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Post by franko on May 14, 2005 13:07:36 GMT -5
The John Labatt Centre has been sold out since December. Puck drops for the first game (Rimouski v London) May 21; final May 29. Have at it!
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Post by franko on May 14, 2005 13:19:22 GMT -5
An unabashed homer, that's what I am! Two definite powerhouses with 30-plus game streaks without a loss, last year's champion, and a team that wasn't supposed to even make it this far. Should be interesting.
Intangibles:
London . . . the only team of the four never to win the Memorial Cup, built to host and to win.
Rimouski . . . Sidney Crosby -- need I say more?
Kelowna . . . something to prove, wanting two in a row.
Ottawa . . . Killer's boys, backed by Danny Battochio, also something to prove.
This will need to be another "Miracle on Ice": needing to win a game in the round-robins and then (Kelowna?) in a tie breaker; then to beat the semi's and the finals. Not likely to happen, you say? You may very well be right. However, they were not supposed to beat Barrie. They were iffy against Sudbury. They should never have swept Peterborough. And they've won (at least) more one game than they were supposed to against London in London!
So I say . . . Go 67's!
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on May 14, 2005 17:31:09 GMT -5
Well, since they are from my home and native land, province, nation the part of the country where I was born, grew up, sowed my oats, harvested the crop, et cetera, I must state alleigance to the Océanic—the "Bing-Bang" Crosby show will hopefully make more than a few spectators stand up in amazement and spill something.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on May 15, 2005 21:34:41 GMT -5
Rimouski stars vs London team.
As good as Crosby is, London has a team that plays offense, defense, special teams, physical and skilled.
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Post by PTH on May 15, 2005 22:54:18 GMT -5
The only Junior player I can name in this tournament is Crosby, so I'll vote for his team....
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Post by BadCompany on May 16, 2005 10:51:09 GMT -5
All right, I'll pick the "underdog" and go with London over Rimouski.
Should be a classic though!
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Post by blny on May 16, 2005 11:29:48 GMT -5
The Knights
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Post by jkr on May 16, 2005 16:11:31 GMT -5
London is the only team of this group that I have seen on a regular basis. They are a powerhouse & have done everthing expected of them this year.
London beats Rimouski in the final.
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Post by HFTO on May 17, 2005 19:47:03 GMT -5
Actually some real hockey to look forward too!
Can't wait for Saturday it should be a good one.Having seen more of London I'll lean towards them.With the exception of Ottawa who finished very strong I think its a three team race.Couldn't set up a better opening game.
HFTPO
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Post by Doc Holliday on May 17, 2005 20:10:42 GMT -5
...Gotta go with Rimouski.
What a powerhouse matchup. Good hockey ahead... Yesssss.
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Post by franko on May 17, 2005 21:13:47 GMT -5
With the exception of Ottawa who finished very strong I think its a three team race.Couldn't set up a better opening game. HFTPO How crass and cruel of you to bring reality to this thread  OK -- I admit it -- I'm hoping for a miracle but I really don't expect it. Because every game counts -- best of one -- the 67s might be able to squeak by. The did win one more game against London than expected -- and in London at that. But the only way I see them advancing is to beat Kelowna in the first game, hope Kelowna loses to both London and Rimouski, and then hope Battochio gets red-hot and Crosby and the Knights cool way down. Doubt if it will come to pass, but it could happen. More likely: Knights and the Oceanic in the final; Knights win as a team over the Crosby line. But Go 67's! |
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Post by franko on May 22, 2005 22:18:00 GMT -5
67's ground Rockets in double OT miracle run beginsThe only way I thought the 67s had a chance was to beat the Rockets, slide into the semis, and hope for the best. Of course, they'd have to ride Battochio the whole way . . . and what a start! Battochio was superb, stopping 62 of 64 shots for the marathon victory, which is also a record for saves in a game in the Canadian Hockey League championship tournament. Battochio was the pivotal player for Ottawa in the first overtime period when Kelowna outshot the 67's 20-8.I don't envy the Rockets, now having to play London Monday after a long hard (disappointing) night.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 23, 2005 9:07:42 GMT -5
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on May 25, 2005 5:58:31 GMT -5
Rimouski.  |
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Post by franko on May 25, 2005 7:52:44 GMT -5
Rimouski.  |
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on May 25, 2005 18:33:51 GMT -5
There, there, now.  I borrowed these from Mr Cranky, on the main forum—please return them to him when you're done. Thanks. |
