Nearing the midway mark of the season, I have to weigh in on the composition of the league schedule this year. During the offseason it was agreed that the league and all teams would adopt a regional schedule. The schedule was designed with more games being played against teams in close proximity to each other and thinning out from there with only one game against teams in the other conference.
On paper I suppose this makes a ton of sense when you factor in the cost savings associated with the price of travel, especially fuel and accommodations. But I can't help but feel that there is something missing in this year's schedule.
The makeup of the league has changed over recent years, with the most significant change seeing the league go from seventeen teams down to sixteen. With eight teams in both conferences, it allowed for all teams to play two games against teams outside their conference – one at home and one on the road.
Those games always drew large crowds as it would be the one and only time that fans would get to see highly-touted players from the other conference. For many family members and friends, it also provided the rare opportunity to see players that would be playing closer to their home towns. This year that opportunity is missing in every rink around the BCHL with teams only playing four games outside their conference and hosting the other four.
As mentioned earlier, perhaps it is a good thing for teams as they will save on their fuel and hotel budget for the season. But might there be a bigger downside as the season continues into the playoffs? Can the energy and intensity be carried into the post season? So far it is getting tough to top the regular season.
It isn't uncommon to have exhibition games with teams that are in close proximity to one another as rosters are pared down for the start of a season. A heavier influence of games against teams in close proximity to one another can also drum up fan support for visiting teams with fan buses etc.
After all of those games are played and season series are totalled, it’s time for the playoffs. As it was last year, this season’s postseason will provide byes for the top teams in the conferences and exclusion for the last place teams. The remaining six teams in each conference will play a best-of-five elimination round, setting the stage for the conference semi-finals.
In these first two rounds there exists the potential of yet another five or seven consecutive games against teams that have already played each other a ton. There is still a lot of hockey to be played this year and if the intensity level stays where it has been since the beginning of the year, what can these teams possible do for an encore?
Ron Gallo, the voice of the Prince George Spruce Kings, will be blogging the Interior Conference during the 2008/09 season. Check back often for Ron's insights into the latest news from the BCHL's Okanagan and Northern-based teams.
