The Ontario Hockey League has finalized its first-round playoff schedule, which will see the Barrie Colts begin the post-season on Thursday against the defending champion Hamilton Bulldogs.
The Colts (42-17-6-3) finished the season in third place in the Eastern Conference, while the Bulldogs (33-30-5-0) placed sixth.
The first-round schedule for the Barrie-Hamilton series is as follows:
(3) Barrie Colts vs. (6) Hamilton Bulldogs
Game 1 – Thursday, March 30 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2 – Saturday, April 1 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 – Sunday, April 2 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Game 4 – Tuesday, April 4 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Game 5 – Thursday, April 6 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.*
Game 6 – Monday, April 10 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.*
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 11 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m. *
(* if necessary)
Leading the Bulldogs in regular-season scoring was 18-year-old centre Patrick Thomas, who had 17 goals and 39 assists in 66 games, followed by left-winger Sahil Panwar with 21 goals and 31 assists in only 34 games after coming over from the Peterborough Petes. Panwar had 69 points in 68 games over the course of the whole season.
The Colts, meanwhile, had a well-rounded attack led by Evan Vierling with 95 points (35G, 60A) in 60 games, Ethan Cardwell with 90 points (43G, 47A) in 62 games, Jacob Frasca with 69 points (27G, 42A) in 68 games, and captain Brandt Clarke with 61 points (23G, 38A) in just 31 games.
Following regular-season play, the Ottawa 67's and Windsor Spitfires enter the post-season as the top seeds in their respective conferences.
Here's a look at the other match-ups across the OHL:
Eastern Conference
(1) Ottawa 67’s vs. (8) Oshawa Generals
Game 1 – Thursday, March 30 at Ottawa, 7 p.m. (in Gatineau)
Game 2 – Sunday, April 2 at Ottawa, 2 p.m. (in Gatineau)
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 4 at Oshawa, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 – Thursday, April 6 at Oshawa, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 – Saturday, April 8 at Ottawa, 2 p.m. (in Gatineau)*
Game 6 – Sunday, April 9 at Oshawa, 6:05 p.m.*
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 11 at Ottawa, 7 p.m.*
(2) North Bay Battalion vs. (7) Mississauga Steelheads
Game 1 – Friday, March 31 at North Bay, 7 p.m.
Game 2 – Sunday, April 2 at North Bay, 2 p.m.
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 4 at Mississauga, 7 p.m.
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 5 at Mississauga, 7 p.m.
Game 5 – Friday, April 7 at North Bay, 7 p.m.*
Game 6 – Sunday, April 9 at Mississauga, 2 p.m.*
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 11 at North Bay, 7 p.m.*
(4) Peterborough Petes vs. (5) Sudbury Wolves
Game 1 – Thursday, March 30 at Peterborough, 7:05 p.m.
Game 2 – Friday, March 31 at Peterborough, 7:05 p.m.
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 4 at Sudbury, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 5 at Sudbury, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 – Friday, April 7 at Peterborough, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 6 – Sunday, April 9 at Sudbury, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 11 at Peterborough, 7:05 p.m.*
Western Conference:
(1) Windsor Spitfires, vs. (8) Kitchener Rangers
Game 1 – Thursday, March 30 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.
Game 2 – Saturday, April 1 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 4 at Kitchener, 7 p.m.
Game 4 – Thursday, April 6 at Kitchener, 7 p.m.
Game 5 – Saturday, April 8 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 6 – Sunday, April 9 at Kitchener, 7 p.m.*
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 11 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*
(2) London Knights vs. (7) Owen Sound Attack
Game 1 – Friday, March 31 at London, 7 p.m.
Game 2 – Sunday, April 2 at London, 2 p.m.
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 4 at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.
Game 4 – Thursday, April 6 at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.
Game 5 – Friday, April 7 at London, 7 p.m.*
Game 6 – Sunday, April 9 at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.*
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 11 at London, 7 p.m.*
(3) Sarnia Sting vs. (6) Guelph Storm
Game 1 – Friday, March 31 at Sarnia, 7:05 p.m.
Game 2 – Sunday, April 2 at Sarnia, 2:05 p.m.
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 4 at Guelph, 7 p.m.
Game 4 – Thursday, April 6 at Guelph, 7 p.m.
Game 5 – Friday, April 7 at Sarnia, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 6 – Sunday, April 9 at Guelph, 2 p.m.*
Game 7 – Tuesday, April 11 at Sarnia, 7:05 p.m.*
(4) Saginaw Spirit vs. (5) Flint Firebirds
Game 1 – Thursday, March 30 at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m.
Game 2 – Friday, March 31 at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m.
Game 3 – Monday, April 3 at Flint, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 5 at Flint, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 – Friday, April 7 at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 6 – Saturday, April 8 at Flint, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 7 – Monday, April 10 at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m.*
