Erie Otters 2016-17 Season Thread (Part 3)

[Beast Mowed]

Looks like the NHL channel has a whopping 1/2 hr. scheduled for tonights game between Erie & Windsor 9-930 (at least by the guide). Great promotion of the sport if that's true.

 

[aresknights]

I think there's a difference between being good enough to win the league and actually winning the league. I think Erie was the best team in the O this year and that they deserved their championship. That said, London pretty clearly could have beaten Erie. In your words, they lost a "coin flip" overtime Game 7. I think they were also clearly better than Missy. If you think London would beat OS in a seven-game series, then London was pretty clearly good enough to win the league. (Conversely, if you think OS would beat London in a seven-game series, then OS was clearly good enough to win the league.)

You can make a similar, if more laboured, argument for Windsor. Windsor was always highly unlikely to win the league given their seeding (I had them at 5% odds at the start of the playoffs, though they would have been at least double that after Game 4 against London), but I think they absolutely had the talent to win the league. I'm prepared to agree with you that Windsor "wasn't close to winning the league". You're absolutely right that finishing thirteen wins short of a championship is nowhere close to winning. But I don't think that's a particularly relevant point when it comes to discussing a team's overall talent level, which was really the point we were discussing.

Ok. Well presented.

I have no idea if London would have beat OS. They didn't get tbe chance cause Erie was beater. Im just a results guy. The better team in any given series is the one that wins.
Clearly the O has been the best league in this tourney. But that change still change come the weekend.

 

[buzzworthy]

Beast Mode, not correct. It starts at 9 and runs until 11:30 or until complete. I have Directv, and just checked.

 

[EpicOtters]

Looks like the NHL channel has a whopping 1/2 hr. scheduled for tonights game between Erie & Windsor 9-930 (at least by the guide). Great promotion of the sport if that's true.

Showing 9-11:30 here. Annoying 2 hour start delay though. Tough for us Americans trying to watch it live without streaming it. Oh well.

Hopefully we continue our dominance tonight. Get it done tonight and seal our ticket to Sunday.

 

[buzzworthy]

Why has the OHL dominated the last 10 or so years? I tried to explain it to my wife, but I couldn't. Could it be the population density of Ontario/mid-Atlantic states? Storied franchises like London, Windsor, and Kitchener? Based on this forum alone there is much more interest in the OHL than with the other 2 leagues. And, I must admit, a much higher hockey IQ.

 

[Beast Mowed]

Alrighty, my bad. Looked at the "guide" this morning on Spectrum, showed 9-930 Memorial cup coverage, then "NHL on the fly" for the remaining time slots.

 

[ptbopete]

Why has the OHL dominated the last 10 or so years? I tried to explain it to my wife, but I couldn't. Could it be the population density of Ontario/mid-Atlantic states? Storied franchises like London, Windsor, and Kitchener? Based on this forum alone there is much more interest in the OHL than with the other 2 leagues. And, I must admit, a much higher hockey IQ.

It has to do with resources. Ontario and somewhat Michigan have more people and more money at its disposal. It means better coaching, scouting, deeper pockets etc.

It is the same deal within the OHL with East vs West Conferences.

 

[Purple Phart]

Why has the OHL dominated the last 10 or so years? I tried to explain it to my wife, but I couldn't. Could it be the population density of Ontario/mid-Atlantic states? Storied franchises like London, Windsor, and Kitchener? Based on this forum alone there is much more interest in the OHL than with the other 2 leagues. And, I must admit, a much higher hockey IQ.

Another influence might be the fact that the OHL is far more "compact" than the other 2 leagues. The franchises in both the Q and the W are far more widespread, so there's probably much less community interaction and natural rivalries developed. Examples: How much in common do you think that Val D'Or Quebec has in common with Moncton, New Brunswick, or Brandon Wheat Kings vs the Vancouver Giants or Calgary Hitmen ? Those are very significant distances, and that much separation has to be a factor. In some cases, the hockey arena is the community focal point, and their fans are loyal enough that their franchises survive, despite being somewhat "isolated". Road trips are brutal, when compared to the worst ones encountered in the OHL.

