Attack has Hope against Hounds
To be sure, Soo Greyhounds loom as the favourites in their first-round, best-of-seven, Ontario Hockey League playoff series with Owen Sound Attack.
The second-seeded Hounds finished 25 points ahead of the seventh-seeded Attack in the Western Conference standings and the Soo took both regular-season matches from Owen Sound.
But there is Hope in Owen Sound.
As in goalie Brandon Hope.
After being a backup through his first three OHL seasons — two with Sarnia Sting and one with Owen Sound — Hope flourished as the Attack starter this 2013-2014 campaign.
Hope posted a record of 28-19-4 with a 2.89 goals-against-average and .916 save percentage in 54 appearances in the Owen Sound net.
To put the win-loss-tie record into perspective, Owen Sound was 28-19-4 with Hope and 3-10-4 without him for an overall mark of 31-29-8.
Needless to say, Hope was an impact goalie for an Owen Sound team that played in the OHL’s toughest division, the Midwest.
How tough is the Midwest?
Points-wise, Guelph Storm, Erie Otters and London Knights — all of the Midwest — finished 1-2-3 in the overall standings of the four-division, 20-team OHL.
So while the Soo, with its 95 points from a record of 44-17-7, has every right to be considered the favourites in the upcoming playoff with Owen Sound, the Attack should not be taken lightly.
Let’s face it, Owen Sound played more than a third of its regular-season games against the top three teams in the OHL in Guelph, Erie and London.
FOURTH BUT SECOND
Even though the Soo placed fourth, points-wise, behind Guelph, Erie and London in the Western Conference regular-season standings, it enters the playoffs against Owen Sound as the second seed by virtue of having finished atop the West Division.
Thus, the Greyhounds will have home-ice advantage in the Western Conference for as long as they can avoid Guelph.
Good artacle RR but “Hope” or “no Hope” the Hounds take this one in 5. Owen Sounds wins 1 at home and that is all.