Winter begins tonight, Christmas is 4 days away, and the Ontario Hockey League Holiday Break is underway and will continue until next Tuesday when the Attack travel to Barrie to meet the Colts.
In the short term, there’s disappointment in the way the Attack hit the break, losing their last 2 games with very few positive moments in losses to London & Niagara
Over the long term, a 44 point first half is good, one of the best marks posted by the Owen Sound franchise in 22 years.
Here’s what’s ahead
34 games to play
Of those 34 games, 13 are divisional games with Erie, Guelph, Kitchener or London
8 of those 13 divisional games are at home, and 5 of the 13 divisional games are against the Guelph Storm.
Keys….. 8 home games and 5 head to head with Guelph.
Owen Sound also has an additional 8 Conference games against Western foes, virtually split with 3 away and four at home
Outside of the Conference, the Attack have 13 games against Eastern Division opponents
The key numbers there are 9 of the 13 are on the road against the East and 3 of the 13 are against the Barrie Colts who are having their worst season ever.
Finally, the other significant factors looming for the Attack in the 2nd half are prolonged stretches of either home games or road games.
From January 22nd to February 6th, the Attack play 7 out of 8 at home, and with a good homestand, could solidify a playoff position before Valentine’s Day.
Following that sequences of mostly home games, Owen Sound will have 9 of 12 on the road for a month from February 10th to March 11th.
Welcome to the 2nd half of the OHL season.
I’m Fred Wallace