The OHL final between Brampton and Windsor is validation for both teams that the efforts they are doing off the ice are working as well as their efforts on it.
For many reasons, this year's Ontario Hockey League finals matchup exemplifies the beauty of junior hockey.
The Windsor Spitfires take on the Brampton Battalion in the OHL's title fight, a seven-game series that will crown one team league champions after patience and perseverance underlined their most recent accomplishments.
The Spitfires were making headlines for all the wrong reasons three seasons ago amidst a hazing incident that went all too wrong. Veteran forward Steve Downie and then rookie Akim Aliu were at the forefront of the ugliest period of Spitfires history. Downie and Aliu fought in practice, a much publicized result of the hazing within the organization at the time.
Both players were traded and then-head coach and general manager Moe Mantha was suspended before his firing later in the season.
It was a black mark on the organization and a rough period for the Spitfires fans who hadn't seen much in the way of playoff or regular season success since their only championship in 1988.
The new ownership group of Bob Boughner, Warren Rychel and Peter Dobrich had the task of not only changing the fortunes of the on-ice product but also changing public perception of the team.
The new group bit their pride in their first season before emerging as contenders last season, a turnaround of 51 points from one season to the next. Boughner was recognized as the coach of the year, also winning the award again this season, while Rychel was named the executive of the year this past season.
"What a story that has been in terms of the reclamation of the Spits," commissioner David Branch said in Tuesday's conference call. "I think the work they've done has been absolutely superb."
Their 115 points this season was the best in the franchise's long history, dating back to the mid-1970s. The new ownership group also managed to secure a new rink for the antiquated Windsor Arena, which had been in operation since the 1920s. With the shaky economy in the Windsor area, a new rink deal is no small feat.
Just like their opponents for the championship, the Battalion's story is an example of patience. While the storm clouds of negative media never cast a shadow in the same light, the Battalion's adversity came in the form of a porous fan base in a non-traditional junior hockey market.
The franchise produced five first-round National Hockey League draft picks: Rostislav Klesla (fourth overall to Columbus in 2000), Raffi Torres (fifth overall to the Islanders in 2000), Brent Burns (20th overall by Minnesota in 2003), Wojtek Wolski (21st overall to Colorado in 2004) and Cody Hodgson (10th overall by Vancouver in 2008). Another, Matt Duchene, will be added to the list this summer as a projected top five pick.
In spite of producing such talented players in their history and playing out of a state of the art arena, the fan base has been touch-and-go in Brampton. The small fan base has been the subject of recurring articles questioning the viability of the franchise in the Toronto suburb through its history.
It wasn't until the third round against Belleville that the Battalion drew a crowd exceeding 4,000 in the playoffs, which is still nearly 1,000 below capacity. But for the Battalion, such a crowd is a positive for their program.
"It's been a special program from day one and a very special person to lead it, (head coach and general manager) Stan Butler," said Branch, who also said team owner Scott Abbott deserved a medal.
"Eleven years later, here you are and it couldn't happen to a better ownership and management and coaching (staff) so we're very, very proud and very, very pleased."
In this day and age where sports teams come and go, the Battalion's patience in Brampton is certainly something warranting a medal, as Branch mentioned.
Hodgson, meanwhile, was also recognized Tuesday as the recipient of the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL's Most Outstanding Player, as voted by writers and broadcasters. The Canucks' first rounder from a year ago is the second recipient in Battalion history behind Wolski, who won the award in 2006.
The road to the final hasn't been easy for the Battalion, who were known more for playoff failures in recent seasons, particularly to the Barrie Colts.
As much as each team shares a mutual respect for each other, there's just one championship for two teams.
"We realize we're up against an extremely talented team but we're really excited about the start of the championship," Butler said.
"It's going to be a great series for the league," said Boughner, who began the conference call by congratulating Hodgson on being named the Most Outstanding Player. "I think it's going to be high-energy. I think it's going to be fast. It's going to be physical. It's going to be terrific hockey."
Upon winning the Wayne Gretzky trophy as Western Conference champions, the Spitfires decided to forego the superstition of not hoisting the conference trophy for fear of jinxing their chances at the league title. As Boughner explained at the time, the decision was made in part due to the city's long wait for a championship team.
"I know the city of Windsor has been waiting a long time, as has Brampton, for a championship," Boughner said Tuesday. "That's what I think is so great about this series, both franchises waited so long to finally get their chance at it and I think that's going to bring the best of both teams."
Not to mention the beauty of junior hockey.
