Theo Wan presents a run-down of the groups collaborating within the 2022 Canadian Final Championships, which start August 18.
August 17, 2022 by Theo Wan in Preview with comments
The Canadian Final Championships make their anticipated return after a three-year hiatus. In 2021, Final Canada placed on a two-day event aptly titled the ‘Final Canada Invitational’ with a number of bids to WUCC being handed out to podium finishers and past. In 2022, it’s a a lot completely different story. With few of the highest groups in attendance, it’s an opportunity for different groups from across the nation to win some {hardware} and be topped nationwide champions.
The groups received’t simply be enjoying for pleasure as even-year nationwide championships result in bids to the Pan-American Final Championships (PAUC). With bids to a world event on the road and an opportunity for a lot of groups to be topped first-time champions, the 2022 Canadian Final Championships is bound to be intriguing and unpredictable.
Match Profile
- Dates: August 18-21, 2022
- Location: Creditview/Sandalwood Sports activities Fields, Brampton Ontario
- Climate: Wet Thursday and Saturday, sunny Friday and Saturday with highs of 26-30 levels Celsius
- Rosters and Schedule by way of Final Central
- Winners and runners-up from the final 5 championships (together with UCI) collaborating:
Streaming Schedule
Stream link
Thursday, August 18
- 10:30 AM: Alberta Remix vs Ottawa Luna (W)
- 12:30 PM: Sherbrooke Pink Fox vs. Saint-Jean-sur-Richieliu Harfang (X)
- 2:30 PM: Winnipeg Common Strike vs. Montreal Manic (O)
Friday, August 19
- 10:30 AM: Open Energy Swimming pools (O)
- 12:30 PM: Winnipeg PBHG vs. Vancouver Fable (X)
- 4:30 PM: Girls’s Quarterfinal (W)
Saturday, August 19
- 10:30 AM: Girls’s Semifinal (W)
- 12:30 PM: Combined Semifinal (X)
- 2:30 PM: Girls’s Bronze (W)
- 4:30 PM: Open Bronze (O)
Sunday, August 19
- 9:30 AM: Girls’s Remaining (W)
- 12:00 PM: Open Remaining (O)
- 2:30 PM: Combined Remaining (X)
Match Format
It’s again to a daily format for the combined and open divisions as they function 20 and 16 groups, respectively. The combined division will begin with 4 swimming pools of 5 groups, with the highest group in every pool getting a bye into quarterfinals whereas the second and third-place finishers enjoying in cross-over video games to qualify for the spherical of eight. Within the open division, there will likely be 4 swimming pools of 4 groups, with the highest two finishers in every pool coming into an influence pool. The bottom two groups from every energy pool will cross over towards the highest two groups from the underside swimming pools for an opportunity to make the quarterfinals.
The ladies’s division has ten groups and can begin with two swimming pools of 5 earlier than going into an influence pool of six that includes the highest three finishers from every pool. For the play-in (quarterfinal) video games into the semifinals, the third to sixth place groups within the energy pool will play to get a spot into the semifinals whereas the highest two groups will get computerized byes.
Open Division Storylines
Large Open Division
For the primary time in a very long time, the open division is large open. Not like the opposite two divisions, there will likely be no WUCC groups in attendance. With #17 Montreal Mephisto dropping out of CUC after beforehand registering, there is no such thing as a clear lower favourite in 2022. In earlier years, it has been straightforward to pencil in a Toronto GOAT vs. Vancouver Livid George remaining. However with these two groups additionally not in attendance — together with perennial contender Ottawa Phoenix — this yr is the possibility for different groups in Canada to make their mark.
Going into the event, the highest seeds all have query marks. The no.1 total seed Quebec Quake dropped a universe level semifinal recreation to the Ottawa In-Legal guidelines (basically most of Bhoenix) at No Borders however have defeated many nationals groups in attendance — together with Montreal Manic — a number of instances. The Quebec Metropolis outfit went undefeated at their provincial Regionals, even defeating Mephisto, albeit a shorthanded one, in pool play.
No.2 Bhoenix had sturdy current common season outcomes, profitable Ontario regionals. Nonetheless, additionally they dropped video games to nationwide qualifiers Durham Houndd and no.1 total seed Quake in June, ending sixth at Jazzfest. How will the younger Ottawa squad reply to the stress of later event video games, when a lot of them have by no means been there earlier than?
No.4 Vancouver Blackfish had a lackluster end in 2021 and face vital roster turnover with solely seven gamers returning. Will this new model of Blackfish be capable to get themselves to the ultimate?
Transfer your self down the road to the no.5 and 6 seeds in Manic and Toronto BOAT, and also you see two groups who’re able to making a semifinals run and past. Manic received the traditional bracket at Boston Invite whereas BOAT took house the Jazzfest title. That stated, each groups suffered losses to regional rivals on the newer regional tournaments, so which model of those groups will we get at CUC?
Will the Prairies Take it All?
