Owen Sound Attack Win 2011 OHL Western Conference Championship

Apr 27, 2011
Ryan Young

The new face of the OHL Western Conference Champion - Owen Sound Attack

On the heels of an Eastern Conference win by the Missisauga Majors, the Owen Sound Attack lock up the Western division by decimating the Windsor Spitfires.

I'll put this out there right now. If you are not watching OHL Junior Hockey, then you don't know what you're missing. Infused with the hottest young prospects and draft choices by the NHL, OHL players play with an unbelievable amount of heart, drive, and passion in a quest to achieve their professional hockey dreams. These guys are the rising stars you will know soon, and they are leaving it all on the ice with the fierce speed and intensity that makes buying a ticket for their games well worth the value. On April 26th, 2011, the Missisauga Majors (a prestigious team year by year) locked up the Eastern Conference title. Now they are set to face the Owen Sound Attack, a team that faced incredible challenges to earn their way to a Western Conference Championship on April 27th, by defeating the Windsor Spitfires 10-4.

The Attack's Path to Playoff Glory

The Owen Sound Attack did not have an easy road to their Western title. Early in the season their top netminder Scott Stajcer was sidelined with an injury that eventually required surgery that would put him out of action for some time. The Attack looked to their young backup goaltender, Jordan Binnington, to step in and carry the season on his shoulders until Stacjer was set to return. In the 2009-2010 season, Binnington carried a record of 6-10-1-1. The 2010-2011 season represented his NHL draft year, and what a year indeed. Binnington closed out the regular season with an amazing improvement of 27-12-1-4, a performance that beyond a shadow of a doubt enabled his team to make the playoffs. He was selected to take part in the CHL Prospects Game back in January, 2011, and went ranked from seventh to third in NHL Central Scouting for Goaltenders. After winning its division title, the Attack first handled the London Knights. Binnington began the series with a 2-2 record, and fellow netminder Michael Zador closed out the series with two shutout victories.

The first round playoff victory couldn't have come at a better time, as Scott Stajcer was set to return to action and get back to his role as the Attack's number one goaltender. Stajcer helped the Attack steamroll through their next two opponents, the Plymouth Whalers and the Windsor Spitfires.

The Western Conference Win

The final game of the series saw the Attack put on a scoring clinic, recording an incredible 10 goals, including a hat trick from defenseman Matt Petgrave, two goals apiece by winger Mike Halmo and centerman Andrew Shaw, along with contributing goals by centermen Jarrod Maidens and Joey Hishon. Stajcer would make 34 saves off 38 shots and put his playoff record to eight wins and one loss since his return. This is the first Western Conference title in the team's history, and it's been accomplished with a great effort from a team that was underestimated at the beginning of the season. The Majors, a team some would consider a heavy favourite for the OHL Championship, better watch their backs, because the Attack is clearly hungry to take it all.