Two USHL joining the OHL

[three dog night]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1848857656741794231

Click to read more...

 

[Otto]

it's not confirmed that they are joining.

Also, there's a discussion already happening in the CHL/BCAA Thread

 

[Petes1987]

The OHL already has too many teams with the majority in the western part of the Province we don’t need more. Which division and conference would these teams play in? Brantford and Niagara should be in the Western Conference.

 

[Otto]

The OHL already has too many teams with the majority in the western part of the Province we don’t need more. Which division and conference would these teams play in? Brantford and Niagara should be in the Western Conference.

League wouldn't sit with 22 teams for very long. If this happened look for expansion not soon after. I like the idea of Gatineau and Belleville mentioned in the other thread

 

[frontsfan67]

The OHL already has too many teams with the majority in the western part of the Province we don’t need more. Which division and conference would these teams play in? Brantford and Niagara should be in the Western Conference.

Never understood why Niagara is in the east.

Atleast from Kingston the drive to St. Catharines is 3 hours and 41 mins. Guelph is 3 hours and 23 mins away. Kitchener 3 hours 33 mins

If 2 USHL teams came into the league I’d think that they’d move Kitchener and Guelph to the east and put the American teams in the west. Also create a US division just like how the WHL has it so all the American teams (would be 5) play eachother the most

League wouldn't sit with 22 teams for very long. If this happened look for expansion not soon after. I like the idea of Gatineau and Belleville mentioned in the other thread

About the 22 teams- why not? WHL has 22 teams. Only thing is though however- the Q has 18. Not sure what they would do.

I do believe Belleville should get another chance absolutely even if they share the rink with the Belleville senators

 

[dirty12]

Never understood why Niagara is in the east.

Atleast from Kingston the drive to St. Catharines is 3 hours and 41 mins. Guelph is 3 hours and 23 mins away. Kitchener 3 hours 33 mins

If 2 USHL teams came into the league I’d think that they’d move Kitchener and Guelph to the east and put the American teams in the west. Also create a US division just like how the WHL has it so all the American teams (would be 5) play eachother the most


About the 22 teams- why not? WHL has 22 teams. Only thing is though however- the Q has 18. Not sure what they would do.

I do believe Belleville should get another chance absolutely even if they share the rink with the Belleville senators

St Catherines to Guelph is 110 km
St Catherines to Kingston is 372 km
I like the idea of a three division league. If London was in new west division with another US team, there could be a 7 team central, still no good answer for the east.

 

[frontsfan67]

St Catherines to Guelph is 110 km
St Catherines to Kingston is 372 km

obviously st Catherine’s is closer to Guelph. That’s not at all what I’m trying to say. I’m saying if you started a day trip from Kingston to St Catherine’s or Guelph- st Catherine’s is further but in the east.

 

[dirty12]

obviously st Catherine’s is closer to Guelph. That’s not at all what I’m trying to say. I’m saying if you started a day trip from Kingston to St Catherine’s or Guelph- st Catherine’s is further yet the east.

Yeah, I had not finished a reply.

 

[Otto]

St Catherines to Guelph is 110 km
St Catherines to Kingston is 372 km
I like the idea of a three division league. If London was in new west division with another US team, there could be a 7 team central, still no good answer for the east.

I can't see them going with a 3 division league. How would playoffs work?

 

[OHLTG]

I can't see them going with a 3 division league. How would playoffs work?

The previously popular "Top 16 overall"? Division winners + five top records otherwise? Baseball has figured it out, somewhat.

 

[Petes1987]

The previously popular "Top 16 overall"? Division winners + five top records otherwise? Baseball has figured it out, somewhat.

That can be a travel nightmare for teams in the playoffs. The OHL had a three division format from 1994 until 1998. The playoffs had teams play within their division in the first round and in the second round the playoffs were league wide with teams ranked 1 through 8 with 1st place teams were ranked 1-3 and the others ranked 4-8. In 1996 the Petes played Kingston in the first round and then had to play Sarnia, Detroit and Guelph in the next three rounds in their championship run.

