67’s still surprising
The team’s hold on eighth place is only game-to-game at this point
As difficult as it is to believe on some nights, the Ottawa 67’s turned the corner on the first third of the Ontario Hockey League regular season two wins and four points ahead of the terrible 2012-13 edition.
It’s an improved pace that, if maintained, would put them at 24 wins and 54 points — an improvement of eight wins and 16 points over the full season.
Still, those numbers would not have been enough to qualify for the playoffs last season and likely won’t be enough this year, either.
The team’s hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference is only game-to-game at this point, and they have to be better over the next 23 contests. Parity is the operative word in a league that has seven teams between 14 and 21 points.
“Our priority is to make the playoffs this year,” said 67’s head coach and general manager Chris Byrne, who masks his frustration well most of the time. “We’re scratching and clawing for every point we can get, and right now we have a spot that would get us there.”
It must be remembered that at this time last season, the 67’s still had Sean Monahan, Cody Ceci and
‘We’re scratching and clawing for every point we can get, and right now we have a spot that would get us there.’
CHRIS BYRNE
67’s head coach and GM
Tyler Graovac in the lineup, and they didn’t dump Ceci and Graovac until early January.
Their presence didn’t prevent the club from a two-win December that precipitated the purge, which led to just five wins the rest of the way.
One can only wonder: If Monahan had been drafted by any team other than the Calgary Flames, would his presence be worth 10 points in the standings? That figure that would put them somewhere between third and sixth. The 67’s are also somehow staying competitive without a defenceman over the age of 18.
Mike Vlajkov, their best blueliner going into the season, is gone for the year due to hip surgery and sophomore Taylor Davis is home in New Jersey, still suffering from the symptoms of a concussion.
That leaves Byrne debating potential trades that might instantly make the team better versus continuing with the youth movement.
Byrne has extra picks in rounds two and three next spring. He went hard after Brett Hargrave after the 13th overall pick in 2012 left the Sarnia Sting. Owen Sound gave up three picks for the hulking forward. Byrne felt he had offered Sarnia a better package.
“If we could make a move that will help us now and help us later, we would,” said Byrne. “We talk to teams every day. That’s what you do ... work every day to try and make your team better.”
Here are seven reasons things might get better sooner than later. 1 THE REAL DEAL
Travis Konecny opened his rookie season by scoring two goals and four points in his first two games and has led the league in rookie scoring pretty much every day since. He has the most lethal shot on the team. Monahan’s rookie totals were 20 goals and 47 points. Konecny projects to 24 goals and 66 points. 2 COMING OF AGE
Overlooked somewhat has been 2011 first-round pick Dante Salituro, who had credible rookie totals of 14 goals and 40 points but a minus-44. Today, he is a top40 scorer with seven goals and 24 points but, more importantly, he is a plus-3, showing unselfishness in his own end. 3 THE BIG SIX
It has taken time, but the 67’s may have finally found a top six set of forwards that can, on some nights, match other teams’ best. The top line of Joseph Blandisi, the rejuvenated Ryan Van Stralen and Konecny are their hitting stride. And Salituro, Brendan Bell and Brett Gustavsen are going places. 4 IMPORT BAZAAR
If you’re checking out the Subway Series with the Russians, imagine speedy Vladimir Tkachev in a 67’s uniform, because he was on the radar. That said, the 67’s are happy with import defencemen Adrian Sloboda and Alex Lintuniemi. Sloboda, the younger of the two at 17, missed 10 games with a high ankle sprain and the team went just 3-7. 5 BAPTISM BY FIRE
The top five on defence is made up of two 18-year-olds, two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old in Troy Henley. They have struggled badly many nights but will get more consistent. Nevin Guy, now the old man back there at 18, has quietly shot from 38th in scoring among defenceman to 15th with five goals and 14 points. 6 THE NEXT ONE
The 67’s annual search for a No. 1 goalie might end next summer if they can sign seventh-round pick Ben Blacker, out of Milton. Blacker is the top 16-year-old goalie in the province and will play for Ontario at the World U17 Challenge with Konecny. He has verbally committed to Western Michigan University but he may forgo the NCAA route. 7 SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER
Training camp 2014 might be the most competitive in years, with draftees from last year like Dylan McDonald, Ben Fanjoy and Brandon Zullo making strides in the Central Canada Hockey League. Then there’s defenceman Matthew Mercer, playing with the Orangeville Flyers and 6-3, 186-pound Steven Ruggiero playing with the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL.