Some form of consolation playoff structure should (must) be created
By
Mark Schadenberg
For
many hockey clubs in the Junior C ranks, the season is far too short.
If
the mandate of the Ontario Hockey Association and its participating leagues is
to develop players, the association must create a method to keep all teams
playing until at least the March Break.
The
same goes for all competitive minor hockey teams. In Canada, kids play hockey
in the winter not watch the NHL on TV.
In
Oxford County, the Woodstock Navy Vets, Norwich Merchants and Tavistock Braves
of the Midwestern loop are all finished playing for the 2015-16 season with
first-round playoff setbacks.
It’s
not even the 20th of February yet and we’re still enjoying winter, but those
hockey clubs, who were obviously not the strongest in their respective
divisions, will not have the opportunity to learn about competition, the pressures
of playdowns, the importance of chalkboard talk by an experienced coach, or simply
the on-going fitness and skills development through regular practicing.
Those
clubs are eliminated and we’re several works away from the March Break still.
The
OHA must create a system where ALL teams (each and every team) play longer to
develop players. If you miss the second round of playoffs that should translate
or co-relate to the fact your team needs more seasoning – not less.
Delhi
won only four of 40 games and missed the playoffs, so they’ve already been idle
since Jan. 29. That fact is sad indeed.
The
Burford Bulldogs managed just nine wins in 40 starts, but made the playoffs as
the No. 8 seed. Their reward was losing in five games to Ayr, including 12-3 in
the fifth contest.
The
OHA must create a bracket system which includes consolation playoffs. Why can’t
the Delhi team play the four first-round losers in a double round robin (eight games
for everyone) and then the top two from that tourney meet in a best-of-three
second-tier final. That’s only one possible solution.
Since
only the best-of-the-best truly deserve an opportunity to play for the OHA Title
or the Schmalz Cup, why not have only the top two in each league play a
best-of-seven where they crossover to the nearest geographic league to begin
the post-season in early February and then there would be eight teams remaining
to play for the Ontario Junior C title. As those eight lose, they could fall
back into their league playoff. I’m tossing out ideas and some possible plans will
be tossed aside as not workable maybe.
Should
the Navy Vets with their modest 17-23 record actually deserve the chance to
play for an Ontario title?
One
Oxford County team -- the Thamesford Trojans (20-20) – play in the Southern league
with the likes of Dorchester, Lambeth, Exeter, Port Stanley and the Aylmer
Spitfires. Thamesford is also ousted from post-season participation as they
were swept by the Spitfires in four straight including 9-2 and 7-1.
This
is all about debate – a conversation which must take place because Hockey
Canada and its lower associations such as the OHA have the specific mandate to
develop, nurture, improve, teach and promote hockey players. Can a Junior C
player on a lower team acquire the skills to advance to Junior B, Tier II
Junior A, the OHL or NCAA for scholarships?
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All
eight Junior C leagues have at least one strong team, according to the final
standings.
Niagara
– Glanbrook Rangers – 31-11
Southern
– Dorchester Dolphins – 35-5
West
– Walkerton Hawks – 27-9. I’m curious why this league plays only 36 games for a
regular schedule, but that’s a story for another day.
Great
Lakes – Essex 73’s – 34-6.
Empire
– Port Hope Panthers – 34-6
Central
– Clarington Eagles – 36-6
Georgian
Bay – Alliston Hornets – 35-5.
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NAVY
VETS
I
briefly talked to Woodstock team president Devon Young on the phone yesterday
and it appears he is equally frustrated by an early end to the season. As a
former Navy Vets player, Devon Young would also know all about falling from this
awkward playoff tree as a skater as well.
There’s
an old cliche or adage saying: if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. However, this
system has been broken since the day it was established, and now is the time to
end it.
The
Junior C with seven playoff rounds leading to a OHL champion is ridiculous.
Keep
in mind, the Junior B regular season continues until Feb. 28.
In
the OHL, the schedule doesn’t end until March 20
The
NHL, which is excessive in the other direction and plays too long, ends its
regular schedule this year around April 10 before its drawn-out playoffs.
LINKS:
Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . .
Destination
