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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
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Q: In your last newsletter, the topic of OHL expansion was brought up and which cities could be viable. Reader John Fraumeni suggests Thunder Bay, noting it works for Ontario university hockey – so why not major junior?
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A: It would work if Thunder Bay paid for the teams to go up there. That’s what Lakehead University does, they pay for the flights of visiting teams. It’s a lot to ask a team from, say, Ottawa to take a bus up there. Thunder Bay had an OHL team briefly in the 1980s but I always wondered if they might fit in the Western league.
Q: Reader Harvey Eckmier says a new arena would make Chatham an ideal OHL city, noting its proximity to London, Windsor, Sarnia, Saginaw and Flint. Any chance, you think?
A: If we go back in history 25 years ago or so, when the Hunters were looking at buying the Knights, they were looking at buying Owen Sound – imagine that – and Chatham was in their neighbourhood. It’s always been looked at as a potential expansion spot, because the Jr. B team has always done so well. But you need a new rink. And can you sell private boxes there? Youngstown, Ohio, Muskegon, Michigan – that’s more what I picture. I see the OHL expanding into the United States.
Q: Reader Larry Kummer wants a team back in Hamilton, formerly home of the Fincups and Steelhawks and Dukes and Bulldogs. It should work there, why doesn’t it?
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A: The history of Hamilton of junior hockey is they start up, win a title and then they’re gone in a couple of years. It’s always an arena problem, and that’s what led to the Bulldogs leaving for Brantford. The big rink is too big to have an OHL team as the main tenant. Hamilton is a bit of a stopgap but don’t you want a team to put down roots for 50, 100 years?
Q: World juniors are weeks away. Who is an under-the-radar OHLer you’d expect to see on Team Canada?
A: One big surprise is Zayne Parekh didn’t get invited. But I’m looking at Andrew Gibson on the Soo Greyhounds – he’s going to be one of the most coveted players at the trade deadline. He’s just been a really solid player in the OHL and an elite, elite defenceman. He’s a second-round NHL pick to Detroit. If he makes this lineup, he’s going to have to beat somebody out like Matthew Schaefer – he’ll be in the conversation for No. 1 overall in the NHL draft.
Q: Easton Cowan’s injury interrupted his 54-game regular-season point streak, but the London Knights have continued winning, now 18 straight. How are they doing it?
A: They’re obviously a really solid team. It’s strong goaltending and in London they’ve created the culture because if Cowan and Barkey aren’t ready to go – you better be ready to go. Other teams would sag. They scored 21 goals in three games with their whole first line out. It’s unbelievable.
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