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Matteo · 06-12-2024, 07:06 PM

The most recent Four-Star Cup was won by the Quebec City Citadelles for the third time in their franchise’s history. Having established themselves as a team that is not to be underestimated in any given season, this has been a reputation that they have been building going back to the very beginnings of the franchise, 23 seasons ago, when it all began.

In the offseason of S55, it was announced that one of the two expansion teams entering the league would be located in Quebec City and called the Citadelles, with a snowy owl in the shape of the Quebec Citadel from a bird’s eye view as the logo. This was met with a positive reception from the league, and the iconic branding hasn’t been changed to this day. Already off to a good start, veteran user and first time GM Evok, alongside with relatively newer user and co-GM Faelax, entered the expansion draft, along with the newly formed Nevada Battleborn.

This draft laid the foundation of what was to come of the franchise and its locker room, as it included Faelax’s player, Alexander Roach, in his fourth and final season of eligibility in the SMJHL. Roach would go on to be known in Quebec City as their first-ever star player.

Following the success of the expansion draft came the franchise’s first entry draft, where they were lucky to have won the first overall pick. At number one, Quebec City picked SHL veteran ztevans’ recreate in Zdenko Beranek. He proved to be an amazing pick both on the ice and in the locker room for many years to come, alongside but not limited to Enigmatic, Bayley, Smiley, Al Gringo, and one of the biggest draft steals of all time at 79th overall, Keven.

Before the start of the season, Quebec City made two more great pickups in William Salming, who is the last remaining active player in QCC’s inaugural season, and some guy named Mat Smith.

Finally with all offseason activities completed, it was time for the team to show what they could do on the ice, and like one would expect from an expansion team, it wasn’t great. QCC finished third last in the standings, maybe one spot better than expected, but the locker room kept a positive attitude, for them this was a win.

In the playoffs, Quebec City would enter as an underdog going up against what was then the Anaheim Outlaws. As expected, QCC lost the first game, but it was a close 3-1. Something shifted in Quebec’s favour after that, as they won the next two games decisively, outscoring Anaheim 6-3 and 5-2, then taking game four in an overtime win. Anaheim took game 5 in another one goal game, but in game 6 the team rallied at home, and closed out both the game and the series 4-2.

After that the locker room erupted in celebration. To come into the league as an expansion team, it felt like they were defying all odds just by winning a series. The team was becoming close before, but this win is what really brought everyone together, forging friendships which would span over years and across continents.

This series win would end up being short lived, as nothing would stop QCC’s second round opponents, the Newfoundland Berserkers, on their way to their first Four-Star Cup. Quebec City got swept in four very decisive games, but the locker room was positive going into the offseason. They knew that the group they had was special, and led by Evok and Faelax they would be proven right just four seasons later when most of that team, along with some excellent additions along the way, would go on to win their first ever Four-Star Cup together.

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Deep Dive 1 - 624 words

*Scrufdaddy* · 06-22-2024, 01:44 PM

Approved @Matteo @CptSquall

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