[Moncton] Centre Avenir Centre | 26.65m |~6 Fl | Completed - Page 186

felip_ars · #**3701** Posted **Apr 7, 2026, 2:38 PM**

Tonight Game 7 between Gatineau and Rouyn will determine the next opponent of the Wildcats

Gatineau wins: Moncton vs Gatineau
Rouyn wins: Moncton vs Val d'Or

Whats crazy is that the West could lose 3 of their Top 4 teams if Shawinigan and Rouyn would to lose their Game 7, leaving Boisbriand as the "Top" Western team at #3.

MonctonRad · #**3702** Posted **Apr 7, 2026, 3:22 PM**

Go Gatineau!!!

felip_ars · #**3703** Posted **Jun 4, 2026, 7:10 PM**

Memorial Cup 2028: Quebec City just officially sent their letter of intention for hosting the tournament.

Moncton, Gatineau and Newfoundland also showed interest.

One thing that will be consider is the caliber of the team (the last two host teams were 0-6 in the tournament).

It will be also interesting if the "new" format that was talked about last year (shorter, have more teams, 2 games a day to help smaller markets) will come into place.

EnvisionSaintJohn · #**3704** Posted **Jun 4, 2026, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by felip_ars

Memorial Cup 2028: Quebec City just officially sent their letter of intention for hosting the tournament.

Moncton, Gatineau and Newfoundland also showed interest.

One thing that will be consider is the caliber of the team (the last two host teams were 0-6 in the tournament).

It will be also interesting if the "new" format that was talked about last year (shorter, have more teams, 2 games a day to help smaller markets) will come into place.

Think it’ll be hard to beat out Newfoundland for this one… St. John’s never hosted a Memorial Cup before.

Quite surprised to see PEI has also never hosted a Memorial Cup before, but I guess they just need a bigger arena.

MonctonRad · #**3705** Posted **Jun 4, 2026, 8:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Think it’ll be hard to beat out Newfoundland for this one… St. John’s never hosted a Memorial Cup before.

Quite surprised to see PEI has also never hosted a Memorial Cup before, but I guess they just need a bigger arena.

The Newfoundland Regiment is only one year old!

In 2028, it will have been 22 years since the last time Moncton has hosted. It is time. I'm pissed off that Moncton was told to take a hike in 2025 because the league wanted a Quebec host. We fought our way into the Memorial Cup anyway.

In 2028, we will be rebuilding. Unless we assemble a team of all star Americans, we will not be ready. I therefore have mixed feelings.

Gardiner McDougall however does not beleive in the "junior hockey cycle." He wants a competitive team every year. It will be interesting to see what sort of magic he can conjure up.

EnvisionSaintJohn · #**3706** Posted **Jun 4, 2026, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The Newfoundland Regiment is only one year old!

In 2028, it will have been 22 years since the last time Moncton has hosted. It is time. I'm pissed off that Moncton was told to take a hike in 2025 because the league wanted a Quebec host. We fought our way into the Memorial Cup anyway.

In 2028, we will be rebuilding. Unless we assemble a team of all star Americans, we will not be ready. I therefore have mixed feelings.

Gardiner McDougall however does not beleive in the "junior hockey cycle." He wants a competitive team every year. It will be interesting to see what sort of magic he can conjure up.

Not getting it in 2025 was def BS, especially with the new arena.

The Memorial Cup is over 105 years old, and it’s never been hosted in Newfoundland, so if they really want it, I think they will get it.

Moncton will likely be next, but perhaps the league officials in la Belle Province will need to be reminded that Newfoundland is not part of the Maritimes if they try and say the same region can’t host it twice.

Winning it at home as the underdog is the ultimate way to win the Memorial Cup, imo, and Gardiner McDougall could tell you all about winning a Memorial Cup at home as the underdog!

felip_ars · #**3707** Posted **Jun 4, 2026, 9:21 PM**

I think at this point its whoever can "assure" they'll have the best team in 2028, as all 4 potentials cities got a strong case

Gatineau: New arena and havent host since they won in 1997
St-John's: Never hosted in the province
Quebec City: Never hosted the tournament in the new Centre Videotron
Moncton: New arena, and are probably due one with what happened in 2025

With the new NCAA rules, the previous ways of "cycle" is pretty much gone now. I feel like it will look an awful lot like what is happening in the NCAA now with NIL and "one and done".

lirette · #**3708** Posted **Jun 5, 2026, 11:22 AM**

There's a part of me that thinks newfoundland is bidding not really expecting to get it, but as a trial run and to get their name out there for 2031 when they will be competing with Cape Breton who has also never held one, and potentially other Quebec teams.

