OHL Q+A: London Knights success, NCAA scholarships, small-market fears

Article content

OHL reporter Ryan Pyette is taking questions about what’s happening on the ice, in the general managers’ suites and in the league office throughout the season. Have a question? Put it in the comment section below or email us at lfpnewsletters@postmedia.com

Q: Reader Blair Porter asks: All major junior teams go through a cycle of rebuilding years, then being good for a couple of years and possibly competing for a championship. How is it the London Knights never go through this cycle?

Article content

A: Good scouting. Mark Hunter is probably one of the best in the world at scouting this age group and his brother, head coach Dale, has a good eye too. Take James Hagens – they took him in the fifth or sixth round a couple of years ago. Mark Hunter knew he was going to be a great hockey player and now he could be No. 1 overall in the 2025 NHL draft. Also, he learned from the John Tavares trade years ago: He paid a lot to get Tavares for a half a year, but he doesn’t do that anymore. The pro atmosphere Dale creates and the bird-dogging of Mark, and not spending their draft assets. That’s why.

Q: My favourite example of the NCAA-CHL rule change’s effect is Colton Smith, who was playing Jr. B in Leamington with no OHL overage spot – but just got an NCAA scholarship to play at Clarkston University. What do you think of that?

A: I think it’s great for Colton. He had a lot of aspiration to become a pro player and go through the junior system like his dad, D.J. Smith. It didn’t work out for him. This gives him a chance to further develop. Maybe he’ll be a standout in the NCAA. To me, this is what this was all about. Someone doesn’t have great OHL success but they get a second chance.

Article content

Q: The most interesting thing in your recent interview with CHL boss Dan MacKenzie was when you challenged him on the NCAA rule change and its possible toll on smaller CHL markets. He didn’t seem concerned. Are you?

A: Yes of course I am. If you’ve got a bunch of well-heeled teams, London, Kitchener, Windsor, Ottawa – if all the kids coming to the OHL go there and the smaller-market players are leaving the OHL, the gap between the haves and have-nots will widen. If someone is in a situation he doesn’t like, they could just say: You’ve got a week to trade me or I’m going to the NCAA.

Q: Have you ever heard of the Bayshore Bounce, at Owen Sound’s rink? The visiting Generals used it to score a goal last weekend and I found it fascinating.

A: Yeah, they’ve got trampoline boards there – something about how the stands are built. They’re recessed, or something like that, so the boards are different than in other rinks. The puck really bounces – shoot it into the corner, and it’ll bounce back out in front of the net. The games in Owen Sound have way more shots on net than in other rinks. The puck is like a rubber ball.

rpyette@postmedia.com

Article content