1st-place Kitchener Rangers…?
Kitchener Rangers are just one example of the vast disparity between the Western Conference and Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League.
Going into play this week, the Rangers were the sixth seed in the Western Conference with 56 points from a record of 26-15-4.
But the catch is that if Kitchener was in the Eastern Conference, it would currently be in first place, one point ahead of the Oshawa Generals, who have 55 points from a record of 25-14-5.
To put it another way, the top six teams in the 20-member OHL are all from the Western Conference.
Going a step further, take a look at the Flint Firebirds, who currently hold down the eighth-and-final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 46 points from a record of 21-20-4.
If Flint was in the Eastern Conference, its 46 points would have the Firebirds ahead of six teams — Mississauga Steelheads, Sudbury Wolves, Ottawa 67’s, North Bay Battalion, Niagara IceDogs and Barrie Colts.
But the reality is that Flint is clinging to the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, just four points up on the surging Saginaw Spirit.
Just some food for thought as the OHL heads into the final third of the 2016-2017 regular season.
remember most of there games are against Western teams as well not easy games with London ,Soo , Erie and so on lets not forget Owen Sound ….. no easy points
The Western Conference is very wild, especially with the Soo Greyhounds, Windsor Spitfires, London Knights, and Erie Otters fighting for top spot. The Kitchener Rangers somehow managed to mix in with the other teams fighting for top spot.
Like I said before, the other OHL team competing with Windsor in the Memorial Cup will be from the WC. It’s a guarantee….
If Windsor makes it to the league final, then there will be an Eastern team rep in the Memorial Cup.