The boys, and I do mean boys, are holed up in Brandon, Manitoba. They are competing for a trophy which culminates the competition of three Canadian junior leagues from Quebec to the Western provinces. It is a confederation known as the Canadian Hockey League, but the teams play for three regional leagues, known as the OHL, QMJHL (LHJMQ si on parle Francais), and WHL.
The alphabet soup means Ontario, Quebec Major Junior and Western Hockey Leagues. 21 teams operate out West, 20 teams play in Ontario and 18 teams are in the QMJHL, including the Lewiston Maineiacs. Yup, a team from the State of Maine, here in the US. And one of their alums is none other than Jaroslav Halak. Americans playing in the Canadian Hockey league, eh? It is not really a mystery.
If you know anything about Maine geography, you understand that the twin cities of Auburn-Lewiston are renowned for three things. One is Bates College, the alma mater of Bryant Gumbel. The second is its number of churches, supposedly the highest per capita in the nation, including Maine's only basilica. The third is its Franglais influence, dating from the time of the American civil war, when Quebecers moved south to work in the textile mills on the Androscoggin River. Part of downtown Lewiston became known as "Little Canada".
Out west, the WHL includes the Everett Silvertips, the Portland Winterhawks, the Seattle Thunderbirds, the Spokane Chiefs and the Tri-City Americans (Kennewick, WA on the Columbia River). Even the Ontario league has been tainted with Americans, from Erie PA and Saginaw MI. So much for the "Canadian" Hockey League.
Out west, the WHL includes the Everett Silvertips, the Portland Winterhawks, the Seattle Thunderbirds, the Spokane Chiefs and the Tri-City Americans (Kennewick, WA on the Columbia River). Even the Ontario league has been tainted with Americans, from Erie PA and Saginaw MI. So much for the "Canadian" Hockey League.
Now, going west about 2000 miles, the end of the junior hockey is happening in Brandon. It is 100 miles west of Winnipeg and 120 miles NNE of Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota (or you could head 200 miles northwest from Grand Forks and get to the place). Brandon is the heart of Canadian wheat country. It is Manitoba's second largest city, with a surrounding population of 150,000. Average summer weather is 65F, though temps have reached 110F under the prairie sun. In January, the average temperature is 0F (with the record low of -52F).
Four teams have reached the finals. They are the Calgary Hitmen, the Windsor Spitfires (OHL champs and defending Memorial Cup champs), the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL champs) and the Brandon Wheat Kings (host city). From now until next Sunday, the four will duke it out for Canadian junior bragging rights. Upcoming stars put on their best show, as the NHL draft looms on June 25 at the Staples Center in LA. A strong Memorial Cup showing can make the difference in starting a pro career. The scouts are all in Brandon right now.
Hockey Rules.
Hockey Rules.
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