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Post by munzie on Feb 1, 2013 15:07:02 GMT -5
Going into this weekend the race is on between the Orillia Tundras and the Welland Whalers for the final playoff spot in ACH. Both teams have 5 games remaining. Orillia holds a slim but significant 2 point edge. To make things interesting, the two teams will go head to head twice, once this Sat., in Welland and the other on Sun. Feb. 10th in Orillia.
First of all the Whalers have an opportunity to even up on points when they visit Dundas tonight (Fri.). The last time they visited Dundas they drove home with two points in their pockets, so I expect they will be looking for a repeat tonight and should be good to watch.
If the points spread between 4th & 5th place at the end of the regular schedule is greater than 5, then the higher team will advance. If the spread is 5 or less points then there will be an additional, short mini "wild card" series to determine who will get the playoff berth.
It would appear that Orillia with their present 2 point advantage, has the best chance of beating the spread in regulation, but the first year Whalers have shown all season that they will not be discouraged and you can expect them to hustle till the final bell has sounded. It should be some exiting games ahead. I have a feeling fans will get their moneys worth.
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oha99
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Post by oha99 on Feb 2, 2013 13:54:59 GMT -5
Does it really matter who gets the 4th spot? Most likely we are going to be looking at a pointless wild card series and then a quick 4 game sweep for Brantford
I think you would be a lot better off going to Whitby tonight Munzie
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Post by naitch on Feb 2, 2013 15:55:07 GMT -5
Does it really matter who gets the 4th spot? Most likely we are going to be looking at a pointless wild card series and then a quick 4 game sweep for Brantford I think you would be a lot better off going to Whitby tonight Munzie Not quite...the Blast are having problems. Leggat's goaltending is becoming an issue once again...I won't go on a rant but they better plan on starting Marshall or p/u a keeper. The parity in the league now is good...anybody can beat anybody now. IMO, the Whalers make the playoffs and cause problems for whoever they play. Talking to someone who was at the Dundas-Welland game last nite...he stated the Whalers don't stop skating. Their young legs caused Dundas fits.
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Post by munzie on Feb 2, 2013 18:01:44 GMT -5
Does it really matter who gets the 4th spot? Most likely we are going to be looking at a pointless wild card series and then a quick 4 game sweep for Brantford I think you would be a lot better off going to Whitby tonight Munzie I went to Dundas last night (fri.) and watched a very entertaining game at both ends of the ice, followed by an entertaining two way five minute O.T. and then a shoot-out. I probably should not be making that admission because one of the teams was in fifth spot, and even if they were to make the playoffs they might be facing a four game sweep by some other team. I really enjoyed the game. Neither team was standing around, every goal was earned and the score could have been much higher but for many quality stops by both tenders. But now I'm thinking of asking for my money back, because I'm realizing in some folks view it really doesn't matter. In fact for the last half hour I have been considering if I will even go to any more games at all this year, maybe even ever! I'm kind of thinking that one way or the other the whole season is going to be over sometime anyway, so does any of it really matter? I could go to Welland tonight or I could go to Whitby. I know how to get to either one because I've been to both before. I now have this third thing to think about, so maybe to save embarrassing myself, I will just stay at home. I am thankful to have another viewpoint upon which to consider. It would have been more helpful if I knew where others were going, but I am going to put what I have it into the mix......and decide what's best for me.
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Post by snoopy on Feb 4, 2013 8:52:53 GMT -5
Congrats to the Brantford Blast for officially clinching the Regular Season leadership spot and the #1 seed.
I have always done a little bit of a summary for others near playoff time about how things are shaping up.
Like I said, Brantford has 3 games left 1 vs Dundas and a closing weeekend series with the Tundras which could prove extremely important come playoff time.
After this Friday the 2 and 3 seeds may be officially decided with a Dunnies W and a McCoys L but since I don't want to curse anyone especially the Tundras lets just say the Dunnies magic number today is 31 pts. That locks 2nd after Friday and Saturday we can talk about the scenerios for the last weekend.
In regards to 4th...its simple we can have everything from Welland hosting the wild card series to no series at all to keep the purists happy. The only thing I know for sur. That was a Big point that Welland got last Friday in Dundas and they have 2 games vs Whitby. Also Sunday late afternoon's game in Orillia is the 4 POINT game of the season.
Like I said... next Monday, I can up date the scenerios.
Anyways, a reminder that Hockey Day is this weekend, get out to a game watch your kid, niece/nephew grandkid or even catch the great ACH action this weekend.
Tom
PS Munzie went to Welland. Thanks for the bevie in "The Ale in the Whale Tail."
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Post by munzie on Feb 11, 2013 1:53:24 GMT -5
Close game in Orillia on Sunday night. By virtue Of Orillia's 2-1 win over Welland, they have widened their points spread to 5. Welland has 1 remaining game while Orillia has 3 left to go.
Although I am a declared supporter of Orillia (my second favorite team to cheer for), I am sure I am not alone in admiring the season long dedicated effort and success that the Whalers have accomplished for themselves in their first year as a team. For a line-up not loaded with big names they have skated their hearts out, and gained the respect of many fans in all opposing rinks. The guys who have been their highest scorers have not wilted either, and they are not out of a possible playoff spot yet!
For whatever unfortunate reason (IMO), the Whalers came to Orillia on Sunday with 14 skaters their smallest bench of the season at home or on the road. For a team that depends on effort I think a few extra legs could have made a difference. But as I have said they are still in there yet, and it would be a mistake to think they won't be trying their best to keep it going. That's the kind of stuff they have shown themselves to be, and I would think that their coaching is probably owed some credit also.
