Ottawa 67's 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 3)

[Larionov]

- No regulars were minus on the season. Interestingly, Boucher was -1 in his 21 games with the 67s this season.

21 games for Boucher - ouch. That kid has had star crossed D+1 and D+2 seasons.

On a positive note, the rapid development and play of those younger players you noted is the entire reason why the 67's surprised everyone in the OHL this season. I'm trying to remember if there has ever been a season in junior hockey when a team just came out of nowhere like the 67's did...

 

[beastintheeast]

My only worry for this playoff series, and it may be completely irrational and off base, is us having to play our "home" games in a strange rink. I'm concerned that it may take away some of the juice that the boys may have otherwise had, and make it feel like a low key pre-season game. Like I say, this might be a completely unfounded worry - hopefully we put them on blast in the first period of game one and set the tone right away. On paper, this should not be particularly close...

Playing in Gatineau is not new Ottawa teams have played there before; past teams just treated it as a home game. It seems a little strange, but then again they have played a regular-season game and have the fans screaming.

They will be ok. remember Oshawa has no idea what to expect

 

[Larionov]

They will be ok. remember Oshawa has no idea what to expect

Good point - it's kind of a weird deal for Oshawa also, taking a bus to Ottawa and suddenly ending up at some rink you've never seen before. The key here is to come out strong and get an early lead - don't let the underdog get any confidence.

 

[Generalsupdates]

Playing in Gatineau is not new Ottawa teams have played there before; past teams just treated it as a home game. It seems a little strange, but then again they have played a regular-season game and have the fans screaming.

They will be ok. remember Oshawa has no idea what to expect

What do you mean by that? It couldn't possibly be any more of a normal road game for Oshawa. The only difference is they're driving an extra 20 minutes to get there lol

 

[Race Dawg]

Good point - it's kind of a weird deal for Oshawa also, taking a bus to Ottawa and suddenly ending up at some rink you've never seen before. The key here is to come out strong and get an early lead - don't let the underdog get any confidence.

Remember game 7 against Peterborough many years ago now??

But ya the 67's have played highly intensive games over there before and as long as the fans "bring it" it should be okay....

 

[beastintheeast]

Remember game 7 against Peterborough many years ago now??

But ya the 67's have played highly intensive games over there before and as long as the fans "bring it" it should be okay....

hopefully, they get some Olympique fans as well they are rabid.

 

[Race Dawg]

hopefully, they get some Olympique fans as well they are rabid.

The smaller rink and closer proximity to the ice might actually be a good idea then. The TD Arena or Civic Centre as I know it should dismantled. It's time. But at least the 67's aren't playing in a 20,000 seat arena. The CTC even half full is not as good a 5,000 in a small arena IMO...

 

[Larionov]

The best and most sorely needed part of the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal is the building of the new arena. That current one is now badly outdated and urgently needs replacing. The sooner they can get on with it the better...

 

[beastintheeast]

The best and most sorely needed part of the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal is the building of the new arena. That current one is now badly outdated and urgently needs replacing. The sooner they can get on with it the better...

The arena is 56 years old and has had some major renovations But yes, you are right they need the new rink as soon as possible, not for hockey but for other activities and events.

Look at Kingston as a great example the big deal was that if you build the arena for us we will sell more tickets and have bigger crowds making the city more money not just from tickets but also from people eating before games.

we all know how eating at local restaurants and bars after a game is going on in Ottawa Kingston is no different.

As to attendance, the average attendance is still below the capacity of the M Center, and the cost of operation was a lot lower.

A new arena is not going to attract more fans. It is not going to get people to eat at restaurants.
What it is going to do is provide an arena that will attract acts that are not big enough for Kanata and too big for the NAC.
It wil also provide a cleaner and more cozy arena for the game.

Hopefully they build some boxes for sponsors like the sens built. They were awesome to watch the game from up there.

 

[Larionov]

The arena is 56 years old and has had some major renovations But yes, you are right they need the new rink as soon as possible, not for hockey but for other activities and events.

Look at Kingston as a great example the big deal was that if you build the arena for us we will sell more tickets and have bigger crowds making the city more money not just from tickets but also from people eating before games.

we all know how eating at local restaurants and bars after a game is going on in Ottawa Kingston is no different.

As to attendance, the average attendance is still below the capacity of the M Center, and the cost of operation was a lot lower.

A new arena is not going to attract more fans. It is not going to get people to eat at restaurants.
What it is going to do is provide an arena that will attract acts that are not big enough for Kanata and too big for the NAC.
It wil also provide a cleaner and more cozy arena for the game.

