CHL 2026–27 Season Preview Part 2: Memorial Cup Predictions

TFTO Cold Open

Sue 0:00

Last week, we tackled the biggest CHL storylines, the WHL and the OHL. But we're not done. Because now we're heading east to the QMJHL, my new hometown league. And then I'm putting it all on the line. League Champions, Memorial Cup, and yes, I'm actually picking a winner. So let's finish this.

QMJHL Preview

Sue 0:33

Alright, now we're heading to the queue. And this one's a little different for me. I follow the OHL for most of my life. I've watched some of the WHL hockey over the years. But the Q? I'm the new kid here. So bear with me. Since moving to Moncton, I've adopted the Wildcats. And this is going to be my first full season really following the QMJHL. So I'm learning these teams, I'm learning these players, and I'm learning the rivalries. And honestly, I'm really excited about it. So Q fans, welcome me to your league. And let's see how badly I screw up some of these predictions by April. And speaking of being new to the Q, I'm not the only one still getting settled in. The Newfoundland regiment are entering just their second season in St. John's after the former Academy Bathurst Titans relocated there. And I think this is one of the coolest stories in the queue right now. Majors Junior Hockey returned to St. John's for the first time since the Fog Devils left in 2008, and Newfoundland fans didn't exactly ease their way back into it. Their first game in St. John's was sold out. More than 6,000 fans. And who did they beat? My Monkton Wildcats. 7 to 5. Thanks for the welcome, Newfoundland. But here's what I like about this story. They're not just a novelty. They're not simply, hey, look, junior hockey's back in Newfoundland. This is becoming a legitimate hockey team. Gordy Dwyer made the move with the organization from Bathurst, so there was some continuity behind the bench. And now they're going into year two trying to build on what they started. And I think playing in St. John's gives them something else that's pretty interesting, a real home advantage. Because getting to Newfoundland isn't exactly a quick little bus ride down the highway. They've got some brutal travels themselves, obviously, but visiting teams have to make that trip too. And now the regiment are continuing to build their own identity, including bringing in young Atlantic talent like Damian Norris. So going into their second season, I'm not looking at Newfoundland as the new team anymore. I'm looking at them as another team in the queue that you better take seriously. There is another storyline I'm really interested in watching this season, and honestly, I think we're only beginning to understand what it's going to mean for junior hockey. The NCAA. With the eligibility rules changing, CHL players no longer have to make the old choice between major junior hockey and keeping their NCAA eligibility. And we're already seeing the impact in the queue. Some pretty good players have left for the NCAA programs. Xavier Villeneuve left Blaineville Boispoin for Boston University. Felix Lachette left Shawin again for Vermont. And Remy Jelenin gave up his overage season for Riyon Noranda to go to Clarkson. And please, please, forgive me if I slaughter those names. Now, if you're a QMJHL fan, you might look at that and think, well crap, we're losing good players to the NCAA. And we are. But here's where this gets really interesting. It's a two-way street. Because we're also seeing players come the other way. And I know that firsthand. Now as a Moncton Wildcat fan, Gavin Comforth has committed to Boston College, but instead he's coming to Moncton and playing in the queue. So are CHL teams going to lose some good players to the NCA? Absolutely. But could they also attract players who might never have considered the CHL under the old rules? Absolutely. And that's why I'm not ready to say whether this is good or bad for the queue yet. I think it's just different. Players have more options now. Teams have another talent pool they can recruit from. And we're probably going to see a lot more movement between major junior and college hockey than we're used to. As a fan, I'm really curious to see where this goes. Because I don't think we're looking at a one-year storyline here. I think this could change the way CHL teams build their rosters from years to come. As I mentioned, this is a league I'm really not that familiar with, but I can't wait to watch and learn. And there are already a few players who caught my attention. And I'm really curious to see how their seasons play out. If there's one young player in the queue that I'm really curious to watch this year, it's Alexis Joseph from St. John Sea Dogs. What a year this kid had last season. And at 16. 24 goals and 60 points in 54 games while already playing some pretty big minutes. I can't wait to see him play live. And he's already 6'4 and over 200 pounds. What the hell are they feeding these kids out here? He's already got the size, he's already producing, and now I just want to see what he does with another year of experience. Then there's Thomas Boivre, the number one overall pick in the 2026 QMJHL draft, and he's with the Huskies. I've only read great things about this kid. The scouting reports talk about his playmaking, smooth skating, and hockey IQ, especially his ability to find teammates and make plays in tight spaces. Now, I'm not gonna sit here and pretend I've watched enough of him to give you my own scouting report. I haven't. But everything I read makes me understand why he went number one. And now I want to watch him myself and see what all the excitement is about. And then there's Benjamin Veach, another big kid, six foot two and nearly 200 pounds. Seriously, what are they feeding these kids out here? Veach has been described as a bit of a menace on the fore check, which immediately got my attention. And there's something else I really like about this one. He's a Newfoundland kid, and he became the regiment's first ever draft pick. I love it. For a franchise that's still building its identity in St. John's, I think there's something pretty cool about having a homegrown player become part of that story. So yeah, I'll definitely be watching him. And finally, Lucas Beckman, now with the Cape Breton Eagles and an Ottawa Senators goaltending prospect. He's a goalie who already has some pretty impressive junior hockey experience. He won the QMJHL Championship with Chikudami last season and went undefeated during the playoffs, helping sending them to the Memorial Cup. And apparently Ottawa liked what they saw too, because the Senators signed him to an NHL entry-level contract. Now he's in Cape Breton, and I'm really interested to see what he does next. Especially because, spoiler alert, I think pretty high of Cape Breton going into the season. And I'm sure after a couple months of actually watching the queue, I'll be kicking myself for leaving some names off this list. But that's part of the fun for me this year. I'm learning this league. And