AttackSound
Junior Hockey Fan Since Birth
I agree with most here that there probably isn’t any meaningful realignment on the horizon in the near future.
However, awhile back I put forth a realignment idea that was an attempt to correct some of the power imbalance between the conferences (although for the first time in a long time, it looks like the Eastern Conference has the best teams this year).
I suggested doing away with the divisions and having 2 conferences: the Northwest Conference and the Southeast Conference
NW
SSM
Sby
NB
Sag
Flt
Sar
Wsr
Ldn
OS
Bar
SE
Kit
Gue
Ham
Nia
Erie
Miss
Osh
Pbo
Kgn
Ott
I know it looks strange; a team like London would travel through Kitchener and Guelph for an intra-conference game in Barrie for example. However, they already roll through Hamilton and Niagara for intra-conference games against Erie.
Rival teams that are now in separate conferences can still play extra games against each other during the regular season in an unbalanced schedule, much like Owen Sound and Barrie currently do. As has been previously stated, the OHL doesn’t seem to have any problem whatsoever with an unbalanced schedule.
On the plus side, adding a few traditionally strong franchises in Kitchener and Guelph to the old eastern bloc of teams would likely increase parity across the conferences. In addition, I kind of like the possibility of having a Kitchener vs London or Barrie vs Niagara final.
I really wouldn't say it's an unbalanced schedule in the case of Owen Sound and Barrie.
Where the balance plays an effect is travel, even at the most direct route Owen Sound and Sault Ste Marie is nearly an 8 hour trek one way. Making it nearly and almost economically impossible to make have both the Hounds and Attack play 4-6 times a year.
And from a fan perspective the rivalry between Owen Sound and Barrie is far more exciting for both cities 6 times in a season split between the two cities then what would be if Owen Sound and Sault Ste Marie.
There are very few scenarios that would be feasible to the current conference system that is in place.
Even if you could changed the conferences into a north and south style division there's still a lot of juggling of how teams would draw up schedules.
The only realistic way to change any sort of conference or divisional order would have to be through expansion of the league which would have to be done by adding and granting additional teams in each current conference this would mean the expansion into the U.S. to some degree and with limited options that could make for a logical choice to expand the league, the only other option would be to return to old league markets.
Cornwall- too far and the arena would need massive renovations
Brantford - possible but with the building standards of today's OHL even the city has bowed out to trying to attract a team back.
Syracuse- would be a interest but with an AHL team there there really would be a limited interest in the OHL.
All have been discussed in another thread on here with plenty of scenarios but, however no real facility or logical travel schedule that would make sense.
You could shuffle the current teams around dozens of times and end up where they are now with some minor degree of change but would still end up where everyone is now.