Hopefully they build some boxes for sponsors like the sens built. They were awesome to watch the game from up there.

The boxes are a big part of the issue in the current rink. You'll notice that they haven't been used in the last number of years. That's because they have essentially been condemned - due to structural issues, the number of people allowed on that upper structure is severely limited, so they can't rent out the suites anymore. Rebuilding them would be throwing good money after bad. This is part of the reason why the 67's can't bid for a Memorial Cup - the rink is substandard, and the CHL has basically said that it disqualifies Ottawa right out of the gate...

 

[NordiquesForeva]

The best and most sorely needed part of the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal is the building of the new arena. That current one is now badly outdated and urgently needs replacing. The sooner they can get on with it the better...

Absolutely, when I was there on the weekend for the 67s games there were strategically-placed buckets around the arena to catch water dripping through the ceiling. They rarely hold concerts there anymore because the ceiling of the Goodlife gym under the arena almost caved in during a concert a couple of years ago. A new 5,500 capacity arena with boxes/suites would be perfect for many reasons.

It will be interesting to see how the Lansdowne 2.0 project progresses. It is meeting stiff opposition from the community (to no one's surprise), particularly the three 40+ story condo's they want to build on the north side of the football stadium. I live nearby in the Glebe, and the current version of Lansdowne seems to be struggling. The chain restaurants that have survived the pandemic seem to be doing really well, but there are a lot of vacant spaces and I don't know which businesses will eventually fill them. Besides restaurants there is a Cineplex, a Winners, an Audi dealership, some banks...the open spaces aren't shaded so I rarely take my kid there.

My personal perspective is that the high-rise condos will add a critical mass of people that will help accelerate the development of the area and bring more and better small businesses to Lansdowne. Construction and development will be a hassle, not to mention the impact on the Redblacks attendance (which seems to be dwindling by the season). The residents who are objecting to Lansdowne 2.0 are the same ones who fought tooth and nail against the original development, and who preferred to keep Lansdowne in its then-current state as a parking lot.

 

[Larionov]

FWIW, OSEG maintains that the site is doing pretty well retail wise. They say that it is more occupied now than at any time since it opened in 2014. More people living on site, though, would definitely improve it further. I think it will go through - there are enough votes at Council to make it go, and local opposition isn't nearly what it was ten years ago - toothpaste is out of the tube now in terms of developing the site, and they can see it isn't going anywhere...

 

[ecraigs]

Rebuilding the arena would be a good place to start. The Lansdowne 1.0 project spent millions on a wooden "Veil" at the East end. The internal changes to the arena, in places, made it worse. Closing off entry doors to the men's washrooms and creating traffic jams inside for the sinks, towels, and soap. A few years back, the roof failed, as did the ice plant. Access to the arena from the parking is outside, and the internal organization of the spaces and the entry/exit points needs work. I think the original project simply ran out of money. It's time to fix that.

 

[44 95 plus tax]

I always thought that they should have envisioned Lansdowne as an entertainment district. More theatres, smaller concert halls, restaurants, etc. I would travel there to do that. I wouldn't make a trip down to buy a car, go to the dentist or buy furniture. How they ever designed the renovations where you could not enter the arena from the underground parking is beyond me. As well not sure how they got past the inspections for handicapped access, both entering the building and internally. In the grand scheme of things, they really did not do many renovations during Lansdowne 1.0. A little cosmetically, but that was about it. They certainly did not fix major problems, i.e. leaking roof.

BTW, anyone know when OMG is back?

 

[ecraigs]

I always thought that they should have envisioned Lansdowne as an entertainment district. More theatres, smaller concert halls, restaurants, etc. I would travel there to do that. I wouldn't make a trip down to buy a car, go to the dentist or buy furniture. How they ever designed the renovations where you could not enter the arena from the underground parking is beyond me. As well not sure how they got past the inspections for handicapped access, both entering the building and internally. In the grand scheme of things, they really did not do many renovations during Lansdowne 1.0. A little cosmetically, but that was about it. They certainly did not fix major problems, i.e. leaking roof.

BTW, anyone know when OMG is back?

I thought so, too, but, at some point, there was a decision made to move 67s games to time slots that didn't conflict with the other tenants. Hence, Wednesday night, Saturday afternoon. My worst example is the men's restrooms at the far end of the upper concourse. Where there were two doors to encourage users to enter one side and a single direction past the sinks, they had to accommodate changes to cabling and closed one door on each. Now everyone enters through the single door and there is bidirectional traffic between the stand-ups and the sinks, with disabled cubicles at the far end. Took some planning genius for that.