regardless, I don't think I'm going to regret spending some money on tickets to watch these young athletes play. Now to some of the coaches that I'm going to be watching. Jim Holton, now with the St. John Sea Dogs. And this is actually a name I even know. He's got so much experience at different levels of hockey and has become one of the most respected coaching minds in junior hockey. And I love that he's also part of Hockey's Canada coaching staff for the 2027 World Juniors. Like I mentioned, I love my World Juniors. His teams have traditionally been hard to play against, especially in their own building. And now he's taken over a St. John team that I already think is very good. So how far can Halton take them? Dare I say back to the top of the queue? Maybe even back to the Memorial Cup? Yeah, I'm really interested to see what he does with this team. And here's a coach I'm really curious about, Patrice Bosch. He's been promoted from associate coach to head coach in Bay Como. And here's my question. Can a coaching change actually help a struggling or rebuilding team take a step forward? For me, absolutely. If you get the right person, and I think Bosch could be. One reason is I don't think there's going to be much of a learning curve. He already knows the organization. He already knows these players. He's been there for at least three seasons. And this isn't even his first stint with Bay Como. But what really caught my attention is his European coaching experience. He spent four seasons coaching in Switzerland. And I really love that faster European style of hockey. So I'm really curious to see whether some of that shows up in Bay Como. More speed and transition, quick puck movement, just playing faster. I'm not saying that's automatically what we're going to see. That's what I'm watching for. And I'm definitely not saying Bay Como suddenly becomes a contender. But I can see them winning a few more games simply because there's stability. There's experience behind that bench. And if Bosch can get this young team playing faster, they could be very interesting to watch. Okay, let's move to two teams that intrigue me, but for completely different reasons. Victoraville and Valdol. The team I think could maybe not surprise exactly, dare I say breakout is Victoriaville. In my opinion, this could be a really interesting dark horse team in the queue this season. And they've got a couple of players who honestly could have made my players on watching list earlier. Igor Shilov and Vlaslav. Yes, more European players. I'm really interested to see what those two can do together. If they click, that's a combination I think other teams could have a pretty difficult time defending. And they're not the only young players that caught my attention. They also got Lawton and Garpey. Two more young guys I'm looking forward to watching. But I like that management didn't just surround all that youth with more youth. They brought in some veteran leadership with Miller and Paron. And everything I've read about their head coach tells me he's very well respected. So yeah, I'm intrigued. I'm not saying Victoraville is going to win the queue. I'm not even saying they're one of the favorites. But do I think they're going to compete? Absolutely. Do I think they're making the playoffs? Yeah, I do. And you know the old saying, just get into the playoffs, baby, then anything can happen. And then there's a team I'm not buying quite as much. Valdol. Now let me be clear. I think they're going to be better than they were last season. I like what they've done up front. They've added players like Lavadier, McKinnon, and Herou, and the Retine Villieu. There's talent there, but I'm not ready to buy them as one of my top teams in the queue. At least not yet. Even though I've seen some people pretty high on them going into this season. Why? The defense is still unproven for me. And I know what you're thinking. Sue, you just spent this episode talking about all these players who can score. All these offensive weapons that are so much fun to watch and exciting. Blah blah blah. Yes, I love offense. But you can have all the talent forwards you want. If you're relying on an unproven blue line, that can become a problem pretty damn quickly. Especially in junior hockey. And especially when you get to the playoffs. So improve? Yeah, I think so. One of the top teams in the queue? I'm not sold yet. Alright, my top four. I said earlier that I'm buying Victoriaville, and I'm buying them enough that I got them fourth in the entire queue. I think their firepower is going to win them a lot of games. The question for me is whether they can consistently defend and get solid goaltending. And if they can, like I said earlier, this is a team to watch out for me. And that's why Victoriaville is my number four. I think the hype around the Halton effect is real. Now, players are the ones on the ice. I get that. They're the ones who actually play the game. But coaches are there to develop, to lead. And sometimes the right coach really can make a difference. And I truly believe Jim Halton can make that kind of a difference in St. John. That's one of the biggest reasons I got the Sea Dogs this high. Oh, and yeah, they can still score too. So I've got St. John at number three. So number two? Moncton Wildcats. My new home team. Let's go, cats. Okay, now let me actually give you some hockey reasons why they're number two. Remember how I said I love scoring? But I really believe defense wins junior hockey? Well, Tommy Blyle is back after being named both rookie and defenseman of the year. And this is a defenseman who can do both. He put up 81 points last season, setting a record for rookie defenseman. And it's not just him. Monctum has other solid pieces on that blue line. And I like their tandem in net too. I think that defense and goaltending are going to win them some games. But here's the thing. And then there's a rookie I'm really excited to see in Fulgelberg. Add in a coaching staff I really like. And yeah, I'm pretty high on my new team. I mean, on Moncton. I got the Wildcats at number two. And now for the heavyweight, the Cape Breton Eagles. For me, it starts, or maybe I should say stops, with Lucas Beckman in that. What a pickup for an Eagles team that was already strong and skilled. Now I know they traded their Captain Lavoie, but I don't think this team is lacking experience or leadership. They've added players like Schaeffer, Lefebvre, and Gosslin, and they still got players like Andrews, Hartland that are all coming back. And honestly, the list just goes on. Management has made the kind of moves that tell me this team believes its window is now. I feel like Cape Breton is all in. And you know what? I think they just might pull it off. So, yes, once again, I got three of my four teams coming from the Eastern Conference, but I'm not putting somebody from the West in here just to sake of balance. These are the four teams I'm buying the most going into this season. And Cape Breton is my number one.

