I know that the Markham/Wellington series is far from over, but all indications at this point do suggest a strong possiblity that the Waxers are in the driver's seat and are playing well enough to take the series.

We have heard lately from some on the Forum, that the East Division is stronger than the other Divisions. Just how strong can the East be when Wellington defeats Bowmanville 4 games straight and outscores the Eagles 21-7. Then in the final, the Dukes take out Kingston 4 games straight outscoring the Vees 20-8. To date the Waxers, in 3 games, have outscored the Dukes 15-11 and except for the 1st game, have handled the Dukes pretty easily in my opinion, outscoring them 12-6 in the last 2 games. Based on these stats, just how strong was the East Division, if Bowmanville and Kingston were the next best teams outside of the Dukes? Wellington breezes past the Eagles and Vees and so far are being outplayed by the Waxers.

In my opinion, the East Division has been very overrated by many, at least for this season.

Absolutely.

I saw last years Dukes ... they were much stronger than this years edition.

When you compare the Buzzers to Markham ... Markham won on goal tending and by only a goal a game in the last few games.

In tonight's game with the Dukes Markham easily handled them. And ... the Dukes scored mostly when Markham coughed up the puck.

If the Dukes are the best in the East ... there is nothing remarkable out there.

Again ... last years Dukes were much better.

it looked last night like markham was just a step ahead of wellington all the time. wellington seemed slow and soft. not a good combination. rank was far better in net and the wellington d cannot handle the speed of the waxer forwards. cornachia was flying. good luck to the waxers and if i were aurora or oakville i would be scouting this series hard because it will be a super final if the waxers come through as i think their speed and excellent coaching is a tough combination to deal with!

Aurora has already begun their scouting. Coach Dupont and his 2nd hand man were at the Markham game last night.

"wingfan"

Are you kidding, Dupont and his staff have been scouting the Buzzers, Waxers and the Dukes for the last several weeks. By the time the final comes around, providing the Tigers make it past the Blades, Dupont and company will know more about the Waxers and the Dukes than their own families.

I can't speak for other East watchers but by and large the top teams in the East are just as strong at the top teams in the other divisions judging by their records. Personally, I only see the East division play so it is hard to compare and certainly the best way to make division comparisons is when they play off against each other. Last evening's contest could have been an anomaly after all the Dukes rarely give up that many goals so perhaps it was an off night.
I will say that the Kingston - Wellington rivalry is as serious as it gets in junior hockey at any level and the Dukes sweep caught me by surprise.

Bragging rights will be determined once this series is over.

Was the 5-2 loss to the Waxers at the "imfamous" Duke Dome last Sunday an off "afternoon" for the Dukes?

Here are some league stats by division.

2007(this season) Govenor's Showcase

South 5-4
East 4-4
West 4-5
North 4-5




OPJHL Buckland Cup Champions

07 North - Aurora(Won DHC & RBC)
06 South - ST.Mike's
05 South - ST.Mike's
04 North - Aurora(Won DHC & RBC)
03 East - Wellington(Won DHC)
02 West - Brampton
01 South - Thornhill(Won DHC)
00 West - Brampton
99 West - Bramalea(Won DHC)
98 West - Milton(Won DHC)
97 West - Milton
96 North - Newmarket(Won DHC)
95 West - Brampton
94 North - Orillia/Couchiching

West 6
North 4
South 3
East 1






Go Leafs !
Go Raptors !
Go Argos !
How about them Cowboys !

WEXDOG is a Cowboys Fan
09,11,01
Lest We Forget
11,11,11

So, an East team (Wellington) has won the OPJHL Championship only once in 14 years. I guess that says it all in assessing how strong the East Division is.

I don't know if it "says it all", does this mean the West is the best, even though they haven't won it in 6 years?

A breakdown of the stats, that Wexdog has so graciouisly provided, shows the following over the 14 years:

1) West - 6 times
2) North - 4 times
3) South - 3 times
4) East - 1 time

Of course it doesn't mean that the West is the best Division at this time, however if you recall back in the years that they won the OPJHL, they were a very powerful Division, as was the North and South in the years that they won.

If you analyse the East's win in 2003, you will see that it was the year that Chris Whitley of the Tigers was suspended for 5 games for shooting the puck into "whiskey corner". That 5 game suspension rule was changed after that to a much less severe penalty. At the time the Tigers were ahead in the series and it was very obvious the suspension to Whitley paved the way for the Dukes to win that year. If Whitley, the best goaltender in the league at the time, had kept his cool and had not gotten suspended, the Tigers would have, no question, won the OPJHL that year, and the East would have 0 OPJHL wins to date. So, taking all that into consideration, even the 1 win by the East in 2003 was a bit "tainted"

But really, can any team beat any other team on any given day?

