Surging 67’s step up to .500
The patience that Ottawa 67’s coach-general manager Jeff Brown has been preaching is starting to pay off for the surging Ontario Hockey League team.
Winners of four straight games — including three on the road — the 67’s have reached the .500 mark on the season and ascended into fourth place in what is a tight, 10-team, Eastern Conference.
While they are well-seasoned on the forward lines, the 67’s are a baby-faced bunch on the blueline in front of veteran goalie Leo Lazarev, who has returned to his past form of puck-stopping prowess of late.
Give credit to Brown — the cerebral third-year coach of the 67’s — and his assistants for exhibiting calm through the early going of the 2016-2017 season, especially following one home ice loss after another.
To be sure, the 67’s even record of 10-10-2 does not tell the full tale of a third-of-a-season to date.
As the 67’s have a puzzling record of 2-7-0 on home ice, they are a very-impressive 8-3-2 on the road.
And on the road is where the 67’s head next for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday against the Niagara IceDogs and Barrie Colts.
PHOTO: The Ottawa 67’s celebrate their fourth straight win. (Photo by Valerie Wutti.)
The 67’s have been up and down since the 2002-03 season. If you look back on the previous 13 seasons you will see the results
2003-04 – lost conference quarter-finals to Brampton Battalion 4-3
2004-05 – lost OHL final to London Knights, 4-1, lost Memorial Cup semi-final to Rimouski
2005-06 – lost conference quarter-finals to Peterborough Petes 4-2
2006-07 – lost conference quarter-finals to Belleville Bulls 4-1
2007-08 – lost conference quarter-finals to Oshawa Generals 4-0
2008-09 – lost conference quarter-finals to Niagara Ice Dogs 4-3
2009-10 – lost conference semi-finals to Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors 4-3
2010-11 – lost conference quarter-finals to Sudbury Wolves 4-0
2011-12 – lost conference finals to Niagara Ice Dogs 4-1
2012-13 – missed playoffs
2013-14 – missed playoffs
2014-15 – lost conference quarter-finals to Niagara Ice Dogs 4-2
2015-16 – lost conference quarter-finals to Niagara Ice Dogs 4-1