 

[Otto]

The previously popular "Top 16 overall"? Division winners + five top records otherwise? Baseball has figured it out, somewhat.

Baseball can afford the travel. An Ottawa/ Muskegon or Soo/Youngstown first round would be brutal. I'd see them do playoffs as 4 divisions and keeping the first 3 rounds in division first before a top 16 scenario

 

[dirty12]

Baseball can afford the travel. An Ottawa/ Muskegon or Soo/Youngstown first round would be brutal. I'd see them do playoffs as 4 divisions and keeping the first 3 rounds in division first before a top 16 scenario

Apparently it is unpopular for hockey, or maybe less lucrative with less days between games; but I think 2-3-2 or 2-2-2-1 is interesting.

 

[donjohnson]

As a Saginaw fan I don't like the idea of an "American" division. What I like about the OHL is that we're integrated into the ONTARIO hockey league and if we played the majority of our games against the American teams I think it would segregate us.

For years and years many of us have felt that the league officiated us differently because we were a new US team. Over the past few years it's finally felt different (like we belong) and of course now that we had Hache play for a year, we'll get every call because well...Papa Hache

My fear is that we'd go back to feeling like an outsider and that the league would become Ontario-centric despite the addition of the American teams. I love being a part of this league and it was awesome to be able to show off our town and hockey fandom during the Memorial Cup...for the first time I feel like we're a legit part of this league and separating us into an American division may be a step backward.

 

[Otto]

As a Saginaw fan I don't like the idea of an "American" division. What I like about the OHL is that we're integrated into the ONTARIO hockey league and if we played the majority of our games against the American teams I think it would segregate us.

For years and years many of us have felt that the league officiated us differently because we were a new US team. Over the past few years it's finally felt different (like we belong) and of course now that we had Hache play for a year, we'll get every call because well...Papa Hache

My fear is that we'd go back to feeling like an outsider and that the league would become Ontario-centric despite the addition of the American teams. I love being a part of this league and it was awesome to be able to show off our town and hockey fandom during the Memorial Cup...for the first time I feel like we're a legit part of this league and separating us into an American division may be a step backward.

Wouldn't happen anyway. Erie to Muskegon is almost 7 hours. Zero chance they would have division opponents that far away. Also, it would create a travel nightmare for Sault Ste. Marie to have them in another division.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I think people being so use to the OHL always staying the same and never really pushing for change will make people skeptical about any major changes.
The new commish does seem like he wants to make a splash though.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1849514709172748694

 

[Kingpin794]

I hope they get to keep their names, logos, colors if they join. Wenatchee did when they moved to the WHL.

 

[OMG67]

As a Saginaw fan I don't like the idea of an "American" division. What I like about the OHL is that we're integrated into the ONTARIO hockey league and if we played the majority of our games against the American teams I think it would segregate us.

For years and years many of us have felt that the league officiated us differently because we were a new US team. Over the past few years it's finally felt different (like we belong) and of course now that we had Hache play for a year, we'll get every call because well...Papa Hache

My fear is that we'd go back to feeling like an outsider and that the league would become Ontario-centric despite the addition of the American teams. I love being a part of this league and it was awesome to be able to show off our town and hockey fandom during the Memorial Cup...for the first time I feel like we're a legit part of this league and separating us into an American division may be a step backward.

Bah! Don’t kid yourself. We’ve already segregated you!

 

[Helvigster]

Apparently it is unpopular for hockey, or maybe less lucrative with less days between games; but I think 2-3-2 or 2-2-2-1 is interesting.

