|
|
..FROM
THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
JANUARY 29, 2003
When the Markham Waxers began their current Provincial
Junior A Hockey League campaign, their goal was to finish atop the
standings in the south conference. While two victories in their last three
games of the season this weekend would enable the Waxers to fulfill their
agenda, it could create a major inconvenience.
A first-place finish by the Waxers will force them to make a
longer-than-normal trip in their upcoming best-of-seven first-round
playoff series as they will meet the Port Hope Buzzers, a team that
finished in ninth place in the league's east division.
In a complicated formula determined in August by the league general
managers and endorsed by its league's board of governors, the first-place
teams from the south and north conferences will cross over to meet the
ninth-place clubs from the east and west conferences respectively. This
was created through the imbalance in the number of teams in each of the
four divisions.
In the end, only three teams in the entire Provincial loop (Huntsville,
last in the north, and the 10th-place teams in the east and west
conferences) will miss the playoffs.
The remaining teams in the north and south conferences who qualified for
the postseason will meet teams from within those two divisions.
Waxers general manager Larry Herrington isn't exactly thrilled with the
first-round format his club could face for several reasons. One of which,
is the additional costs in travel costs to the games in Port Hope. The
other is in facing a team they haven't met all season long. In the overall
picture, he felt it's almost like a punishment.
 |
| This article was
written by Mike Hayakawa and published in the
Markham Economist and Sun. Minor edits may have been performed to
the original article.
This has been reproduced with permission. |
"For a first-place team who fights all year to get
first is put to the expense that other teams aren't," he said. "Finishing
in first should be a reward. I see no reason why there can't be a system
where you can stay within your own division (in the first round)." About
the only advantage to finishing in first, he cited, is in getting the
extra home game if it's required.
Should the Waxers prevail in the first round series, which must be
concluded by Feb. 19, Herrington said all of the winners would then be
reranked based on points. Once again, the Waxers could face a team outside
of their division.
As for when the Waxers will begin its first-round playoff series,
Herrington said he's had some preliminary discussions with the Buzzers but
has not yet confirmed any dates.
Copyright ©
1998 - 2005, Savolainen.Com Inc. and Restoration Environmental Contractors.
All rights reserved.
Don Bremner and Restoration
Environmental Contractors were the proud owners of the
Markham Waxers Junior "A" Hockey
Club from 1994 - June 17, 2005.
Proud to continue as Sponsors.
|