East is the best division top to bottom, but in each division the top couple of teams are just as good in any other division. To base the strength of a division on one series is absolutely ridiculous.

I found it kind of odd that the Dukes cruised past the Vee's. Sweeping Bowmanville was not that big of a surprise because the Eagles had already upset the Stars. I saw game 2 of that series and neither team was all that impressive. My general impression of the East is that the teams seem to play a more defensive game, while for example the south is more offensive and includes a lot more attacking play. Maybe this defensive play is what leads to the closer scores.


In the end you can't judge a division based on one series especially when these teams have played all of 3 games against each other in the past 6 years. No familiarity at all and scouting can not make up for that.



Toronto Maple Leafs= Ford Motor Company

Here's a thought.

Perhaps people have simply overlooked the South as it's been dominated in years past by the Buzzers. It's almost become expected that the South will be represented by a quick and talented Buzzers team.

Everyone knows the East is pretty solid defensively and that the North is very physical and tough. The West, well, someone fill in for me because I haven't seen a West game all year. But how much is generally known about the South?

Not many fans attend these games and because of that, I think most South teams are overlooked. The top four teams in the South always provided entertaining games against each other, and now the THIRD place South team is laying a beating on the top East team. More power to them.

I'll stick with my prediction of the Waxers winning the OPJHL.

The South is a better division only for the reason that they spend more money on players where the East has to spend more money on their expenses. If the South had to pay for busing they wouldnt be able to afford paying for players. The East is a better division for competition amongst themselves. I have watched both and I rather spend my $10 on watching the east then the south.

"True"

I think you are quite right, the East has a real competitive Division amongst themselves, no question, but once they leave the confines of the East and take on the North, South and West Divisions, they are obviously out of their league as evidenced by the last 14 years History of OPJHL Champions.

The Dukes had already gotten to Whitley and were in the process of winning that game. As for the suspension it was appealled and the discipline was upheld and the appeal was ruled without merit.

The dukes went on to win 4 straight games including a 13-4 drubing at the Dome.

I think the term MELTDOWN has been used to describe that team and the series.

I think what is being said about the east division is that with the fan base and the consistent winning enviornment shown by the upper level teams, they are to be commended and looked upon as a template for success.

By the way the Tigers corrected their shortcoming the next year and won the RBC, touche.

You are right the Dukes went on to win 4 straight against a Minor Midget goalie as the Tigers back up goalie was injured also. As I recall the 13-4 drubbing that you talk about was the game where Marty Williamson, coach of the present OHL Barrie Colts, played without a goalie and added an extra player to protest the 5 game suspension to Whitley, even a girl's team would have scored 13 goals in that one.

And as you say, the next year with basically the same team, the Tigers went on to win the RBC with Whitley getting the MVP and Top Goalie award at the RBC, surprise, surprise!!

Is there a website I can view these stats?

The bottom line is that 12 goals were scored before Williamson pulled his goalie, the team melted down and lost the series. I quess the term "one man team" comes to mind.

However SMC one thing bothers me, you said in a previous post that this year there no "deep pockets" as they, the tigers have to keep to a tight budget. Could you please tell me what the "DEEP POCKETS" were used for in previous years.

Please be truthful and not sanctimonious.

you think all those 20 year olds from the Q and the O are free?
not to mention buying the best of the best from every team that they can get their hands on. this year was a much different story for the tigers as they didnt do as much purchasing after last years expensive trip out west.

Who was paid by these deeeep poooocekts. The teams which they played for or the players themselves.

The teams which gave up the player got the money.
No players are paid in the OP.

Unless you want to go on record with evidence to back it up.






Go Leafs !
Go Raptors !
Go Argos !
How about them Cowboys !

WEXDOG is a Cowboys Fan
09,11,01
Lest We Forget
11,11,11

now wexdog heresay is a lot more fun to talk about. who needs evidence in this day and age.

Dupont might have wanted to scout the Blades. He shouldn't be worried about the other series.

"hapding"

First of all the "deep pockets" expression is not mine and I have never used it in connection with the Tigers. The expression was used continually last season by those on the Forum who wrongly thought that the Tigers had bought their RBC team. Nothing was farther from the truth regarding last season's team or this season's team.

This year's team was rebuilt basicaly from scouting efforts and from a huge influx of kids that wanted to play for the Tigers, and why not, Aurora is one of the most successful organizations in the OPJHL and I might add, the only OPJHL team in 14 years, to win the RBC Cup not once but twice.

SMC57 , your silence, speaks volumes...

I reallty do not know how to respond to you. You said it, do not make me prove it, because everybody has it on their historical, either you spoke out of turn or as Hillary said you might as well "MISSPOKE".!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!