Regina Rams season ends with Mitchell Bowl loss to Laval
19h ago
Laval Rouge et Or earned the 17-14 win at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday.
It’s great to see Saskatchewan’s WHL northern teams assert themselves in 2019.
On the same night that the Prince Albert Raiders put a lock on the Scotty Munro Trophy as the overall leaders in the standings, the Saskatoon Blades were assured of home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs following a Tuesday win over Moose Jaw. (Remember, 2019 will mark the first time in six years that the Blades have even made the playoffs.)
In the last couple of seasons, it’s been the southern teams in the province that have made statements. In 2017, the Regina Pats won the Scotty Munro Trophy. In 2018, the Moose Jaw Warriors finished on top of the overall standings, while the Swift Current Broncos won the WHL title.
The community-owned Raiders have challenges that teams in bigger centres don’t have. Blades owner Mike Priestner has been patient with a team and a fan base that has been soft at times. Saskatoon has been the best team in the WHL since Dec. 1. Now that the team has rallied, will the fan base follow?
Saskatchewan has five WHL teams that have all shown brilliance since the 2016-17 season. Now here is hoping one provincial team can end that 30-year Memorial Cup drought.