Being "far-flung" also tends to have less national attention, and fewer visits from scouts, so those players hone their skills under less media attention than those in the OHL. That enables some players to fly under the radar, unless they get traded to another franchise that gets more media exposure.

 

[buzzworthy]

Thanks, guys. That makes perfect sense.

 

[PhlyerPhanatic31]

Thanks, guys. That makes perfect sense.

Just like in real estate

it all boils down to location, location, location

When you can scout the majority of OHL teams within 2 hours of an NHL rink you're in the hot bed of the action. Not saying the Q and W don't have their prime centers, but the OHL has the lure that the other leagues just don't have because it's so tightly packed in to a small geographical footprint

 

[aresknights]

Id add population as a factor also. More kids, better chance of better players?

And cash, skills development ect...
Run a camp in ontario and its an easy draw.

 

[ScoresFromCentre]

Ok. Well presented.

I have no idea if London would have beat OS. They didn't get tbe chance cause Erie was beater. Im just a results guy. The better team in any given series is the one that wins.
Clearly the O has been the best league in this tourney. But that change still change come the weekend.

Nothing wrong with being a results guy. They're all that matter anyway!

Interestingly enough, the better team seems to almost always win in the OHL playoffs (sixteen straight top-2 champions by points and counting), so in a sense we kind of get the best of both worlds.

 

[ZinErie]

Showing 9-11:30 here. Annoying 2 hour start delay though. Tough for us Americans trying to watch it live without streaming it. Oh well.

Hopefully we continue our dominance tonight. Get it done tonight and seal our ticket to Sunday.

The NHL Network's twitter account says they're carrying the game live.

 

[TcNorth]

Flint fan still trying to figure this all out: If by chance Erie finishes 2-1 will they play in the semifinal vs 1-2 Saint John's with the winner going to the finals?

 

[Roost]

This officiating is horrible

 

[Eamon5]

Flint fan still trying to figure this all out: If by chance Erie finishes 2-1 will they play in the semifinal vs 1-2 Saint John's with the winner going to the finals?

Correct

 

[Knightsfan90]

This officiating is horrible

LOL classic team plays terrible but it must be the officals the missed calls are going both ways suck it up its hockey jeez

 

[Roost]

LOL classic team plays terrible but it must be the officals the missed calls are going both ways suck it up its hockey jeez

Any comment on the hit from behind on Debrincat. Looked like a clear call to me....

 

[EON]

Poor first period likely going to cost the Otters tonight. Windsor came out flying and Erie really had no answer. A much better second period but DiPietro is playing very well.

 

[Beast Mowed]

Any comment on the hit from behind on Debrincat. Looked like a clear call to me....

Absolutely. He's from the wrong side of the pond, needs to suck it up.....

 

[Knightsfan90]

Any comment on the hit from behind on Debrincat. Looked like a clear call to me....

along with the ones on
Hits from behind:
Chatfield
Sergachev

High Sticks:
Vilardi
Brown

like I said its going BOTH ways good teams learn to play with good officiating and with BAD officiating

 

[aresknights]

along with the ones on
Hits from behind:
Chatfield
Sergachev

High Sticks:
Vilardi
Brown

like I said its going BOTH ways good teams learn to play with good officiating and with BAD officiating

Yes.

Never blame the refs. Players n coaches make far more mistakes and can effect the outcome much than officials.

That's reserved for people looking for excuses.

Erie still controls its destiny in this tourney.

 

[Roost]

Slow start dooms this team tonight. They controlled play after the 1st. If they get to the game Sunday you can bet they won't start slow. Regardless still proud of this team.

 

[Puck possession wins]

Windsor got lucky

 

[Beast Mowed]

League orders, only way the barn sells out is if Windsor is in the final.....