Sue's Predicitions

Sue 15:41

Alright, I spent this entire episode telling you who I like, who I'm buying, who I'm not completely sold on. And I've probably made a few fan bases mad along the way. So now it's time to actually make some predictions. And no, I'm not just picking all my number one teams. That would be way too easy. Okay, but I am starting with one of my number ones. I'm going with Prince Albert to win the WHL. I've said it throughout this episode, I love offense, but when we get into playoff hockey, give me defense and good goaltending all the time, every day. And that's why I keep coming back to Prince Albert. I think they're built to win when games get tighter, when one mistake matters, and when you have to find a way to win those ugly playoff games. I think this is the team. Now, Kelowna is still my wild card in all of this because of Enginla. I really believe he's going to spend some time in the NHL this season. And if Kelowna doesn't have him, that changes how I look at them. But if Enkinla is back to the WHL playoffs, oh boy, then ask me again. But right now, before the season starts, I'm sticking with Prince Albert. Give me the Raiders to win the WHL. The OHL champion. Now, here's where I'm not taking my number one team. I'm going with Ottawa. I have the 67s, number two in my OHL rankings, but when I think about a team being built for a long playoff run, I keep coming back to them. They're well coached. They're defensively responsible. I like their goaltending. Are they always going to play the most exciting hockey? Probably not. But come playoff time, I don't care. I think this is a team built to frustrate the hell out of you and then beat you. Give me the Ottawa 67s to win the OHL. Now for the Q. Yep, you guessed it. I am picking Moncton Wildcats. Let's go. And no, I'm not picking them just because they're my new home team. I genuinely believe Moncton can win the Q. They came so close last year. They got all the way to the Q final. So they know what that disappointment feels like. I look at this year's team and I still see a very strong hockey team. There are some questions about exactly who comes back from the NHL camps, but I still think this team has enough to make another serious run. I like their defense, I like their goaltending, they can score, and they got a coaching staff I trust. This organization has gone through the loss of a beloved owner, and I know this is going to be an emotional season for the Wildcats organization and their fans. But purely from a hockey standpoint, I think this team has unfinished business. Last year they came so close. This year, I'm picking the Moncton Wildcats to finish the job. So that gives me the 2027 Memorial Cup field. Prince Albert from the WHL, Ottawa from the OHL, Moncton from the Q, and Guelph, of course, is already there as the hosts. Four teams. One champion. And I've gone back and forth on this, but I'm doing it. My 2027 Memorial Cup champion are the Prince Albert Raiders. There, it's out there now. I'm picking the Raiders to win the WHL, get to Guelph, and win the whole damn thing. Ask me again in April, and I may completely regret saying this. But before the season starts, Prince Albert is my team to beat.

