Patrick King

It didn’t take long for bad blood to spill on and off the ice in the Ontario Hockey League final.

It didn't take long for bad blood to spill on and off the ice in the Ontario Hockey League final.

The defending champion Windsor Spitfires lead the Barrie Colts 3-0, but two distinct storylines emerged from the weekend.

The first was a shrewd and controversial move by Colts management Saturday, when the team drafted Kerby Rychel, son of Windsor general manager and co-owner Warren Rychel.

The Spitfires sent a fax to each team prior to the draft, informing them they intended on drafting Kerby with their second-round pick and asking teams to respect their wishes not to draft him.

Asking teams to bypass a relative is not uncommon, as both Mike Foligno in Sudbury and the Hunter brothers in London had done likewise when their family entered the draft. Sudbury and London got their players, which made Windsor feel confident each team would bypass Rychel in the draft.

The Colts chose not to respect Windsor's wishes and selected him with the final pick of the first round, 21st overall. Barrie management maintains the decision was not personal and that they were merely drafting the best player available.

"I think we're going to hear a lot out here," Williamson told sportsnet.ca. "That's the business part of the game that goes on in the draft. We believed he was the best player available when we were picking and surprised when they picked in front of us, but again we'll look after that in the future."

It's hard to fathom the decision was not personal. The Colts and Spitfires have long since been predicted to meet in the final and many thought it would be an epic and memorable series. That hasn't played out as Barrie lost home ice advantage when the Spitfires won the first two games in their rink before the series reverted back to Windsor on Sunday.

The Spitfires' GM felt the controversial pick may have been Barrie's way of changing momentum before Game 3.

"Maybe they thought it was a tool to get back in the series," he said Monday. "I will say this: it's been a whirlwind for our family here the last 48 hours. It's been a bit stressful, but we always seem to find a way here in Windsor."

Many feel the move is gamesmanship on Barrie's behalf. If Rychel chooses not to report next season, the Colts can trade his rights prior to Sept. 1 and would then receive a compensatory first-round pick next year. That would give Barrie two picks in the first round, in addition to what they would receive in a trade for his rights.

Since OHL teams can't trade first-round picks, drafting a player who does not report is the only way a team can acquire a second pick in the opening round. The Niagara IceDogs, for example, had two picks this year after last year's first rounder, Lucas Lessio, chose not to report. His rights were later dealt to Oshawa.

The Spitfires held the 25th overall pick, but traded down to No. 38 before the draft. The reaction around the league was palpable as Kerby was deemed by some to be a late first- or early second-round pick. Many general managers voiced their displeasure with Rychel for acquiring more assets while still believing his son would be available at the end of the second round. But none, including the Colts, told him they were going to take Kerby.

"Maybe I made a mistake. I'll take the blame," he said. "I feel bad for my son. He wanted to be a Spitfire, but I'm also proud of him. He's a first-round pick."

If drafting Kerby Rychel was Barrie's way of changing momentum in the series, it didn't work. Windsor rode the hot play of German goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who stymied the Colts throughout the game.

It was Grubauer's best game in a Spitfires uniform since being traded from Belleville and the Colts' frustration was evident in the dying moments. In what will be another memorable moment from the ice in this series, Colts forward Darren Archibald ran Grubauer behind his net.

Archibald received a match penalty for charging and was suspended indefinitely by the league. His actions weren't condoned by his coach following the game.

"I don't like it," Williamson said. "You don't like to see those things in the game.

"It sure wasn't what we needed to do at that point."

Rookie defenceman Craig Duininck was praised by his teammates for standing up for his goaltender. Grubauer, however, simply shrugged it off and smiled as he realized his play had frustrated the opposition.

"They're down 3-0 so they try to hurt the goalie," said Grubauer, adding that he felt no ill-effects from the hit.

The Spitfires will have the opportunity to win their second-consecutive league championship on home ice on Tuesday.

But for a series that was predicted to be filled with thrills and excitement, it will always be remembered for the dark cloud of controversy cast over it.