One of the reasons I dislike the OHL is the perpetuation of mythology as it pertains to the Owen Sound franchise.
When a player, player’s family, player’s agent, a rival team, or all of the above combined, want to go a specific market, usually for reasons far removed from hockey, ( read $ ), they trot out this fantasy line for their local media and Internet bozos to spin.
For example, ‘ you can’t get an education in Owen Sound ‘.
Well Andrew Shorkey played two years here, went to West Hill and now attends McGill University.
Name all the other OHL ‘ scholars ‘ who advanced from their respective market to attend McGill.
I can’t, and even if I could, I’m certain it would be a very short list.
Then you get, ‘ well Owen Sound’s program doesn’t develop players ‘.
Let’s see, last Spring I counted 15 Owen Sound produced players in the NHL, second only to London.
Furthermore, by my count there are 3 Attack players at the Canadian Junior Camp this week, which is a testament to the Attack unto itself.
But for my own edification, I asked one of them, Joey Hishon, if he would have had more opportunity if he played elsewhere.
[CLIP]
Thanks, Joey. Thanks, Andrew. Thanks to every player, family, and agent who recognize the Attack program, as it exists, is as good a place as any to play in the OHL.
I’m Fred Wallace