EOJHL All Star games to be staged in Ottawa on Feb. 13
Posted Jan 15, 2010 By Jeff Maguire
Email
Print
Tweet ThisEMC Sports - The best prospects, along with the top players from two divisions in the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League (EOJHL), will display their talents during the Metro-Valley Conference All Star Games the middle of next month.
Prospects and All Star squads from the Metro and Valley divisions will do battle at the Jim Durrell Recreation Complex in Ottawa on Saturday, Feb. 13.
The games are an annual feature on the Metro-Valley calendar although this year's contests are being played two weeks later than usual because of a major change in the league format this season.
In past years the all-star clashes were held at the end of January, just prior to the start of the playoffs in what was previously called the Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League.
This year the league, which is the biggest of its kind in Canada encompassing 22 teams playing in four separate divisions, decided to drop the "Junior B" designation in favour of the newly minted Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League title. Executive members determined the 'B' designation no longer fits the character of the league.
However, the biggest changes relate to the regular season schedule and the playoff format. Previously the Valley and Metro Divisions each played 40-game regular season schedules which included interlocking contests (one home and one away) involving clubs in the respective divisions. All of the teams in the two divisions qualified for the opening round of the playoffs.
Meanwhile the Rideau and St. Lawrence Divisions played longer 45-game, regular season schedules, including interlocking games. But only the top four sides in each division made it to the post season.
Following last season league executive members voted to change the name of the league but also decided to create a uniform regular season and playoff format. Therefore, beginning in the third week of February, the top four teams in each division will advance to the playoffs.
Under the previous system some teams in the Valley and Metro Divisions were forced to play in three series before the division winner could be determined. All four division winners advance to the league playoffs.
It was felt the situation created an imbalance in terms of the overall league playoffs. Therefore a uniform system has been put in place which is now in the process of being unveiled. All 22 teams will play 45 regular season games. The playoffs will feature semi finals and a final in each division in order to determine a winner who, in turn, will move on to the league semi finals. The survivors will meet for the overall EOJHL title.
Ottawa West Golden Knights of the Metro Division are the defending champions!
It is traditional that all star squads from the Valley and Metro loops tangle at the end of the regular season and that will not change.
This year's games are being hosted by Ottawa Junior Canadians of the Metro Division. Canadians play their games at Brian Kilrea Arena in the Alta Vista area of southeast Ottawa. However the all star games will be staged at the larger Jim Durrell complex located at 1265 Walkley Road, east of Bank Street South, also in southeast Ottawa.
The Prospects Game, featuring the best young guns in the two divisions, will open the day on Feb. 13. The face-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. The main All Star clash involving the rival divisions is set for 2:30 p.m. Squads for the respective teams will be named at the end of this month.
The Rideau and St. Lawrence Divisions do not hold all star games. Instead they hold an annual showcase event during which five regular season contests are played on one day in one location. This year's event was held last Saturday (Jan. 9) and was hosted by Casselman Vikings of the St. Lawrence Division. Vikings are the current St. Lawrence leaders.
For complete information on the EOJHL, as well as a map showing the location of Jim Durrell Recreation Complex, the location of the upcoming Metro-Valley Conference All Star Games, visit the league website at: www.eojhl.ca
There is a link to the all star games in the centre of the main page. Links which detail other information including league schedules, statistics, history and information on member teams can also be found at the top of the website's main page.
