With their 6-4 home ice win on Friday over the Ottawa 67’s, the Guelph Storm punched their ticket to the OHL Playoffs for the 17th straight season. The last time the club missed the post-season was 1992, the same year that Storm rookies JP Labardo (pictured) and Cody McNaughton were born.
The Storm playoff streak is the second longest current streak in the OHL. The last time the Storm missed the OHL Playoffs was their first season in the Royal City when the club staggered to a 4-51-11 record for last overall in the OHL.
The longest playoff appearance streak in OHL history belongs to the Peterborough Petes, who qualified for the post-season for 27 straight seasons between 1976-77 – 2002-03.
The Plymouth Whalers franchise (formerly the Detroit Whalers, the Detroit Jr. Red Wings and the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors) own the longest current streak. Having also cliched a playoff spot, the Whalers have extended their streak to 18 consecutive seasons. The Whalers last missed the playoffs in 1990-91, when Detroit finished last in the OHL during the regular season.
The league’s third longest current streak is owned by the Barrie Colts. The Colts have never missed the post-season since joining the league in 1995-96 and currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference and look to be on their way to clinching their 14th straight playoff appearance.
Current Playoff Appearances Streaks (if team has clinched 2009 Playoff Spot, streak has been changed)
Plymouth Whalers – 18 seasons (Last missed OHL playoffs in 1990-91)
GUELPH STORM – 17 seasons (Last missed OHL Playoffs in 1991-92)
*Barrie Colts – 13 seasons (*14, if Colts qualify for 2009 OHL Playoffs – Never missed playoffs since entering the OHL in 1995-96)
Ottawa 67’s – 14 seasons (Last missed OHL playoffs in 1994-95)
London Knights – 9 seasons (clinched berth in 2009 OHL Playoffs – Last missed OHL playoffs in 1999-00)
*Kitchener Rangers – 7 seasons (Currently sit 9th in Conference and might miss post-season – Last missed OHL playoffs in 2000-01)
Brampton Battalion – 7 seasons (Clinched berth in 2009 OHL Playoffs- Last missed OHL playoffs in 2001-02)
Belleville Bulls – 5 seasons (Clinched berth in 2009 OHL Playoffs – Last missed OHL playoffs in 2003-04)
Saginaw Spirit – 4 seasons (Clinched berth in 2009 OHL Playoffs – Last time OHL playoffs in 2004-05 season)
*Sarnia Sting – 2 seasons (*3, if Sting qualify for 2009 OHL Playoffs – Last missed OHL playoffs in 2005-06)
*Niagara IceDogs – 2 seasons (*3, if IceDogs qualify for 2009 OHL Playoffs – Last missed OHL playoffs in 2005-06)
*Oshawa Generals – 2 seasons (*3, if Generals qualify for 2009 OHL Playoffs – Last missed OHL playoffs in 2005-06)
Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors – 2 seasons (Clinched berth in 2009 OHL PLayoffs – Last missed OHL playoffs in 2006-07)
Windsor Spitfires – 2 seasons (Clinched berth in 2009 OHL Playoffs – Last missed OHL playoffs in 2006-07)
*Peterborough Petes – 1 season (*2, if Petes qualify for 2009 OHL Playoffs – currently sit 9th – Last missed OHL playoffs in 2006-07)
*Sudbury Wolves – 0 seasons (*1, if Wolves qualify for 2009 OHL Playoffs. Currently in 7th in Eastern Conference – Last missed playoffs in 2007-08)
Owen Sound Attack – 0 seasons (*1, if Attack qualify for 2009 OHL Playoffs. Currently in 8th in Western Conference – Last missed playoffs in 2007-08)
*Erie Otters – 0 seasons (*1, if Otters qualify for 2009 OHL Playoffs. Currently in 7th in Western Conference – Last missed playoffs in 2007-08)
SS Marie Greyhounds – 0 seasons (Officially eliminated from 2009 OHL Playoffs)
Kingston Frontenacs – 0 seasons (Officially eliminated from 2009 OHL Playoffs – Last qualified for OHL Playoffs in 2006-07)