I didn't really see anyone "whining"...just calling a spade a spade. If you read the thread you will even see Sudbury fans agreeing with the fact the team is very dirty. I am all for spirited playoff hockey and this series has contained a lot of entertaining moments. I just hate the stick work after the play that happens virtually every stoppage and the unnecessary goading like happened when Wolves players stood in front of the Generals bench after the game was over taunting them (including Pilon showing Burt the "title belt"). By no means am I saying Oshawa is a bunch of saints. I have seen them yap the Wolves bench numerous times during the series. Robbie Burt said something to the bench at the last game in Oshawa that actually made Sanvido swipe at him from the bench with his stick. Clearly it wasn't, "Have a nice day!"
Sudbury has some talented players and can really play some hockey. They are only hurting their own cause with the monkey business because if the Generals power play gets going, it could cost them the series.
At the end of the day though, if the best you can come up with is, "remember 20 years ago when we lost", peppered with revisionist history then...I'd suggest you toddle on back to the Ottawa board and worry about your own team.
The reality is when the playoffs come around the officiating is slightly different. the main reason for that is that teams tend to build a little hate for each other so some of the "antics" are let go and the players are free to extend the rules a little bit. That has always been the case.
That is why I referenced the 1997 Final. It was very similar. A lot of the interference and chippy play was not called. Oshawa was a bigger team and benefitted by the way the officials called the series. Now, Sudbury is getting that advantage, which IMO is always the case in the playoffs because teams and players are given a little more rope to work with. Again, Oshawa went into the Memorial Cup that year and played the exact same way and the QMJHL officials called all of it and the Generals were embarrassed. So, they changed their game the rest of the tournament and weren't as effective. If the officials would have called it the way the OHL officials called it, they would have run away with that tournament no doubt in my mind.
Now, we sit here and watch all the whining about officiating. Good teams adjust. This isn't the Finals, its the FIRST ROUND. Figure out how to play within the confines of playoff officiating. The officiating isn't BIASED. It is not like Sudbury is doing stuff and not getting called for it while Oshawa is doing the same things and being called for it. Adjust.
The reality is the Generals were playing slightly over their heads in the first half of the season. That is not a knock on the team, that is actually a compliment. The team managed to produce at a great rate compared to their team on paper. No one expected the Generals to be sitting in first place at the deadline. Then they make a couple seller moves and the team starts to play more to its real potential and the combination of those two things hurt the team.
The reality is Peterborough, Mississauga, Hamilton, Kingston, and Ottawa are all better teams RIGHT NOW. The way Sudbury is playing, they are probably a better team right now. Oshawa is slow team and will get out skated which puts them slightly behind the play and they commit penalties trying to slow the other team down. The oppositions sees that and continues to poke the bear. It is classic playoff hockey.
I don't come on "your" thread to disrespect. I like the Generals. I grew up a Generals fan. I camped out over night in 1986 for Memorial Cup tickets. And by camping out I mean we lined up inside the rink and payer Euchre all night until the box office opened. My favourite player growing up was Mitch Lamoroux. I used to stand outside the Bobby Orr lounge after games to get autographs as a kid. When I played street hockey and played goalie I was PEter Sidorkiewicz .
Anyway credit to you Oshawa guys for upsetting us back then. Some great battles back in the day. I think the 67's are still up on you Gennies though in overall series wins though...