Two groups knocking on the door of nationwide glory are Winnipeg Common Strike and Alberta Rumble. Common Strike completed second in each 2016 and 2017, however have but to succeed in a remaining since. The squad from Winnipeg had a disappointing 2021 Final Canada Invitational, ending eighth, however skilled some constructive outcomes at Professional-Elite Problem this July in Colorado and proceed to learn from a fantastic pipeline from their juniors system. Can Common Strike lastly recover from the hump and win a CUC title?
Alberta Rumble fell within the 2018 remaining to Ottawa Phoenix, their greatest end as a program. The following yr, the group from Alberta misplaced in each the semifinal to Livid George 15-6 and the bronze medal match 15-8 to Common Strike. A fifth place end in 2021 at UCI ought to give them confidence heading into 2022 contemplating three of the groups that completed forward of them aren’t in attendance this time round. Nonetheless, this group is comparatively untested in comparison with different groups at CUC because of their geographic location. With solely seven gamers remaining from that 2018 silver medal squad, will they be battle examined sufficient to make a championship run in 2022?
Underperforming Groups at Regionals Able to Upset
Durham Houndd and Gatineau OUT are two groups nobody needs to see in pool play, with each posting sturdy common season outcomes earlier than their respective regional tournaments. The previous got here second at Jazzfest whereas the latter completed fourth. Houndd got here into Ontario Regionals as a favourite however dropped a pool play matchup to nationals two seed Bhoenix, happening 8-0 at half. Houndd additionally misplaced the third place remaining to Grand Trunk on universe after beginning on offense. Having greater than a full line of Toronto Rush (AUDL) gamers together with some GOAT observe roster members, this group shouldn’t be seen as a standard fifteenth seed. Can this talent-filled roster put it collectively for CUC and erase the doubt created by their regionals end?
In early season play, OUT took down the no.5 seed Manic within the quarterfinals of Jazzfest earlier than dropping two straight video games to complete fourth. The group didn’t ship their full squad to Quebec regionals although and needed to defeat Magma within the game-to-go to earn a fifth place end. Their expertise coming in twelfth in 2021 might bode helpful as they attempt to make a quarterfinals run in 2022. Don’t count on this 14th seed to go quietly into the Brampton evening.
Different Nuggets
- No. 10 seed Newfoundland Regiment are your defending spirit champions within the open division and want to enhance on their tenth place end at UCI in 2021
- No. 7 seed Sherbrooke Ascension makes their debut after rebranding from the beforehand named Gents’s Membership
- 2016 champions Toronto Grand Trunk (No. 11 seed) solely have one member remaining from that yr in 2022
Girls’s Division Storylines
Iris and Stella set for remaining showdown
The highest two seeded groups within the ladies’s appear primed for a rematch of the 2018 remaining during which Iris got here out victorious. Each groups come into this weekend with WUCC expertise beneath their belts, ending thirteenth and twenty ninth, respectively, in Cincinnati. The Quebec squad picked up huge victories over #10 Pittsburgh Parcha, #14 Chicago Nemesis, and #15 San Francisco Nightlock — a powerful feat contemplating all three certified for the 2021 USA Final Nationwide Championships. All however three of the gamers on Iris performed final yr at UCI so continuity is robust with this squad. Regardless of dropping each Jessie Grignon-Tomas and Anouchka Beaudry from final yr’s roster, this group has proven the flexibility to win powerful video games each at Fishbowl, a ladies’s spherical robin event, earlier this season and at WUCC. Might Iris take house their second CUC title?
On the opposite aspect of the bracket stands Stella, a gaggle that went 4-5 at WUCC, ending tied for twenty ninth place with fellow Canadian squad #21 Halifax Salty. Alongside the best way Stella put up tight video games, dropping by one level to Winnipeg Fusion and #17 Minneapolis Pop, the latter a 2021 USA Final Nationwide Championship qualifier. Stella additionally participated at Fishbowl the place they completed 4-2, together with a 12-3 win over Iris. Stella’s victory marked the primary time they beat the Quebec squad since 2017. This momentum ought to assist gasoline the Ottawa squad to the ultimate and maybe one other victory over Iris, albeit on a a lot greater stage.
First-year Groups Able to Make a Splash
With the return of CUC and a daily format comes a number of first-year squads attempting to make their mark in Canadian final. The final time we noticed Toronto’s second group was in 2019 the place Tox6ix completed ninth. For the reason that pandemic, the Toronto ladies’s system has rebranded and retooled, coming in with a brand new title and a brand new management/teaching group in tow. The upstart incogniTO had sturdy outcomes, ending fourth at Jazzfest in addition to defeating all Ontario groups that participated at regionals in July.
One other new squad making their debut in 2022 is Drift from Vancouver. The squad comes from the ashes of koiSHH, who completed final at 2021 UCI. Boasting a gaggle of younger up-and-comers from the Rain Metropolis, will their lack of expertise present up at CUC or will their vitality be sufficient to hold them far into the bracket?