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Post by Doug Mathieson on Feb 11, 2013 6:38:04 GMT -5
If Welland wins their last game then Orillia will need three points out of their final three games to eliminate Welland
If Welland loses to Whitby then Orillia will at a mininum have to get one of their three remaining games into overtime
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Post by munzie on Feb 16, 2013 22:08:03 GMT -5
Wow!!! Coming down to the wire tonight, the Welland Whalers fought off a penalty in the final three minutes of a wild back and forth scoring game in their own barn, to defeat the Whitby Dunlops 7-6.
It was the Whalers final "regular season" game, and it narrowed the wild card spread with Orillia from 5 to 3 points.
Orillia plays their final "regular season" game tomorrow (Sunday afternoon) in Brantford.
Per Doug Mathieson the wild card mini series for 4th playoff berth will be as follows;
Two games, total goals. Game #1 Mon. Feb 18th @ Welland 2:30 pm Game #2 Tues. Feb 19th @ Orillia 8:30 pm
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Post by Doug Mathieson on Feb 16, 2013 22:11:11 GMT -5
Final Game against Brantford no longer matters as the best Orillia can do is finish with a five point spread over Welland and they need a six spread
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Post by jimc on Feb 18, 2013 1:55:53 GMT -5
seriously...who makes up this rinky dink 'wild card' shit?
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oha99
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Post by oha99 on Feb 18, 2013 8:54:49 GMT -5
I agree jimc
Im sure all the Orillia guys and their families are thrilled on family day to be riding to Welland. They earned the 4th seed during the season and get rewarded with a family day game in Welland.
Embarrassing
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Post by snoopy on Feb 18, 2013 8:55:58 GMT -5
NO COMMENT I will save my comments for later. Tom
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Post by munzie on Feb 18, 2013 11:09:50 GMT -5
Today, Monday Feb.18th 2013*
Senior AAA (ACH) 1 Game OHA Major Jr. A 9 Games Jr. A (OJHL) 5 Games Jr. B (GOJHL) 4 Games
* Please note; attendance optional, family members of all ages welcome.
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Post by jimc on Feb 18, 2013 19:14:05 GMT -5
Munzie...how many of those are playoff games...or involve teams fairly eliminated fro said playoffs being given some faint hope desperation 2nd chance at life, rendering the regular season virtually meaningless?
The 'wild card' concept is just silly...it demeans the season these 5 teams just played.
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Post by munzie on Feb 19, 2013 1:35:55 GMT -5
Munzie...how many of those are playoff games...or involve teams fairly eliminated fro said playoffs being given some faint hope desperation 2nd chance at life, rendering the regular season virtually meaningless? The 'wild card' concept is just silly...it demeans the season these 5 teams just played. jimc,.. I attended a game in Welland on Monday afternoon and I will be attending a game tonight in Orillia. After that I will also be attending three playoff games latter this week. So to your question I would respectfully suggest that if you have time, please feel free to research the information for yourself, if you wish. My actual reason for displaying the games of the various leagues being played on Family Day, was because reference had been made in another reply about players having jobs through the week, and or that expecting players to make the trip to the rink on family day was unjust or unfair or words I think to that effect. I've attended a good number of the games recently were the 4th & 5th place teams were involved and perhaps by good fortune, but not one was a dog. In fact they all had relevance and I enjoyed every game. The guys (regular senior hockey fans) who invited themselves to join me for the trip to Welland on Sunday said they enjoyed what they thought it was a very good game. I will not sit here and blow smoke as if to suggest I know every detail of what took place to bring about the wild card arrangement, or when it was first decided upon, or when it was officially implemented, or who agreed to it or who didn't agree, or if it was forced upon by some other governing body as opposed to a decision within ACH, or spicifically if it was not agreed to by both of the two teams that it effects. For now I'm happy to let those in a position to know the facts, be the ones to shed that light for us if they wish to do so. What I can suggest is something that I have already alluded to previously. I do not see this experiment, or trial, or call it what you will, having any detrimental effect or give unfair advantage to any of the other teams in the ACH league, or to Northern Ontario or to any of the regions beyond. I apologize if I am incorrect, but I see zero significant extended effect, one way or the other and the surviving team will have had to have played more games, not less. The one assumption I have made is that both Orillia and Welland agreed to the arrangement of their own free will. I do see a number of possible non-extended benefits that IMO could be of a potential positive nature, and I will leave it at that for now. Certainly from a selfish standpoint for me as a fan in the here and now, I have been able to attend & watch some additional entertaining games in what would otherwise have been a relatively short 24 game per team season. I don't think I would have been entertained to the same degree if the wild card experiment had not taken place in this particular circumstance, unless perhaps I would have relished to see a last place team get frustrated into a bunch of stupidity, which was not really my desire. So....Would I like to see such an arrangement take place on a normal recurring basis? Probably not. ....Would I have chosen 5 points or less as the spread even before hindsight? No, I personally would have suggested 3 points or less, although as it turns out the end result may well have turned out to be the same. ....Do I think that it is worth trying something unconventional, if the intended purpose is for the overall benefit and the weighted potential downside is limited? Yes I do. ....Could I have accepted it if the wild card idea had never happened? Yes, I would have had the flexibility to accept either scenario ....Was I or any one else forced to attend any of the games where one team or the other would have otherwise been mathematically eliminated? Not that I'm aware of. I hope Orillia, (my second favorite team to cheer for) will prevail on Tuesday night, They will have to play smart and hard to do it and I hope they will have the discipline to avoid taking unnecessary hurtful penalties when all the chips are on the line. If it does not work out I'll grieve to be sure, and then I'll show my admiration for the other team. I certainly won't be on here crying foul. P.S. Unless I'm blaiming the refereeing! ;D
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