Quebec Jr. AAA Deserves More Respect
Friday, July 07, 2006

Posted by horts

Well boys, this article may be a bit bias considering I play here, but I don't think this league recieves the attention it deserves. Before I arrived here to play, I asked a few boys in my travels, "What do you think of Quebec Jr. AAA?" More often then not, my answer was: "What is Jr. AAA?" or, "Quebec has a Jr. A league?" I'll be honest with you, going into camp this past august, I knew very little of the league or what I was getting myself into, especially coming out of the OPJHL. But since I arrived, I've seen nothing but good, Canadian style, hockey. Yes, it is true, Quebec is known for it's fast paced play, and finess stick-handling, and I have seen some definate sick plays and players. CONTINUED BELOW

However, what is not true, is the rap that Quebec gets, as having no toughness nor physical play. Now, I do not want to talk it up to be the "toughest league" there is, because its not. But, in no way, is it an easily pushover league either. The past year here, I've seen a number of conkys, and some very good tilts. I've seen team leading scorers drop their mitts and throw their weight around as well. Religiously, there are an average of 2-3 fights per game, and everybody can take a punch, not just the known tough guys.

This year was a breakout year for the league, winning the Fred Page Cup, which crowns the Eastern Canadian Champions, and putting on a good run at the Royal Bank Cup. Everygame was a 1-2 goal game, leaving with a -3 goal differential. Even versus the western teams, none of the boys on my team shyed away or were timid playing versus the physical play of the westerners. These performances definately showed Canada that Quebec does have the all-around skill to play against any league.

Thus said, I would like to congradulate all who participated at the Royal Bank Cup, and respective regional series/tournaments. There are 142 Jr. A teams across Canada, and only 5 were able to hit the dancefloor, and compete to complete the dream of every Jr. A hockey player in Canada; Joliette Action, Burnaby Express, Yorkton Terriers, FWFN Northstars, and Streetsville Derby's. Win or lose, making it as far as the Royal Bank Cup is an accomplishment all in itself. Congradulations boys on your seasons, and to the Burnaby Express.



-Horts.