The ultimate first-year squad coming to CUC is Remix, a conglomeration of gamers from each Edmonton and Calgary. In 2019, Edmonton’s Flurry got here tenth whereas Wild from Calgary completed twelfth. In 2021, Widishh got here in eighth and solely 4 members from that 2021 squad are suiting up for Remix. Anticipate a a lot youthful squad able to make a run at this yr’s version of the nationwide championship.
Diminished Division (As soon as Once more)
The dearth of groups within the ladies’s division for a second straight yr can’t be ignored. After 16 groups competed in 2019, it’s been two straight years of ten groups and diminished participation. In 2021, we noticed groups lacking like Korra (Saskatchewan), Tempest (Newfoundland), Foxx (Ontario), Noxx (Ontario), and Tox6ix (Toronto), with a lot of these groups not exist in 2022. You may rely 4 groups that simply performed at WUCC not too way back in Halifax Salty and Winnipeg Fusion together with perennial powerhouses Vancouver Site visitors and Toronto 6ixers as groups lacking from the 2022 version. A priority raised in 2021 that will likely be requested once more in 2022 is that if this downturn may have long-range results within the ladies’s division, or is it only a blip on the best way to a full post-pandemic restoration?
Different Nuggets
- No. 3 seed Quebec Qub defeated Iris in pool play at Quebec Regionals and completed second at Jazzfest earlier within the yr
- No. 7 seed Victoria Venus received Jazzfest in June and completed second at Boston Invite
- No. 10 seed Ottawa Luna boasts a pair U20 Crew Canada members and are able to make some noise
Combined Division Storylines
Worlds Groups Cream of the Crop
Like the ladies’s division, it looks as if there are two squads headed for a crash course within the remaining on Sunday afternoon. First is Toronto Union, a group who completed fifth in 2019 and third in 2021, with the latter end result incomes the group a bid to WUCC. At worlds, Union skilled a heartbreaking universe level loss to Colombia Macondo within the Spherical of 32 earlier than profitable three of the following 4 video games to complete nineteenth. The Toronto squad was additionally in a position to defeat a standard opponent in Deep Area (UK). Battle-tested and with a leg up on their challengers PBHG, can the highest combined group from Toronto lastly win a CUC title?
Headed for the ultimate on the opposite aspect of the bracket are Winnipeg Fairly Boys and Good-looking Women, the silver medalists at 2021 UCI and twenty sixth place finishers at WUCC. On the worlds event, it was evident the Winnipeg group introduced in a star from Australia in Tomas Boyle, who led all gamers within the combined division with 40 assists and 13 objectives for a whopping 53 factors. Just one participant from that 2021 UCI silver medal squad doesn’t return, so this Winnipeg squad is just not solely filled with chemistry however belief and poise. Will this continuity produce PBHG their second nationwide title?
Quebec Prepared for Podium
Seeking to upend the highest two seeds are two Quebec squads: Sherbrooke Pink Fox and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Harfang. The previous out-performed expectations, ending sixth in 2021 after being seeded final in Pool C. Pink Fox then went and defeated each group positioned in entrance of them at Quebec Regionals earlier than additionally profitable No Borders, dispatching Nationals groups Crash, Crux, Harfang, Crank, and Native 613 alongside the best way. With most of their roster returning in 2022, can this Sherbrooke squad proceed their momentum all the best way to the highest?
Out of the ashes of the 2019 bronze medalists Battleship rises Harfang. The Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu contingent returns 11 of its gamers from 2021 and has infused itself with some new expertise to create a group that completed second at Quebec regionals. At No Borders in July, Harfang had combined outcomes, defeating Native 613 in pool play 12-11 in addition to Crank 11-8, earlier than falling by one to Crash and 4 to Pink Fox. The squad would find yourself ending fifth, defeating Crux and Hazard Noodle, two different Nationals qualifiers seeded under them. A win of their Thursday encounter towards Pink Fox might foreshadow eventual success at this event. Can this primary yr squad make it to semifinals and past?
Is that this the yr for Vancouver?
A group with an immense quantity of expertise and promise for the previous few years has been Vancouver’s T.T.. The group completed ninth at UCI in 2019 and seventh in 2021, however regardless of the middling ends in the final two championships, this squad is primed to make a deep run. The Vancouver squad is seeded fourth, their highest seed since 2018 once they had been seeded third and completed sixth. T.T. went 3-1 at BC regionals, profitable the event on a three-way tie. 2022 represents a possibility for them to get their highest end as a program. Can this group lastly put it collectively and make their option to the semifinals for the primary time in program historical past?
Different Nuggets
- No. 7 seed Native 613 completed second at Ontario regionals and No Borders
- No. 10 seed Lit completed twelfth in 2019 and make their return to Canadian competitors after not collaborating in 2021
- No. 12 seed Spawn is the lone consultant from the East Coast and are hoping to enhance on their eleventh place lead to 2021
- Two first-year groups make their debut at CUC: 18th seed Kombucha Tradition (QC) and nineteenth seed Hazard Noodle (ON)
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