Quebec to Vancouver - a successful move in the long run?

[Victor 11,015]

When GM and BOG member and maybe by then commissioner Keaton Louth proposed to relocate the Quebec City Meute to Vancouver, there wasn't too much opposition. The offer to keep the logo, an original creation by founding GM Pavel Koradek, alleviated most of the fears, while the argument against the Meute name, while strenuous, was convincing enough.

 

The main reason I voted in favour was the opportunity to shed some of Quebec's VHL history. Whilst the Meute outlasted fellow expansion team Cologne who were contracted in S57, they had a controversial past over their first 30 seasons. Koradek steered Quebec to their first championship off the back of acquiring three Valiq brothers and making a big splash in free agency, which made the Meute few friends. Their reputation as the league's villains grew under the outspoken Clinton Chevy, who embraced the role of loudmouth and unfortunately for him couldn't replicate regular season success in the playoffs.

 

Even under Frank Chadwick's second (of at least three) stints in charge, Quebec only managed one Continental Cup out of four straight finals appearances. There was enough playoff failure and general “evil empire” vibes to suggest a move would be beneficial.

 

It's now been 32 seasons in Vancouver and playoff success has certainly been forthcoming. The Wolves have been to nine Continental Cup finals, winning seven, a feat matched only by their rivals in Seattle (seven from eleven finals). They've shed the underachiever tag but what about the controversy? Well, with a threepeat off the back of meta exploitation, and even this season a trade deadline deal for Olober Syko which had many up in arms, I think it's fair to say Vancouver has continued to rub some people the wrong way. But on the whole was the relocation a success? You'd have to say so based on results.