The Memorial Cup bidding process is way more extensive than what people think. Everyone expected Kitchener to get it next season, but Guelphs presentation wowed the committee. I listened to a podcast from one of the business ops for the storm talking about it and the prep involved blew me way. They did a 3 hour tour that went beyond the arena, starting somewhere else in the downtown area, they had local MPs/MLAS walking with them, and even former players I believe.

I think newfoundland would be a fantastic host, great city to travel to, the guy running the team has about as much experience in the hockey world as anyone, die hard fanbase who will have no problem buying tickets. I do think they need a few upgrades to modernize their rink, most notably their videoboard desperately needs replaced as its not even HD.

I still think its Moncton's to lose, the story you get to tell while RJ walks around with the committee, talking about Irvings dream to win a memorial cup in moncton, paired with the best junior hockey facility in the country and a fanfest at the ian fowler oval is tough to beat. While I am still figuring out what the team will look like, the shorter cycle compared with their ability to recruit I have no doubt they put together a formidable roster. Its just a little less obvious than previous years where you have this core of 5-6 guys you know you are building around. But you could make that argument about other teams in the mix also.

felip_ars · #**3709** Posted **Jun 5, 2026, 1:19 PM**

Some more info

Gatineau also officially put their bidding for the event. Moncton is "all but official" but it should comes in the next few days, and St-John's is still thinking about it.

Cape Breton was also in the mix, but decided to aim for 2031.

The two finalists will be unveiled on July 6th with the official announcement in September.

Still no word on the new format, but it wont happen for the 2027 edition like rumored before.

Words going around was maybe expanding the field to 6 or 8 teams and having the finals runner up in the mix as well, but nothing concrete for now.

MonctonRad · #**3710** Posted **Jun 5, 2026, 4:55 PM**

Being the host team for the Memorial Cup and having automatic entry into the tournament would be a huge recruiting tool to get talented Americans to come up here. The McDougall's did a stellar job at recruitment last year. It makes me hopeful for the future.

felip_ars · #**3711** Posted **Jun 5, 2026, 7:07 PM**

Well its official; Moncton has officially put themselves in the running for the 2028 Memorial Cup.

At this point, I dont think St-John's will bother with it going against the 3, but they should be in the running for 2031 with Cape Breton and probably whoever finishes 2nd this year.

gtsoc · #**3712** Posted **Jun 6, 2026, 12:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by felip_ars

Well its official; Moncton has officially put themselves in the running for the 2028 Memorial Cup.

At this point, I dont think St-John's will bother with it going against the 3, but they should be in the running for 2031 with Cape Breton and probably whoever finishes 2nd this year.

St. John's confirmed yesterday they would be bidding.

felip_ars · #**3713** Posted **Jul 6, 2026, 12:15 PM**

Today's the day where we should learn the 2 nominees between the 4 cities for the 2028 Memorial Cup

Crazy race as all 4 cities got something for them and would probably win in any other scenarios

Quebec City: New Big arena that hasn't the host the tournament (was at the old Colisée in 2015)

Moncton: New Arena and showed that they can bring a winning team every year, plus we "heard" that they were told to drop down the 2025 race

St-John's: Province that hasn't yet hosted the tournament

Gatineau New "smaller" arena, and hasn't hosted the tournament since 1997

MonctonRad · #**3714** Posted **Jul 6, 2026, 12:39 PM**

Of course I want Moncton to win the race to hold the tournament. I first became a season's ticket holder in 2005-2006 to secure seats for the Memorial Cup that year and it was a blast (with the Cats losing in the championship final).

We have just come off two winning seasons however, and, I have concerns we will not be able to have a competitive team in 2027-28. This was not a strong draft year for us, and many of our best players are moving on.

