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University Cup 2025

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Prediction ….I think we are about to see a run of OUA success , looking at the rosters of the top teams they aren’t going to be hit nearly as hard as the top of the CW and AUS..
 
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Parting Thoughts:
1) Outstanding coaching job by Patrick Grandmaitre. Ottawa was in a dogfight all season, got eliminated three weeks ago, and yet Patrick found a way for them to bring their A game against UNB. That's a remarkable achievement.
2) The OUA East used to be just UQTR vs McGill. Concordia always had the skill but not the coaching, Ottawa always had the coaching but not the skill. Carleton was briefly a threat but has faded. It has really become a juggernaut conference thanks to Brett Gibson building the Queens program. It is now, in my opinion, the deepest conference, with the top 5 teams in the OUA.
3) I expect the OUA East to be the least affected by the NCAA Transfer rules. The Quebec schools (and Ottawa) have the advantage of offering programs in French, and the academic reputations of McGill and Queens will keep them competitive for the more academically inclined athletes.
4) Canada West is getting exposed now that Alberta is not a juggernaut. I was quite unimpressed by Saskatchewan and MRU. In my opinion CWUAA has too many programs.
 
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X posted this on Facebook.
 

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MiamiHockeyII said:
4) Canada West is getting exposed now that Alberta is not a juggernaut. I was quite unimpressed by Saskatchewan and MRU. In my opinion CWUAA has too many programs.
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Huskies were a disappointment. I really thought that once UNB was eliminated they would be winning their first title since 1981. Hope to see them host again one day though. They have a solid fan base.
 
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Can't believe my Huskies blew it again. All the cards went their way with UNB and MRU getting upset just to no show in the semis. They may never win a natty in my lifetime.
 
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Lakeheadfan95 said:
Some observations

1. Hope coaches are watching faceoffs are so crucial offensively and defensively almost every big Ottawa goal has been off of a faceoff

2. Not surprised Ottawa is winning both games in the regular season were 4-3 with each team winning at home
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Ottawa's first two goals against UNB were off the face-off: The first one was with 3sec left in the PP and they won it to the winger and top cheese and the tying goal was a win to the D and they held-up UNB's wingers enough to create a clean shot from the point
 
Well I'm still pretty cranky over this tournament. In a tournament where UNB and Concordia were overwhelming statistical favorites - neither team can defeat an average Ottawa team. A bit of luck, an odd rink, a hot and slow ice-surface, delays, sun-spots, ... and teams that would normally dominate had to work twice as hard for half as much.

Having a Cinderella winner isn't bad (and this is a Cinderella winner - no one this low has every won. Before this the lowest seed to win was #5 and the lowest to be in the final was #6), It does give other hosts something to hope for and I know we 'play the games to determine winners' but there is something 'off' about this event that such an average team could pull it off. UNB almost did in in 2004 and since then - it hadn't happened until now. As such - I'm blaming the venue. Poor playing conditions impacted the skilled teams and averaged everyone out making it more competitive than it should be. Yes - it's the same for everyone but the whole idea of a standard arena is to avoid having to adapt to the external environment in the first place (imagine UCup at the Lady Beaverbrook in Fredericton - ouch).

The upside is you really didn't know who was going to win - it really made the outcome unpredictable.
 
I think the strangest thing is.... CW is a stronger then it's ever been as a whole.. UBC/CAL/MRU all competitive now.

Just to jog people memory. Back in the early 2000's during both CIS championships and Chill out tournament. There was 10-11K, sellout if it was UNB/Alberta at Sasktel centre. Even during the last time 13-14 attendance was 8-9K for any top game.

I remember Edmonton has good attendance as well. Calgary during there Cal/MRU game nearly sells out the saddledome.

Edmonton/Calgary/Sask typically bring good attendance.

There was about 2K turn aways from MBP during the finals this year. Could easily had 6-7 if it was at Sasktel centre and advertised.
 
hockeyguy0022 said:
I think the strangest thing is.... CW is a stronger then it's ever been as a whole.. UBC/CAL/MRU all competitive now.
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I disagree. CW has Trinity Western, Regina, MacEwan, and Manitoba as non-factors. CW is not stronger - it's more competitive because Alberta is no longer dominant.

I have long said that the reputation of CW as a strong conference was always based on Alberta being dominant. Outside of Alberta, only Saskatchewan ever remotely sniffs the University Cup. Last year UBC and Calgary went 0-2, this year MRU and Sask combined to go 1-2.
 
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MiamiHockeyII said:
I disagree. CW has Trinity Western, Regina, MacEwan, and Manitoba as non-factors. CW is not stronger - it's more competitive because Alberta is no longer dominant.

I have long said that the reputation of CW as a strong conference was always based on Alberta being dominant. Outside of Alberta, only Saskatchewan ever remotely sniffs the University Cup. Last year UBC and Calgary went 0-2, this year MRU and Sask combined to go 1-2.
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If anything this is the most even the 3 conferences have ever been… AUS isn’t as strong as it once was outside of UNB and CW has seemingly lost its one powerhouse.
 
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Drummer said:
Well I'm still pretty cranky over this tournament. In a tournament where UNB and Concordia were overwhelming statistical favorites - neither team can defeat an average Ottawa team. A bit of luck, an odd rink, a hot and slow ice-surface, delays, sun-spots, ... and teams that would normally dominate had to work twice as hard for half as much.

As such - I'm blaming the venue. Poor playing conditions impacted the skilled teams and averaged everyone out making it more competitive than it should be. Yes - it's the same for everyone but the whole idea of a standard arena is to avoid having to adapt to the external environment in the first place (imagine UCup at the Lady Beaverbrook in Fredericton - ouch).
Click to expand...

Hockey's Standard is 200' x 85'

TD Place is 200' x '85 with sharp corners.
Clare Drake is 200' x 85' with sharp corners and the weirdest bench configuration known to man.
Fort WIlliam Gardens in Lakehead is 190' x '85
McCain Arena is 200' x 100'

Shall we blame every UNB loss in those facilities on the ice surface? When they win it's due to their greatness, when they lose it's due to the facility?

Give Patrick Grandmaitre the credit he's due.
 
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MiamiHockeyII said:
Hockey's Standard is 200' x 85'

TD Place is 200' x '85 with sharp corners.
Clare Drake is 200' x 85' with sharp corners and the weirdest bench configuration known to man.
Fort WIlliam Gardens in Lakehead is 190' x '85
McCain Arena is 200' x 100'

Shall we blame every UNB loss in those facilities on the ice surface? When they win it's due to their greatness, when they lose it's due to the facility?

Give Patrick Grandmaitre the credit he's due.
Click to expand...
Agreed , upsets happen at every level of hockey . Latvia beat Canada at the WJC, LA won the Stanley Cup as the number 8 seed , UNB over Alberta in 2004, the list goes on… None of these had to do with the facilities , upsets are more likely in a one and some event than a 7 game series…

UNB didn’t beat Alberta in 2004 because Alberta was distracted by the weird cylinders hanging from the AUC ceiling .

I’ve never been a big fan of this attitude other UNB fans have where they deflect anything bad that happens to the team… (not going after Drummer , I love all the content he has provided us over the years).

We’ve seen a 30-0 season, win the AUS annually , the law of averages is going to catch up to you eventually …
 
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