Memorial Cup Host Debate

Sue 19:23

So I have a question for everybody. Does the Memorial Cup host have too much of an advantage? And here's where I'm torn. I understand why the host gets an automatic spot in the Memorial Cup. And honestly, if you're going to host it, I think you have a responsibility to put a competitive team on the ice. You can't have three league champions show up and then have the host getting blown out every night. This is supposed to be the best of the CHL. And it's huge for the city, it's huge for the organization. It's great for local businesses, ticket sales, television. Everything that comes with hosting an event like this, I get it. But deep down, I still don't know how I feel about a team automatically being in the final four with a chance to win the biggest prize in junior hockey. Because the other three teams had to earn their way there. The host didn't. And there's another side of this that I don't think we talk about enough. Once you know you're hosting, there's pressure to load up. You trade picks, you move younger players or prospects, you build your roster around this one huge opportunity. Maybe it works. Maybe you win the Memorial Cup. But what happens the next year or two years later? If you mortgage part of your future for one shot at hosting and winning the Memorial Cup, the fans who were there before the tournament and are still there afterward could be watching a rebuilding team for the next few years. Is that fair to them? And here's the problem. I don't have a better solution. Do you take away the host spot and bring top two teams from each league? How do you narrow six teams down? Does that make the tournament too long? And then are you taking away part of what makes hosting the Memorial Cup so special in the first place? So yeah, I understand why the system works the way it does. I'm just not convinced it's completely fair. What do you think? Does the Memorial Cup host have too much of an advantage? Or is the automatic birth simply part of what makes the Memorial Cup the Memorial Cup?

Sue's True Moment

Sue 21:41

Maybe that's why September still means something to me. When I was a kid growing up in Sudbury, summers were great. No school, hot days, baseball. Then September came. School. Cold days around the corner. Double ugh. But hockey. Yes, hockey. And for me, that meant the Sudbury Wolves. Honestly, the Wolves coming back might have been the best thing about September. And this was back when they had those classic green jerseys. I love going to Saturday night games at the Sudbury Arena. Back then, these players were just kids too, only a little bit older than me. But I thought it was incredible watching them play hockey at that level, knowing that some of them had a chance of making it to the NHL. At that age, I didn't remember every name. I just wanted to watch live hockey. But I remember Paul Di Pietro being one of my favorites. And a little later, Glenn Murray. And I definitely remember some players on the other team. Eric Lindros hated him. Jeff Carter hated him too. Not because there was anything wrong with them. They were just really damn good and they weren't the wolves. And one of my favorite memories was waiting for a submarine to score. Because that stuff wolf would come out across the rafters over the ice howling after a wolves goal. I can still picture it. Actually, I wonder if that thing is still there. Then in my mid-20s, I moved to Barrie. New city, new junior hockey team, the Barry Colts. And as I got older, the way I watched junior hockey changed. Now I started appreciating everything that goes into junior hockey careers. The work, the dedication, the pressure, and the dream these kids are chasing. And the names started sticking with me a little more. John DeFerris, Connor McDavid, and some of my favorites with Barry. Aaron Eckblad, Brian Little, and definitely Mark Scheifley. That's one of the things I love about junior hockey now. Years later, you can watch the NHL game and say, I remember watching that kid in junior, or God, I hated that guy when he played against us. And there were some great playoff runs with Barry. But 2012-13 season, that one still hurts. I really thought the Colts team was built to go to Memorial Cup. They were up three games to one against London Knights in the OHL final. They lost game five. Then game six at home in overtime. Still hurts. Then game seven. Less than a second left. Bull Horvat scores. Season over. Devastating. Of course, looking back at that London team now, Bull Horvat, Max Domey, Nikita Zarov. Yeah, turns out some of those guys were pretty damn good. And now here we are, another September. Except this one feels completely different because it's another new city, a whole new province, and another junior hockey team. The Moncton Wildcats. When we decided to take the opportunity to move to Moncton and start this new chapter of our lives, one of the first things I did was check out the local junior hockey team. Of course I did. And what I learned pretty quickly was that Moncton loves its Wildcats. It also happened to be playoff time. So there I was, still living in Ontario, watching and following the playoff run of a team from a city I haven't even moved to yet. My new team. And now I'm here. I'm going into my first full season following the QMJHL, and I get to learn a whole new league, new teams, new players, new rivalries. And I already know following the Wildcats isn't going to be difficult for me. I already got players I like. And I'm pretty sure I'll have players on other teams I can't stand. And years from now, I'll probably be watching the NHL and saying it all over again. I remember watching that kid in Moncton. Sudbury Wolves, Barry Colts, Moncton Wildcats, three junior hockey teams, three different chapters of my life. And somehow, through all of them, junior hockey has always been there. So maybe that's why, even all these years, September still feels a little special to me. Because every September, hope returns and hockey comes back.

TFTO Closing & Sign-off

Sue 26:18

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of True Fan True Opinions. If you enjoyed today's conversation, I really appreciate it if you follow the show, leave a review, and share it with another sports fan. And don't forget, I want to hear your thoughts. Did you agree with my takes? Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments or on social media. Until next time, keep sharing, keep believing, and remember chin up, don't give up. I'm rooting for you.