Western omelette
There’s a scramble for position within the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League where eight of the 10 teams have records well above the .500 mark.
As the London Knights and Erie Otters are tied for first place in the Western world with 40 points apiece, the eighth-seeded Flint Firebirds have 28 points from a very-respectable record of 13-10-2.
To put it in further perspective, if Flint was in the Eastern Conference it would be tied for third place, just a point out of second spot. And if the fourth-place Windsor Spitfires were in the Eastern Conference they would be in first place, ahead of the Oshawa Generals.
If you have heard the well-worn phrase “hotly-contested” it certainly applies to the Western Conference.
Just take a look at the records of the teams in the Western Conference, particularly the top 8.
1. London Knights 18-3-4 — 40 points.
2. Erie Otters 19-5-2 — 40 points.
3. Soo Greyhounds 18-7-1 — 37 points.
4. Windsor Spitfires 16-4-4 — 36 points.
5. Kitchener Rangers 16-8-1 — 33 points.
6. Owen Sound Attack 15-11-1 — 31 points.
7. Sarnia Sting 13-10-3 — 29 points.
8. Flint Firebirds 13-10-2 — 28 points.
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9. Guelph Storm 9-14-3 — 21 points.
10. Saginaw Spirit 8-13-3 — 19 points.
I see the Guelph Storm still struggling, just after 2 years of winning their first OHL championship since 2004 in 2014. I guess acquiring G Liam Herbst didn’t do anything. The Guelph Storm were among the most-feared teams in the Western Conference as early as 1994. They also hold one of the longest playoff streaks in the CHL.
The Erie Otters and the London Knights are the powerhouse teams of the West. London has lost Mitch Marner, and Erie has regained Dylan Strome. Both teams are competitive this season, and another Western Conference final is adamant, unless the Soo Greyhounds or the Windsor Spitfires step up their game and defeated either London or Erie in the playoffs. Windsor is playing host to the 2017 MasterCard Memorial Cup, and it’s very likely the other OHL team will be from the Western Conference.
Look out for Owen Sound. The team has already logged most of its tricky road trips and, with goaltender Michael McNiven standing on his head, is starting to pick up wins and move up the standings.
And, over the past year especially, no team plays London harder or better than Owen Sound.
I recall the Owen Sound Attack winning the 2011 OHL Championship. It was also the third time since 1994 that the OHL Championship game went to game 7 overtime. It was a great game. Jarrod Maidens, who scored the overtime winner as a 16-year old no longer players hockey. Back in 2000, this team almost relocated to Cornwall, but a group of locals stepped up to buy the team.
Has anybody ever analyzed why the Western Conference always seems to be stronger than the East?