I think the AHL did 2-3-2 a while back. It's certainly possible to try it again

 

[coolhandluc44]

I think the AHL did 2-3-2 a while back. It's certainly possible to try it again

I also think you could do back to back games for the first 4 for teams that are far from each other. For example last year Brantford and Ottawa could have done games 1 and 2 in Brantford back to back. Maybe take two days between games 2 and 3 and then they could have had games 3 and 4 back to back in Ottawa

 

[kvladimir]

Throwing it out there:

Let's say Youngstown and Muskegon join, and I assume Brantford keeps their team while Hamilton gets a new one? That's 23 teams, so add one more (how about another try at a GTA team, but in the suburbs - Markham, Richmond Hill or Newmarket?) and you can do either 4 divisions of 6, or 6 divisions of 4 and really concentrate the travel. How about this:

Conference 1:

Div. 1: Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Oshawa
Div. 2: Youngstown, Erie, Niagara, Hamilton
Div. 3: London, Kitchener, Guelph, Windsor

Conference 2:

Div. 1: Muskegon, Flint, Saginaw, Sarnia
Div. 2: Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie
Div. 3: Brantford, Brampton, Markham, Owen Sound

Then, have the schedule be: 8 games v. division rivals (24), 4 games v. conference rivals (32), and 1 game v. non-conference rivals (home/away rotates each year), for 68 games...

As for 4 divisions of 6, maybe this?

Conference 1:

Div. 1: London, Kitchener, Guelph, Niagara, Erie, Youngstown
Div. 2: Brantford, Hamilton, Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Oshawa

Conference 2:

Div. 1: Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie, Owen Sound, Markham
Div. 2: Muskegon, Flint, Saginaw, Sarnia, Windsor, Brampton

Obviously splitting up some GTA teams to reduce the travel advantage they would get over the others (especially Ottawa/Kingston).

Schedule here would be 6 games v. division rivals (30), 4 games v. conference rivals (24), and 14 v. non-conference rivals, allowing each team 2 flex games to complete the home-and-home.

No idea if this makes sense, just feels like geography-wise and rivalry-wise, this would be pretty good. Shouldn't the Soo be in the same division as Sudbury and North Bay?

 

[Otto]

Throwing it out there:

Let's say Youngstown and Muskegon join, and I assume Brantford keeps their team while Hamilton gets a new one? That's 23 teams, so add one more (how about another try at a GTA team, but in the suburbs - Markham, Richmond Hill or Newmarket?) and you can do either 4 divisions of 6, or 6 divisions of 4 and really concentrate the travel. How about this:

Conference 1:

Div. 1: Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Oshawa
Div. 2: Youngstown, Erie, Niagara, Hamilton
Div. 3: London, Kitchener, Guelph, Windsor

Conference 2:

Div. 1: Muskegon, Flint, Saginaw, Sarnia
Div. 2: Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie
Div. 3: Brantford, Brampton, Markham, Owen Sound

Then, have the schedule be: 8 games v. division rivals (24), 4 games v. conference rivals (32), and 1 game v. non-conference rivals (home/away rotates each year), for 68 games...

As for 4 divisions of 6, maybe this?

Conference 1:

Div. 1: London, Kitchener, Guelph, Niagara, Erie, Youngstown
Div. 2: Brantford, Hamilton, Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Oshawa

Conference 2:

Div. 1: Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie, Owen Sound, Markham
Div. 2: Muskegon, Flint, Saginaw, Sarnia, Windsor, Brampton

Obviously splitting up some GTA teams to reduce the travel advantage they would get over the others (especially Ottawa/Kingston).

Schedule here would be 6 games v. division rivals (30), 4 games v. conference rivals (24), and 14 v. non-conference rivals, allowing each team 2 flex games to complete the home-and-home.

No idea if this makes sense, just feels like geography-wise and rivalry-wise, this would be pretty good. Shouldn't the Soo be in the same division as Sudbury and North Bay?

The Soo with Sudbury & North Bay proposal has been beaten to death. It's not going to happen. The travel for the Greyhounds would be horrendous. Especially horrible when you add Owen Sound into the Mix.

