greenville and Rapid City that it's stabilized both markets... which is why the issues in Newfoundland are the major reason that province keeps losing franchises because of the operations of SJSE is throwing a major red flag to the AHL/ECHL... Spire also isn't CSE, aka Calgary swapping their AHL affiliate every 5-7 years either, which became increasingly chaotic to the development aspect.

the point about Fredericton hasn't changed since the Canadiens left for Hamilton, and now Laval.... it's also why u haven't seen Lowell return professionally in any league once the Tsongas Center became solely the D1 Riverhawks territory

 

[JMCx4]

THN's Ryan Kennedy pries open this topic, in light of the developing CHL/NCAA situation ... QMJHL Expansion Buzz: Boston, Burlington Or Beyond?