The parking is another matter. The prepaid passes are accommodated in the middle of the lot, so that, on busy nights, you can wait an hour to get out. But, if I had nothing to complain about, it would be a dull night.

 

[beastintheeast]

I always thought that they should have envisioned Lansdowne as an entertainment district. More theatres, smaller concert halls, restaurants, etc. I would travel there to do that. I wouldn't make a trip down to buy a car, go to the dentist or buy furniture. How they ever designed the renovations where you could not enter the arena from the underground parking is beyond me. As well not sure how they got past the inspections for handicapped access, both entering the building and internally. In the grand scheme of things, they really did not do many renovations during Lansdowne 1.0. A little cosmetically, but that was about it. They certainly did not fix major problems, i.e. leaking roof.

BTW, anyone know when OMG is back?

The civic center needed to be replaced long ago do not get me wrong. However there are a few things that have to be kept in mind.

The first is traffic. There was not a lot of parking at the old civic center there is now going to be even less. Taking OC Transpo is not the solution. There needs to be parking. If not, then it is going to turnout to be the exhibition fight where Glebe owners have cars towed.

Concerts, Ottawa has a noise bylaw, and that was what killed the EX every year. The Glebe is like an airport. People move there because they know what is there but then complain when the planes are noisy.

People will by the condos but wait until things get noisy and they start to complain.

There is a huge pile of issues that have to be addressed. Glebe homeowners are the first of long road. and don't think people did not complain about the 67's when they were getting large crowds.

If the team gets popular you will even see the stores and businesses that are open in the evening complaining.

Again I agree that there needs to be a new arena. I agree that it needs to be there I just think that there are going to be issues..

As to OMG he, unfortunately is gone until the season is over or the thread changes.

 

[Blasty15]

The civic center needed to be replaced long ago do not get me wrong. However there are a few things that have to be kept in mind.

The first is traffic. There was not a lot of parking at the old civic center there is now going to be even less. Taking OC Transpo is not the solution. There needs to be parking. If not, then it is going to turnout to be the exhibition fight where Glebe owners have cars towed.

Concerts, Ottawa has a noise bylaw, and that was what killed the EX every year. The Glebe is like an airport. People move there because they know what is there but then complain when the planes are noisy.

People will by the condos but wait until things get noisy and they start to complain.

There is a huge pile of issues that have to be addressed. Glebe homeowners are the first of long road. and don't think people did not complain about the 67's when they were getting large crowds.

If the team gets popular you will even see the stores and businesses that are open in the evening complaining.

Again I agree that there needs to be a new arena. I agree that it needs to be there I just think that there are going to be issues..

As to OMG he, unfortunately is gone until the season is over or the thread changes.

Why? What happened to OMG? seen him on other threads..

 

[beastintheeast]

Why? What happened to OMG? seen him on other threads..

OMG made some comments in jest that were complained about and he has gotten a no ottawa thread penalty.

 

[ecraigs]

The civic center needed to be replaced long ago do not get me wrong. However there are a few things that have to be kept in mind.

The first is traffic. There was not a lot of parking at the old civic center there is now going to be even less. Taking OC Transpo is not the solution. There needs to be parking. If not, then it is going to turnout to be the exhibition fight where Glebe owners have cars towed.

Concerts, Ottawa has a noise bylaw, and that was what killed the EX every year. The Glebe is like an airport. People move there because they know what is there but then complain when the planes are noisy.

People will by the condos but wait until things get noisy and they start to complain.

There is a huge pile of issues that have to be addressed. Glebe homeowners are the first of long road. and don't think people did not complain about the 67's when they were getting large crowds.

If the team gets popular you will even see the stores and businesses that are open in the evening complaining.

Again I agree that there needs to be a new arena. I agree that it needs to be there I just think that there are going to be issues..

As to OMG he, unfortunately is gone until the season is over or the thread changes.

Some of the loss of parking is due to design decisions by the developers. It is nice to know that we can park 1,000 bicycles or thereabouts above ground. Underground has dozens of spaces for motorcycles. Another high demand item in Ottawa's balmy, sub-tropical climate. This is not all on the developers, but is certainly part of the compromise needed to get through Council.

When the football stadium was built, the scoreboard was placed so as to reduce light and noise pollution for the nearby residents. That meant that it was placed in the Northwest corner so that no-one in the North Side stands (the largest group) could see it reliably. "Watch the replay", "Watch the promotional events", where, where?

As for OMG, this is what will mark the death of social media. If you don't like someone's take, move on.

