Prairie Dominance

Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. What do they all have in common? Well, for one, they are Canada's Prairie Provinces. Secondly, they are the three most dominant hockey provinces, both per capita and all around.

Manitoba's Westman Wildcats have just won the Esso Cup to become the first ever Female Midget AAA National Champions, which I believe will start a run of consecutive titles by the Prairies. The male version, the Telus Cup, has been award many more times then the Esso Cup yet the results are pretty much the same with Prairie teams pretty much dominating, especially in recent years. In the last 11 years a total of 14 prairie teams have played in the finals with 8 prairie teams winning. 6 titles to Saskatchewan teams (including the most recent to the Notre Dame Hounds) and 1 to each Manitoba (Brandon Wheat Kings) and Alberta (Calgary Northstars). To note, 4 of those 11 years there was an all prairie final, once again, including the most recent installment of the Telus Cup.

Then there is the Junior A National Championship, the Royal Bank Cup. The current champions are from Saskatchewan, the Humboldt Broncos, and they are back to try and repeat as champions. A feat that has not been accomplished since the Championship was named the Royal Bank Cup. In the past 13 years their has been 5 prairie province champions, 3 from Saskatchewan and 2 from their western cousins Alberta. But there has also been 14 prairie finalists. Overall Saskatchewan is tied with BC and Ontario with 9 Championships, but if you add Alberta's 7 titles and the 2 from Manitoba you have a total of 18 from the prairie provinces.

Per capita, Saskatchewan has put more people in the NHL then any other place in the world. Being a Saskatchewan resident I can tell you first hand, the Green and Yellow province live and die by the wins and losses of their local teams.

For all of you ney sayers who mock the prairies and call the people from the prairies hicks, keep in mind, these hicks produce the best all round players (apart from goalies, thats Quebec's job) and best teams in Canada.