We’ve got ourselves a problem here, don’t we ?
If I was an Ontario Hockey League executive or a member of the competition committee, I’d be frazzled by the existing imbalance of success.
With the Guelph Storm taking the Robertson Cup title over the weekend against North Bay, the Western Conference has now won the OHL Championship for the last 8 years consecutively.
If you back it up to Erie’s championship in 2002, the Western Conference has beaten the Eastern Conference in the OHL Championship series 12 of the last 13 years.
And while that’s a remarkable run of success for the West, if this was my show, I’d be bothered. Quite bothered.
Now, you could argue that Belleville in 2008, Mississauga against the Attack & Barrie’s near miracle against London last year all went 7, and any of those teams could have halted this streak.
Fair enough.
Plus, I’ve heard respected Eastern Conference executives maintain the Eastern Champion always meets a more battered opponent from the West in the final, which technically should improve their chances.
I don;t buy that. Especially since 2002 when the West has gone 48 & 21 head to head against the East in Robertson Cup games.
Nobody likes a sport where the outcome is almost pre-determined, and if I had to bet on the 2015 Robertson Cup winner, I’d go Western Conference across the board and feel good about my chances, but not so positive about the existing competitive state of affairs in the OHL.
I’m Fred Wallace