 

[beastintheeast]

Some of the loss of parking is due to design decisions by the developers. It is nice to know that we can park 1,000 bicycles or thereabouts above ground. Underground has dozens of spaces for motorcycles. Another high demand item in Ottawa's balmy, sub-tropical climate. This is not all on the developers, but is certainly part of the compromise needed to get through Council.

When the football stadium was built, the scoreboard was placed so as to reduce light and noise pollution for the nearby residents. That meant that it was placed in the Northwest corner so that no-one in the North Side stands (the largest group) could see it reliably. "Watch the replay", "Watch the promotional events", where, where?

As for OMG, this is what will mark the death of social media. If you don't like someone's take, move on.

Parking is going to be an issue I also wonder in the back of my mind if OSEG really cares about football, Soccer and hockey or if pushing these especially the football, was just part of their plan to get Lansdowne and make the bid look nicer.

The challenge is going to be when the 67's sell out a few games and the people in the condo can not get to their parking or the first couple of concerts because it is going to be almost impossible not to have noise as well as the crowds that show up before and after the concert.

 

[Race Dawg]

Parking is going to be an issue I also wonder in the back of my mind if OSEG really cares about football, Soccer and hockey or if pushing these especially the football, was just part of their plan to get Lansdowne and make the bid look nicer.

The challenge is going to be when the 67's sell out a few games and the people in the condo can not get to their parking or the first couple of concerts because it is going to be almost impossible not to have noise as well as the crowds that show up before and after the concert.

People in the Glebe have always whined about noise and traffic. We used to make fun of them back when the Rough Riders and Renegades played and looks like they are still doing it. Also you don't buy a condo near football stadium or hockey arena and expect to have a zen-like atmosphere and silence. I used to live near the subway station in Toronto and didn't dare complain about the wonderful vibrations of electric tracks 30 feet below me lol . Hopefully for the 67's sake a new arena can be built. One that 6-7.000 seats would be perfect IMO....

 

[beastintheeast]

People in the Glebe have always whined about noise and traffic. We used to make fun of them back when the Rough Riders and Renegades played and looks like they are still doing it. Also you don't buy a condo near football stadium or hockey arena and expect to have a zen-like atmosphere and silence. I used to live near the subway station in Toronto and didn't dare complain about the wonderful vibrations of electric tracks 30 feet below me lol . Hopefully for the 67's sake a new arena can be built. One that 6-7.000 seats would be perfect IMO....

If you lived in TO then you are aware of the yapping about airports and the times that they can be open. I agree under normal conditions it would be different but how many concerts have been held at Lansdowne lately? People buy and think they can handle it then they realize.

 

[Larionov]

Has their property value gone down, as they all claimed it would? On the contrary, the Lansdowne development raised their property values - values in the Glebe went up at the same percentage or even higher than the rest of the city. The history of development is that it raises surrounding property values. Know what sinks property values? When nothing is being built or renovated around you - that's the sign of a dying neighbourhood or town...

 

[Race Dawg]

If you lived in TO then you are aware of the yapping about airports and the times that they can be open. I agree under normal conditions it would be different but how many concerts have been held at Lansdowne lately? People buy and think they can handle it then they realize.

Never lived anywhere near Pearson or City Centre Airport for that matter (I was Yonge and Lawrence) but it goes without saying if you live near a major infrastructure like an airport or arena you should fully be aware of what you are getting into as a home owner. Yes people in Toronto yap a lot too not defending that either...

 

[Race Dawg]

The only thing I could find that resembles a newspaper publication in Oshawa. I guess they are taking the expectations off them this series. The 67's own the Generals in the playoffs; it's always been that way

NEWS

'The pressure's on them, they have to beat us': Oshawa Generals coach says team must take 'underdog' role in series against powerhouse Ottawa​

'We're probably not expected to win a game. There's no pressure on our guys:' Derek Laxdal as Generals head into playoffs against league's best in Ottawa writes Tim Kelly​

Tim Kelly
Oshawa This Week
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
The Oshawa Generals gave their worst performance of the season Sunday night in a 10-2 drubbing at the hands of the Kingston Frontenacs that showed the Generals had their eyes firmly on playoff opponent Ottawa.
That it came before the largest crowd of the season didn’t do the Generals any favours, but, having secured the eighth and final playoff spot in the OHL’s Eastern Conference Friday night with a 3-2 win in Mississauga, Oshawa could afford to sit players out and take a breath.
They certainly did that and let Kingston run wild, with the Frontenacs outshooting the Generals 44-30 and putting eight by the badly defended Carter Bickle and another two goals past Jacob Oster. Beckett Sennecke did score his 19th and 20th goals of the season and finished second in OHL rookie scoring with 55 points, a point behind leader Michael Misa of Saginaw.


