By the Numbers

With the 2010-2011 Owen Sound Attack tying a franchise record for wins yesterday evening in Oshawa, there has been much bantering about whether or not this is the best Owen Sound team of all time.

Many fans are comparing this year’s squad with the 2004-2005 version of the Attack, however; many people seem to be leaving out the 1998-1999 version of the Platers, who had 39 regular season wins, but more importantly advanced to the Conference Finals for the first and only time in franchise history.

Below is a table comparing the three teams in MOST statistical categories, however; there is some important points to keep in mind…

• In 1998/1999, shootouts to decide games did not exist. The 1998/1999 team finished with five ties and two overtime losses. While a point was rewarded for a tie, there were no points awarded for an overtime loss and there was also never the opportunity to win a tied game via a shootout. IF the current system existed then, based upon winning percentage, it would be safe to assume that the 1998/1999 team would have captured five more points (2 for the OT losses and 3 of the available 5 points they were not given the chance to obtain) than their final total. This would have given that team 90 points and possibly 3 more wins.

• In 2004/2005, the London Knights iced what was arguably the greatest junior hockey team of all time. The Knights posted 120 regular season points and an .882 winning percentage. Despite finishing 3rd in the Western Conference, the Attack had the second highest point total in the OHL and was the only team other than London to post 40 or more wins.

• This season, 81 games remain to be played by Western Conference teams, some against each other and some crossing over to the Eastern Conference. The point total for the entire Western Conference is 684. In 2004-2005 it was 720 and in 1998/1999 it was 710. With 81 games remaining, it is safe to assume that the point total in the Western Conference will exceed the 720 in 2004-2005, meaning the competition in the Western Conference this year may be more fierce from top to bottom. Also, Guelph currently sits 8th in the Western Conference with 65 points (with 8 games remaining). That point total would have landed them in 7th spot in the conference in 2005 and 1999, despite Guelph still having eight games remaining.

Regardless of points, wins, winning percentage, rosters and the strength of other teams, the 1998/1999 team accomplished something that no other team in Owen Sound has been able to do…advance to the Conference Finals. There is no doubt this year’s team will need to measure up to that benchmark to be considered the best Owen Sound team of all time.