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Post by franko on May 25, 2005 18:52:12 GMT -5
Oh Ya? Well you'll be needing this  after Saturday's semi-final! (brave words from the guy whose team snuck into the Memorial Cup through the back door and whose team needed an amazing 62-save performance their goalie to win against Kelowna. Same as it ever was this playoff season in Ottawa . . . ) |
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on May 25, 2005 19:02:58 GMT -5
Oh Ya? Well you'll be needing this after Saturday's semi-final! Either way, there'll be more of this:  It ain't over until you can't sing anymore. |
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on May 25, 2005 21:30:40 GMT -5
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Post by franko on May 26, 2005 21:24:18 GMT -5
the only way I see them advancing is to beat Kelowna in the first game, hope Kelowna loses to both London and Rimouski, and then hope Battochio gets red-hot and Crosby and the Knights cool way down. Step 1: beat Kelowna in the first game, hope Kelowna loses to both London and Rimouski: accomplished. Step 2: coming Saturday evening. Stinker of a game this evening, though . . . maybe it was a case of allowing the Knights to become overconfident for the final game Sunday? Reality says . . . nope. However, imo, it doesn't matter. One can only expect London to lose one game -- I'd rather it be Sunday in the finals (to Ottawa, of course) than through the tourney. Again . . . Go 67's! |
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Post by franko on May 28, 2005 22:43:34 GMT -5
the only way I see them advancing is to beat Kelowna in the first game, hope Kelowna loses to both London and Rimouski, and then hope Battochio gets red-hot and Crosby and the Knights cool way down. Step 1: beat Kelowna in the first game, hope Kelowna loses to both London and Rimouski: accomplished. Step 2: coming Saturday evening. stinking reality |
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on May 29, 2005 4:49:14 GMT -5
Rimouski.
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on May 29, 2005 14:56:07 GMT -5
A coach named Doris: It's not easyOceanic coach endures ribbingLabonte brings passion to Cup KEN CAMPBELL SPORTS REPORTER LONDON, Ont.—Doris Labonte got his name from a famous Quebec comedien, but he has gone through much of his life feeling that the joke has been on him. "I'm so mad at my mother because of that," Labonte said. "But she didn't know it was a girl's name for the Anglophones." Like the girl named Sue in the Johnny Cash song, Labonte has endured the ribbing over his name for his entire life. Even his own players occasionally tease him about it, but one thing that cannot be ridiculed is his success as a coach. After coaching the Rimouski Oceanic to the Memorial Cup in 2000, Labonte is one win away from reaching the final again. Labonte said the genesis of his name came from the fact that, around the time he was born, his mother was a big fan of humorist and writer Doris Lussier, who was famous in Quebec for his Père Gédéon character. "Everybody knew him at that time in Quebec so it was no problem to be named Doris at that moment," Labonte said. "But he died a long time ago. I have a problem when I make reservations in a hotel and with my credit card. They always ask, `Is that you?' and I say, `Yes, that's me.' I always have to have my ID ready." Labonte has learned to endure the barbs, as long as they are in good nature. "If people make fun of me, it's okay," he said, "but I'm ready to fight when they laugh at me." Labonte is a career coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and is in his second stint coaching the Oceanic. After the Memorial Cup season, Labonte gave up coaching to concentrate on being the team's GM, but went back behind the bench when Donald Dufresne resigned after a mediocre start. The Oceanic were almost unbeatable under Labonte, going undefeated in 35 straight games. As a player, Labonte reached only juvenile before having his right eye removed by a butt-end. He concentrated on his studies and graduated with a degree in recreation studies. Those watching the telecasts have noticed that Labonte is very passionate during the game. He can often be seen with one foot on the boards, barking at the officials. "Because of my style," Labonte said, "I'm getting older by two or three years every year." - tinyurl.com/8zpcp
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Post by franko on May 29, 2005 17:44:10 GMT -5
Rimouski fan, Ottawa fan  |
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on May 29, 2005 18:06:44 GMT -5
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Post by Doc Holliday on May 29, 2005 18:32:30 GMT -5
...Best team won.
Congrats to the Knights. I'm certainly deceived at how badly prepared the Oceanic was... Labonte started the circus by flapping him gums at Perry during the warmup and his team followed the lead...
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2005 7:48:44 GMT -5
The Crosby Show was Post-Poned for the game of the year. So sorry. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 3, 2005 18:28:08 GMT -5
Rimouski stars vs London team. As good as Crosby is, London has a team that plays offense, defense, special teams, physical and skilled. All of which goes to show that even a blind pig can occasionally sniff out a truffle! |
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