The Buzz · St. John's Morning Wire

Deer Lake's Herder Cup roster is making Avalon East furious

Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton — St. John's Morning Wire correspondent
Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton St. John's · St. John's Morning Wire

You won't believe da Herder Cup drama, b'y

Whaddya at, b'y — this is St. John's, oldest city in North America, and we're still here. Let's go.

I'll tell ya one thing, b'y, you think you've seen hockey drama? You ain't seen nothin' until you've seen what's brewing ahead of da Herder Memorial Trophy Final. We're talkin' about the Herder Cup here, b'y, da biggest prize in Newfoundland and Labrador senior hockey, older dan da Stanley Cup practically. And before da puck even drops, there's a proper row goin' on about da Deer Lake Red Wings stackin' their roster wit' high-skilled players from away. It’s like somethin' out of a kitchen party yarn, but it’s real, b'y.

## What's the Beef?

So da Avalon East Senior Hockey League, dat's da league wit' teams like da St. John's Caps and da Southern Shore Breakers, dey're screamin' foul. Da Deer Lake Red Wings, from way out west in da province, apparently brought in some top-notch talent just for da Herder. It’s like when your cousin brings an unexpected ringer to your regular ball hockey game down by Bannerman Park, only dis is for da biggest bragging rights in da province. It just don't sit right wit' da fellas who've been battlin' all season wit' da same crew.

Here’s da gist of it, b'y:

* **The Accusation:** Deer Lake added some wicked skilled players to their roster right before da Herder final. * **The Complainant:** Da Avalon East league, who say it ain't fair to teams dat played by da rules all year. * **The Stakes:** Da Herder Memorial Trophy, b'y. Dis ain't just a trophy; it's a legacy.

It speaks to da heart of hockey here, b'y. We love our game, and we love a fair fight. Dis is about more dan just wins and losses; it's about da spirit of da game, and whether you're playin' wit' da team you built or just stackin' da deck at da last minute. For us in St. John's, where we still mourn da IceCaps and follow da Growlers wit' all our hearts, fair play in hockey is paramount. It’s a bit of a sting, eh, watchin' dis drama unfold when we just want to see a proper, honest match for da Herder.

Dis is a big deal for da hockey community, b'y. Everyone from da kids dreamin' of playin' for da Herder one day, to da old fellas down at Ches's gettin' their fish and chips after a game, dey’re all talkin' about it. It makes ya wonder what kind of game we're gonna see when da puck finally drops for da big one.

Keith and da crew are probably havin' a proper chat about dis one every mornin' — catch 'em live at mornings.live.

Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton

Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton is the St. John's correspondent for the MiTL Conversation Desk, covering the St. John's Morning Wire.

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