Now, it’s on to Ottawa — or rather Gatineau, Que. as the powerhouse 67’s will play the first two games “on the road” with the World Men’s Curling Championship being held at the 67’s home rink, TD Place, from April 1 to 9.
The best-of-seven first-round series begins Thursday, March 30, at the Gatineau Slush Puppie Centre at 7:05 p.m. and features a Goliath-David matchup if there ever was one.
“We’re going to have to embrace the underdog role. We’re probably not expected to win a game. We just have to go out and play hockey. There’s no pressure on our guys,” said Generals head coach Derek Laxdal.
“The pressure's on them. They have to beat us. We have a great crowd here. We’ve played them pretty well in our building,” he said.
Ottawa is the top team in the Ontario Hockey League after a 107-point regular season (51-12-3-2) while Oshawa finished 49 points behind in eighth place with 58 points (26-36-1-5). For contrast, the difference between the first and eighth place teams in the Western Conference is just 22 points (Windsor with 94, Kitchener with 72).
How did they do head to head this season?
In eight games, Ottawa won seven, including five in regulation and two by shootout. Oshawa’s lone win came at home in overtime. The games in Oshawa resulted in a 7-6 Ottawa shootout win, a 4-1 67’s regulation win that included an Ottawa empty-net goal, a 5-4 Oshawa overtime win, and a 4-3 Ottawa regulation time win.

​

​

In Ottawa, the 67’s won 6-3, 5-4 in a shootout in which the Generals were leading 4-1 win five minutes left, 5-2 and 8-3.

Ottawa outscored the Generals in those eight games 43-27.
The teams made big changes to their lineups during the year, with Oshawa trading away captain Lleyton Moore (and getting back overage centre Joseph Serpa) and forward Brett Harrison (for plenty of draft picks). Ottawa’s two biggest moves were to acquire average forward Logan Morrison (for draft choices) and superstar defenceman Pavel Mintyukov (for a bushel of draft picks). Morrison and Mintyukov are Ottawa’s two top scorers with 94 and 88 points respectively.
The 67’s are led in goal by Max Donoso, who has a 2.72 GAA and an .898 save percentage in 47 games. He has a 30-10-0-2 record. Jacob Oster will likely start for Oshawa. Since joining the Generals at the trade deadline, he has three shutouts, is 8-11-0-2, with a 3.76 GAA and an .896 save percentage.
The big issue for Oshawa will be depth on defence. Veterans Luca Marrelli and Nikita Parfenyuk suffered season-ending injuries and Ben Danford and Luca D’Amato are “day-to-day” but likely to play Thursday, according to Laxdal.
The Generals have had to lean heavily on Tier 2 junior-A call-up defencemen Ryan O’Dell and Lucas Rodriguez, which would put them in a tough spot against the likes of Morrison, and Ottawa forwards Luca Pinelli (73 points), Brady Stonehouse (37 goals, 57 points), Jack Beck (53 points), Vinzenz Rohrer (49 points), Cameron Tolnai, Brad Gardiner, Will Gerrior and Cooper Foster not to mention star defenceman Jack Matier, who has played well against the Generals this season. After Mintyukov and Matier on the back end, they have solid D with veterans Anthony Constantini and Matthew Mayich and bright rookies in Henry Mews and Frankie Marrelli.
The 67’s have superb depth from goal to defence to all four forward lines and come at teams in waves.
The Generals will counter with a pair of top lines in Cam Butler-Dylan Roobroek-Stuart Rolofs and Calum Ritchie (assuming he’s fit to play)-Ryan Gagnier-Sennecke and a third line of likely Serpa, Ryan McIntyre and Luke Torrance. That leaves a combination of Ty Petrou, Jordyn Ertel, Matthew Buckley, Tyler Graham, Kimo Gruber and Ethan Toms to fill in for fourth line duty.
On defence, they’ll have to lean very heavily on Thomas Stewart, D’Amato and rookies Danford and David Bedkowski, with spot duty for O’Dell and Rodriguez and hope Oster plays his very best hockey.
The second game of the series is Sunday in Gatineau at the Slush Puppie Centre at 2 p.m.
The series shifts to Oshawa for Game 3 at the Tribute Communities Centre on Tuesday, April 4, at 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 is set for the TCC on Thursday, April 6, at 7:05 p.m.