The Dull Days Of Winter

By Andrew McGilligan

SN Staff

Do you know what the end of January/early February reminds me of hockey wise?

Absolutely nothing.

It’s a veritable wasteland for Canada’s favourite game.

At least the NHL has the All-Star game this time of year, for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League fan there’s not much to get excited about.

The World Junior tournament is long gone, the trade deadline is through and the playoffs are almost two months away.

So what can be done to get the competitive juices flowing during the grey days of winter?  Here are a few suggestions the league could adopt.

All-Star festivities. There’s a reason the NHL holds its annual tribute to fans this time of year. It breaks up the season and gives fans something they don’t normally see (i.e. Skills competitions, rivals teaming up, etc.).

The OHL cancelled its All-Star festivities in 2010 citing player’s commitment to many other events such as World Juniors, Top Prospects, and the Canada-Russia Super Series. I say there’s a way to change things up and get a national TV audience.

How about a skills competition pitting the three leagues of the CHL against one another. There’s no way Sportsnet isn’t going to broadcast that nationally, you may not even need a game.

If a national competition is too much, then the Q could have its own All-Star weekend pitting Quebec-based team against their Maritime foes.

We all know this is how the league views the teams anyway, so why not make it official. You could have an entire weekend similar to the NHL with a skills competition followed by a game.

To make it even better steal an idea from the Top Prospects Game and bring in celebrity coaches. The QMJHL has produced many great players and I’m sure the league could convince some to comeback and coach the all-star squads.

Imagine a Team Lemieux vs. Team Lafleur.

The league should still consider an outdoor game. Other leagues have pulled it off, so there’s no reason the QMJHL can’t.

Another idea is Rivalry Week. Here’s the premise, schedule two or three game in one week at this time of year between bitter rivals. I know not every team has one, but most do. What Sea Dogs fan wouldn’t be excited to watch the Dogs and Cats scrap it out for three straight games. If you play three games perhaps one could even be held at a neutral site such as Fredericton or a smaller NB community.

Got other ideas, let me know on Twitter @AMcGilligan.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation