Hope, Griffith on Playoff Collision Course?

Blenheim’s Kyle Hope, and Wallaceburg’s Seth Griffith used to be teammates in Chatham-Kent, but now, the two OHL players could be on a collision course for a difficult playoff series.

In last week’s CHL rankings, Griffith’s London Knights were ranked second in the country, while Hope’s Owen Sound Attack were ranked fifth. London and Owen Sound were the top two Ontario Hockey League teams on the list.

To make matters more interesting, London and Owen Sound are one-two in the Midwest Division, Western Conference, and overall OHL standings. London sits first nearly 10 points ahead of Owen Sound.

If the two teams were to meet in the playoffs therefore, it would be in the Western Conference finals, meaning one team would be left out of the OHL championships and a possible Memorial Cup berth. Last year, the London Knights captured an OHL title, with Griffith scoring the series clinching goal.

Through 29 games this season, Hope has 7 goals and 7 assists for the Owen Sound Attack. Griffith, sits near the top of the OHL scoring race with 25 goals and 34 assists in 37 games, and could pass Ryan Strome and Alex Galchenyuk who are out of their respective team’s lineups while they participate in the World Junior Championships.

London and Owen Sound face each other three more times this season, playing a home and home in February, and a final game in Owen Sound in March.