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Post by ricardo on May 16, 2020 20:37:57 GMT -5
I don't know how many of you saw the story about Cole Perfetti on TV5 the other night, but here's what Scot Johnson said at the end of the piece. It's going to be interesting to see how this all falls into place.  |
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Post by aj0512 on May 17, 2020 13:00:09 GMT -5
I've wondered if we might see a schedule format change (or minor realignment?) that will reduce the amount of travel, especially with border crossings/hotel stays. I could see not having any non-conference games next season.
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Post by spiritfan8 on May 17, 2020 16:01:21 GMT -5
That wouldnt help teams like Erie and the Soo much.
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Post by ricardo on May 18, 2020 10:55:05 GMT -5
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Post by partyroy on May 18, 2020 11:45:33 GMT -5
The "Puck Authority" states there is 1 US based OHL team (Flint) and 2 US based ECHL teams. Not very authoritative but I hope he's right about the OHL starting on time...
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Post by donjohnson on May 19, 2020 5:48:25 GMT -5
The "Puck Authority" states there is 1 US based OHL team (Flint) and 2 US based ECHL teams. Not very authoritative but I hope he's right about the OHL starting on time... They must have corrected it, says 3 now. |
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Post by bpfox on May 19, 2020 5:54:31 GMT -5
The "Puck Authority" states there is 1 US based OHL team (Flint) and 2 US based ECHL teams. Not very authoritative but I hope he's right about the OHL starting on time... They must have corrected it, says 3 now. That's because I sent him a note correcting his error.....your welcome.  |
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Post by ricardo on May 19, 2020 13:46:50 GMT -5
They must have corrected it, says 3 now. That's because I sent him a note correcting his error.....your welcome. I mentioned it in a comment on the original tweet as well. |
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Post by aj0512 on May 22, 2020 17:32:53 GMT -5
The most recent 31 Thoughts podcast on Sportsnet in Canada mentioned the CHL leagues could potentially be drafting 36 and 44-game schedules for the 2020-21 season.
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Post by aj0512 on Jun 3, 2020 8:14:03 GMT -5
Yesterday the QMJHL announced a Return to Play plan with a target start date of October 1 (about two weeks later than usual for them) with the intention of playing a full 68-game schedule. Take that for what you will.
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Post by ricardo on Jul 8, 2020 20:04:54 GMT -5
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Post by Bthumme on Jul 14, 2020 7:59:45 GMT -5
Wonder if the league would ever entertain the thought of having Saginaw, Flint, and Erie have temporary homes across the border for the first couple months. Do we/did we ever have a relationship with I want to say Leamington? Maybe the team would temporarily call a place like that home. Something like that for the first couple months. That would certainly help alleviate border issues for the first couple months if that's an issue. Of course the OHL could also delay the season further out too, just some bored speculation. |
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Post by donjohnson on Jul 14, 2020 9:25:08 GMT -5
From a few conversations I've had with people I think they are definitely looking into the possibilities/challenges at the border including what you mentioned. I have no idea if that's even feasible but I'm glad they're considering it. If that does come to fruition, hopefully they could be back in the Dow by the end of the season but if not, like I said, I just want to see this team play together.
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Post by aj0512 on Jul 14, 2020 9:50:35 GMT -5
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Post by FreelandSpirit on Jul 14, 2020 10:07:37 GMT -5
From a few conversations I've had with people I think they are definitely looking into the possibilities/challenges at the border including what you mentioned. I have no idea if that's even feasible but I'm glad they're considering it. If that does come to fruition, hopefully they could be back in the Dow by the end of the season but if not, like I said, I just want to see this team play together. There are a couple of problem right off the jump if they continue before the border opens up. One I assume the teams need to have some fans in the stands to remain financially viable. If the games aren't held at the Dow (which I'm sure also survives financially based on the Spirit playing there and is a completely different hurdle), are the Spirit going to draw enough random people in a Canadian town to make it worth while financially. Now times this by 3 by adding Flint and Erie into the mix. If there is some sort of league profit sharing it may work, but a that point other teams who are struggling are going to need the cash as well and probably not enough cash to go around if all teams are capped at 50% cap. Billets are going to be difficult to find in 3 random cities on short notice. Think of all the work the team does to billet players here. Now figure out how to do that in a random Canadian town, with families willing to billet players in the middle of a pandemic that are traveling across Canada. Not to mention figure out how to house coaches, staff, media personal, and the like for months at a time who have families here and more than likely don't want to be gone for a 6 month stretch, all while in a budget crunch caused by not having fans. One that doesn't even include Saginaw is the Soo. If they play and the border isn't open to travel into the US their closest division opponents become a 9 1/2 and 10 1/2 hour drive to Sarnia and Windsor the long way around. Which works when the weather is good, but come middle of winter you can add a couple hours to those potentially. All and all I think what is going to probably happen is a season gets pushed back to the 1st of the year or whenever the border opens and they play a half schedule. Or they modify divisions up this year and allow Flint, Saginaw, and Erie to play an unbalanced schedule against each other with those games all front loaded for the first part of the season to minimize all cross border traffic. |
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