And Youngstown in the same Conference as Ottawa? no.. not at all

 

[EvenSteven]

Throwing it out there:

Let's say Youngstown and Muskegon join, and I assume Brantford keeps their team while Hamilton gets a new one? That's 23 teams, so add one more (how about another try at a GTA team, but in the suburbs - Markham, Richmond Hill or Newmarket?) and you can do either 4 divisions of 6, or 6 divisions of 4 and really concentrate the travel. How about this:

Conference 1:

Div. 1: Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Oshawa
Div. 2: Youngstown, Erie, Niagara, Hamilton
Div. 3: London, Kitchener, Guelph, Windsor

Conference 2:

Div. 1: Muskegon, Flint, Saginaw, Sarnia
Div. 2: Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie
Div. 3: Brantford, Brampton, Markham, Owen Sound

Then, have the schedule be: 8 games v. division rivals (24), 4 games v. conference rivals (32), and 1 game v. non-conference rivals (home/away rotates each year), for 68 games...

As for 4 divisions of 6, maybe this?

Conference 1:

Div. 1: London, Kitchener, Guelph, Niagara, Erie, Youngstown
Div. 2: Brantford, Hamilton, Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Oshawa

Conference 2:

Div. 1: Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie, Owen Sound, Markham
Div. 2: Muskegon, Flint, Saginaw, Sarnia, Windsor, Brampton

Obviously splitting up some GTA teams to reduce the travel advantage they would get over the others (especially Ottawa/Kingston).

Schedule here would be 6 games v. division rivals (30), 4 games v. conference rivals (24), and 14 v. non-conference rivals, allowing each team 2 flex games to complete the home-and-home.

No idea if this makes sense, just feels like geography-wise and rivalry-wise, this would be pretty good. Shouldn't the Soo be in the same division as Sudbury and North Bay?

I don’t know if we’ll see another team back in Hamilton. That city Council made life miserable for the Bulldogs to the point where they just had to leave. Why would somebody take a chance going into that hornets nest again.

 

[dogs777]

Throwing it out there:

Let's say Youngstown and Muskegon join, and I assume Brantford keeps their team while Hamilton gets a new one? That's 23 teams, so add one more (how about another try at a GTA team, but in the suburbs - Markham, Richmond Hill or Newmarket?) and you can do either 4 divisions of 6, or 6 divisions of 4 and really concentrate the travel. How about this:

Conference 1:

Div. 1: Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Oshawa
Div. 2: Youngstown, Erie, Niagara, Hamilton
Div. 3: London, Kitchener, Guelph, Windsor

Conference 2:

Div. 1: Muskegon, Flint, Saginaw, Sarnia
Div. 2: Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie
Div. 3: Brantford, Brampton, Markham, Owen Sound

Then, have the schedule be: 8 games v. division rivals (24), 4 games v. conference rivals (32), and 1 game v. non-conference rivals (home/away rotates each year), for 68 games...

As for 4 divisions of 6, maybe this?

Conference 1:

Div. 1: London, Kitchener, Guelph, Niagara, Erie, Youngstown
Div. 2: Brantford, Hamilton, Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Oshawa

Conference 2:

Div. 1: Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie, Owen Sound, Markham
Div. 2: Muskegon, Flint, Saginaw, Sarnia, Windsor, Brampton

Obviously splitting up some GTA teams to reduce the travel advantage they would get over the others (especially Ottawa/Kingston).

Schedule here would be 6 games v. division rivals (30), 4 games v. conference rivals (24), and 14 v. non-conference rivals, allowing each team 2 flex games to complete the home-and-home.

No idea if this makes sense, just feels like geography-wise and rivalry-wise, this would be pretty good. Shouldn't the Soo be in the same division as Sudbury and North Bay?

Hamilton isn’t coming back as a O team Markham won’t work well just like Missy and Brampton Brampton will turn into Belleville once the AHL gets moved back to Hamilton