Murray Wood: The day Canada Became a nation
April 9, 1917 was Easter Monday. On that date, 109 years ago, Canadian soldiers made history at Vimy Ridge. Murray Wood ...
This isn’t intended to jinx the Regina Pats, but their last Memorial Cup victory also went through Calgary.
That journey didn’t start in Calgary; it ended there.
In 1974, the Pats won the WCHL’s championship series by sweeping the Calgary Centennials in four games. The ’74 Pats quickly returned to Calgary for the Memorial Cup, which consisted of a three-team round-robin before Regina beat the Quebec Remparts 7-4 in the final.
The Pats head into tonight’s game in Calgary with a chance to sweep the Hitmen.
There would be three more WHL playoff rounds before the Pats could qualify for this year’s Memorial Cup, which ends May 28 in Windsor. The Pats’ last two Memorial Cup appearances came in 1980 and, as hosts, in 2001.
They truly are contenders this year, with stars like Sam Steel, Connor Hobbs and Adam Brooks, but it’s head-shaking to think Canada’s oldest junior team hasn’t won a Memorial Cup in 43 years.
