Allowing the host city of the Memorial Cup to automatically have their team qualify is a highly debated subject and I'm on the side of not wanting them in the tournament. This is why and how I'd change the tournament format.
The inclusion of the host city’s team in the tournament has been a subject of debate for a long time. There are a variety of opinions on both sides, and I’m on the side that’s against their inclusion. This is why.
First, I think it’s wrong to allow a team to get an immediate ticket to the tournament regardless of how their season goes. Take this year’s host as an example. The Kelowna Rockets lost in the second round of the WHL playoffs but they get to play alongside each league’s champions who earned their way to the tournament?
Second, having the host team participate can taint the tournament depending on the outcome. If they go 0-3 in the round robin like the Rockets did this year, it looks embarrassing. If they end up winning the championship like the Saint John Sea Dogs did in 2022, the win feels undeserved.
Third, I like the idea of the Memorial Cup being a best-on-best tournament to decide the best team in the CHL and the current format puts an asterisk on that for me.
Since I’d like to see the format changed, I’ll propose two ideas of what could replace the current format.
Idea 1: Go Back To The Old Format
From 1972 to 1982, the Memorial Cup was a three-team tournament where only the championships from each league participated and I see no reason why that couldn’t work again.
Out of all the formats used in those 10 years, I think each team playing each other twice and then playing a final between the first and second place teams would be the best to return.
If there would be an issue with one less game being played under this format compared to the current one, a semi-final could be added for the second and third place teams to play as the first place team gets a bye to the final.
Idea 2: Replace Host With Final Runner Up
If taking a team out of the tournament isn’t an option, you could replace the host team with a runner up from one of the league’s finals.
The runner up team would be decided by which team played more games in their respective final series. Using this year as an example, the spot would be awarded to the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats who lost to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in six games while the WHL and OHL final went five and four games respectively.
If there is a tie, it can go to the team that lost the fewest games that post-season. If the tie remains, it goes to the team with the highest points percentage in the regular season.
Did you know that under the current format, if the host team were to win their league’s championship, the fourth spot is given to the runner up that lost to the host city? That makes me think this idea isn’t too farfetched.
For either idea, the host city can be a neutral location. Maybe the tournament could be held in cities that don’t have a CHL team to test the waters for potential expansion or relocation.
All that being said, do I expect the tournament format to change any time soon? No, or if it does, I don’t think getting rid of the host team will be part of it.
I may not be a fan of it but I think the CHL values having the attendance of the home team’s fans and the exposure it gives too much to get rid of it.
Anything is possible though, as CHL president Dan MacKenzie recently said during a conversation with Sportsnet that “we’re always looking at it.”