Way back in late February, after a disheartening 8-2 loss at Erie by the Attack in what was a pivotal game, you might remember I wrote that the Attack had to be better in many aspects of their operation both on and off the ice.
One of those off-ice aspects is scheduling.
Now keep in mind, I wrote and recorded this segment long before today, so the results of the weekend past seemingly prove me to be wrong, at least in the short term.
But the point is, Owen Sound will play their 10th game of the season Wednesday night when they host Plymouth, and from my standpoint this game, essentially 1/6th of the way through the season, is the first time the Attack will have any semblance of home ice advantage.
On the first weekend, Owen Sound went home and home with Guelph which meant that Owen Sound travelled 4 hours round trip before playing at home while Guelph travelled just 2 hours before the rematch faceoff in Owen Sound.
Next, Owen Sound went to London and back, about 6 hours round trip, before facing Kitchener, who for arguments sake, had a 2 hour journey before meeting the Attack at the Bayshore.
On the third weekend, similar scenario; Owen Sound travels 6 hours round trip to Sarnia and back before meeting the Battalion who made a 2 hour trek to Owen Sound.
All of which brought us to last weekend; 2 hour trip to play at Barrie, 2 hour trip home, that’s 4 hours there, 2 hour trip to Kitchener, now make it 6 hours roadwork, play the Rangers, then 2 more hours home again, which brings the total to 8 hours on the road before getting ” home ice ” advantage for the Saturday night game against Barrie who because they didn’t play Friday, simply travelled 2 hours to get to the J.D. McArthur Arena.
I certainly understand the concept of a weekend league, of academic opportunity and the value of Saturday night home games to the Attack business model, but to me, Owen Sound has to find a way to finagle some Thursday and Sunday road games, with a cushion or buffer day before home games, otherwise home ice advantage will be minimal at best.
I’m Fred Wallace