The rift was deep, and many questioned whether is could ever be overcome. The Golden Horseshoe conference was set to leave the GOJHL and reform their old league they had before joining the GOJHL in 2007.
As TJHN reported in October The Death Pool – Special Report – GOJHL Breaking Up Into Two Leagues, much of this stemmed from some teams wanting to be Junior A, and from some alleged actions taken though not approved by all members.
After holding separate All Star games, and making various statements, both sides came together and did what was best for the players.
Coming together over the past weekend, sides came together and reunited the three GOJHL conferences under one umbrella effective immediately.
Equal representation and control in how business is handled will be facilitated as The Golden Horseshoe begins the process of naming its three governors to join three governors from each of the league’s other two conferences, the Mid-Western and the Western Conferences.
Wrapping up the playoff format the sides decided following playoff action in each conference, conference winners will advance to the GOJHL’s Final Four series.
Those conference champs will be joined by a wild-card team, the conference final loser with the best playoff record, on the road to the Sutherland Cup.
The best-of-seven conference quarter-final series are as follows:
No 1. Elmira vs. No. 8 Brampton
Game 1 — Wednesday, Dan Snyder Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2 — Friday, Brampton Victoria Park Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 — Sunday, Dan Snyder, 7 p.m.
Game 4 — Tuesday, March 3, Victoria Park, 7:30 p.m.
(If necessary)
Game 5 — Wednesday, March 4, Dan Snyder, 7:30 p.m.
Game 6 — Friday, March 6, Victoria Park, 7:30 p.m.
Game 7 — Sunday, March 8, Dan Snyder, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Kitchener vs. No. 7 Listowel
Game 1 — Wednesday, Kitchener Kinsmen Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2 — Friday, Listowel Memorial Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 — Sunday, Kinsmen Arena, 1:30 p.m.
Game 4 — Tuesday, March 3, Listowel Arena, 8 p.m.
(If necessary)
Game 5 — Thursday, March 5, Kinsmen Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Game 6 — Friday, March 6, Listowel Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Game 7 — Sunday, March 8, Kinsmen Arena, 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 Stratford vs. No. 6 Cambridge
Game 1 — Friday, Stratford Allman Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2 — Saturday, Galt Arena, 7 p.m.
Game 3 — Monday, Allman Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 — Tuesday, March 3, Galt Arena, 7 p.m.
(If necessary)
Game 5 — Friday, March 6, Allman Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Game 6 — Saturday, March 7, Galt Arena, 7 p.m.
Game 7 — Monday, March 9, Allman Arena, 7:30 p.m.
No 4. Waterloo vs. No. 5 Guelph
Game 1 — Thursday, Waterloo Rec Complex, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2 — Friday, Guelph Sleeman Centre, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 — Sunday, Waterloo Rec Complex, 1:30 p.m.
Game 4 — Tuesday, March 3, Sleeman Centre, 7:30 p.m.
(If necessary)
Game 5 — Thursday, March 5, Waterloo Rec Complex, 7:30 p.m.
Game 6 — Saturday, March 7, Sleeman Centre, 7:30 p.m.
Game 7 — Sunday, March 8, Waterloo Rec Complex, 1:30 p.m.