Do we really want to host the tournament with a potentially non-competitive team? I know the McDougall''s are magicians, but, getting us back up to speed in such short order could be an insurmountable task.

lirette · #**3715** Posted **Jul 6, 2026, 2:16 PM**

Ive heard its Moncton and Quebec, we'll know in 45 minutes

felip_ars · #**3716** Posted **Jul 6, 2026, 2:19 PM**

It would be tough to be competitive 4 years in a row. Even the London Knights never made it 4 years in a row, but they do have a few 3 or 4 good years in a span of 5 years.

If they can be fine with a "okay" year in 2027, and getting ready for 2028, it could be possible, but can it be done in this "one and done/NCAA" world!!?

lirette · #**3717** Posted **Jul 6, 2026, 3:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Of course I want Moncton to win the race to hold the tournament. I first became a season's ticket holder in 2005-2006 to secure seats for the Memorial Cup that year and it was a blast (with the Cats losing in the championship final).

We have just come off two winning seasons however, and, I have concerns we will not be able to have a competitive team in 2027-28. This was not a strong draft year for us, and many of our best players are moving on.

Do we really want to host the tournament with a potentially non-competitive team? I know the McDougall''s are magicians, but, getting us back up to speed in such short order could be an insurmountable task.

The path to a memorial cup contender is partially there, but I think to maximize it they should take a slight step back this season and take advantage of a sellers market this season (which id be abit suprised if they did TBH). You have like Cape Breton, Halifax and SJ which wll be pushing all their chips in, plus another at least 2 quebec teams.

They have some key pieces on the roster, with the caveat that there is no gaurentee these guys come here but I would imagine securing the memorial cup host would move the needle significantly on that.

Paavo Fugleberg - selected with their final pick in the import draft. It sounds unlikely he comes this year, but this was a home run type of pick with the memorial cup in mind. The guy is a potential top 10 NHL pick in 2028, coming in his draft year in a memorial cup host makes sense. One of the best finnish prospects in years

Samuel Lee - was ranked the #2nd best american by central scouting for the QMJHL draft. Part of the USNTP program (which is in shambles), this is a very skilled player who they will try to convince to come.

These two guys give you some potential superstars for next season, and then you have a lot of other americans who they have not announced yet as signed, and am unsure whats going on with them. Perhaps their import goalie Ryabkin would stay on as a 20 year old, like Rudy Guimond did.

You also have some other guys who should be much bigger parts of the team this year and grow into impact players in 2027 - Camden Jackson (this kid is really good, great size already as a 16 year old and does everything well, will suprise fans), local Marc Macphee, US kid Noah Survilas, who looked really good in limited action at the start of last season but chose to return to school.

They also have all of their 1st round picks going forward, which would likely be used in trades to aquire additional pieces.

I don't personally yet see the same "core" as we saw the last run, I agree there. A lot of work to be done, but the league has also changed and the cycles are shorter, so its a unique sitaution.

felip_ars · #**3718** Posted **Jul 6, 2026, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lirette

Ive heard its Moncton and Quebec, we'll know in 45 minutes

You had it right, although I do find the choice of Quebec City a lil weird.

I just remembered that in 2027 they'll have the Woman's Championship and in 2029 the World Juniors.

Having the 2028 Memorial Cup in addition would need a LOT of additional work.

Unless they really want to show they can handle multiples events in a row, I wonder if its a similar story to Moncton previously, where the Q just told Quebec "Looks we promised the 2028 edition to Moncton. To make it up for it, we'll give the 2031 edition"

lirette · #**3719** Posted **Jul 6, 2026, 7:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by felip_ars

You had it right, although I do find the choice of Quebec City a lil weird.

I just remembered that in 2027 they'll have the Woman's Championship and in 2029 the World Juniors.

Having the 2028 Memorial Cup in addition would need a LOT of additional work.

Unless they really want to show they can handle multiples events in a row, I wonder if its a similar story to Moncton previously, where the Q just told Quebec "Looks we promised the 2028 edition to Moncton. To make it up for it, we'll give the 2031 edition"

The other team being Quebec does give me a lot more confidence that Moncton is going to get it. Its way easier for the bidding committee to turn down the organization that just had it a few cycles ago, factoring in all of the reasons moncton deserves to host on top of that.