Walking downtown near Budweiser Gardens as the last of the hockey fans exited the Memorial Cup final game, there are still windows filled with the hope of a city and you can’t help but think what might have been.
London Knights signs and photos, posters with words of encouragement, all still up on Sunday night, will quickly come down when life returns to normal Monday.
Despite all its successes - the focus on veterans in tournament from start to finish, busy hotels and sellout crowds at the Bud –the tournament will be remembered for who was not there on the final day.
A Guelph Storm fan looked around the downtown street and summed up what many were feeling: "Can you imagine how packed these streets would be if London was in (the final)?"
It was supposed to be another crowning achievement for a franchise that has been expected to produce year after year, ever since that last Cup victory in 2005.
Instead the Edmonton Oil Kings were the surprise victors, hoisting the Cup for the first time since 1966. Edmonton spoiled the party for the Storm – the powerful team that outscored its opponents 18-7 in round-robin play – but couldn’t manage the inspired Oil Kings, who beat them 6-3.
The feisty Oil Kings were playing for more than themselves at this tournament – they were playing for a former teammate gone too soon. They were trying to give some meaning to a tragedy.
The jersey of Kristian Pelss, who drowned last June in his native Latvia, was hoisted up at centre ice as the Cup presentation took place.
“He was a good buddy of mine. I know he was watching over us today and I know he had a part in it,” said Henrik Samuelsson, who had five points, including two goals for the Oil Kings.
Henrik is the son of former NHL stalwart defenceman Ulf Samuelsson, who is now an assistant coach with the New York Rangers.
Never mind that they had played the longest game in CHL history on Friday. These Oil Kings were warriors.
Party poopers
The City of Guelph had announced three days ago where the party was going to be for the Storm on Monday.
It’s going to be a sombre scene at the Market Square.
Storm centre Robby Fabbri threw his stick across the ice into the boards, when Samuelsson scored in the empty net, as an exclamation point to the team’s frustration.
And the Storm had the crowd mainly behind them.
Host with the most
London was a good host - no doubt - but as one of the organizers told me, "We can't control what happens on the ice."
With London knocked out early, it couldn't help but hurt the buzz, which existed from start to finish at the 2005 Cup.
CHL commish David Branch thanked London for a tremendous event, one, he said that was “even better than 2005.”
Perhaps in many respects, but not in the one that mattered most – who won the Cup.
What's next for London?
The London Hunt and Country Club is the host for the CP Women's Open in August and in September, the Tour Championship of Canada will be held at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club.
But the Memorial Cup organizing committee's finance guy - who is also a key baseball executive in the city - believes London should take a chance on the World Junior Baseball Championships.
Joe O'Neill believes it would be a great bid, "based on the facilities we have with Labatt Park, Aldridge Field and the other baseball diamonds we have."
Sufficient hotels and other amenities are important, but, according to O'Neill, it's the volunteer base that is "absolutely the most important.
"We have a supply of volunteers in the community that are second to none."
The last time the World Junior Baseball Championships were in Canada was 2010, in Thunder Bay.
Tournament budget
O'Neill wouldn't give the Cup budget figure. He says it’s something the CHL would rather keep internal.
But the tournament finances are fine.
"We're on budget. We haven't had any major hiccups,” he says.
OHL legacy of 2014 Cup
While part of the city's bid to be host of this year's Cup included plans for a virtual OHL Hall of Fame and creating an alumni association foundation, it may be a while before they come to fruition.
Knights governor Trevor Whiffen says pulling together contact information for alumni is a big task, but will happen.
The foundation is important to support OHL families in need, he says. "As an example, if someone loses a family member."
He called all three components "an ongoing project."
"The easiest will be the virtual hall of fame."
Meanwhile, Whiffen says proceeds from this Cup will go to the league to defray costs and to distribute among the teams.
He says that figure will probably not be made public either.
Figure skating help
It's long been known that taking some figure skating lessons can improve your hockey play.
One of my New York Islanders` heroes, Bobby Nystrom, sought out help from a figure skating coach. So have Joe Pavelski and Scott Niedermayer.
The Storm have a figure skating coach on staff - which may help explain their success in getting to the final - in Barbara Underhill.
The world champion pairs skater has been at Budweiser Gardens paying attention to the footwork of the Storm.
Serving up salad
For restaurants, the tournament was a tossed salad of experiences.
Some said business was up, others were disappointed.
And some days, including opening weekend, were great and others slow.
"I thought it would have been busier, but I think it could be the (beer) tent. The first night was great; we were just swamped, but other than that, no," says Marco Grgic, the manager of Chaucer's Pub on Carling Street.
At Billy's Deli Restaurant on Dundas Street, the number of customers was down 10 to 15 per cent.
"I've been here 10 years and it's nothing like the first one (2005 tournament)," says owner Jeff Harvey.
He says it might have something to do with the Knights being eliminated early.
"The vibe isn't here."
Harvey also says it hurts business to block off streets. "I've talked to a few other businesses and they're in the same boat. I don't want to complain. It is what it is."
At Fitzray's, it was a different story.
Bar manager Jay Bell says business has been good. "We got extra staff hired - three extra servers, bartenders and cooks.
One Hundred Grand for Parkwood
Whiffen was excited about the more than $100,000 raised for Parkwood Hospital, including veterans’ programs.
In 2005, $25,000 was donated to Parkwood and organizers were determined to increase it. That they did, substantially.
Celebrity Sighting: Mark Messier
Tweet of the Day: Chief Brad Duncan @Chief_B_Duncan “After two periods this is not what we expected. Oil Kings are dominating - 35 shots to 22. Storm needs to ramp up.”
The police chief was just as surprised as everyone else at Edmonton’s success.
