OHL PLAYOFFS: All you need to know about the first-round matchups (2024)

The Memorial Cup tournament is heading south of the border for the first time in 26 years, set for May 24-June 2 in Saginaw, Michigan. But to help set that stage, the Ontario Hockey League playoffs start Thursday with a short list of contenders and a group of future NHL stars looking for glory. Ryan Pyette breaks down the first-round matchups:

Western Conference

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London (1) vs. Flint (8)

Knights: Easton Cowan (Maple Leafs) ended regular season on a franchise-record 36-game point streak . . . Flyers prospects Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk, a defenceman, recorded 35 goals and 24 goals respectively . . . Sam Dickinson (18 goals, 70 points, plus-56) will be one of the first d-man picked in the 2024 NHL draft . . . Goalies Michael Simpson and Owen Willmore shared the Dave Pinkney Trophy for lowest goals against (197).

Firebirds: Over-age forward Nolan Dann (28 goals, 64 points) was knocked out by London in conference final last year while with Sarnia . . . Oliver Peer scored 15 goals in 30 games since arrival from Windsor . . . Coulson Pitre (Ducks) scored four times and had seven points in four games against the Knights this season.

Head-to-head: London won three of four.

Prediction: Knights in five.

Saginaw (2) vs. Owen Sound (7)

Spirit: Sophom*ore Zayne Perekh led the Memorial Cup hosts – and all CHL defencemen – with 33 goals and 96 points . . . 2023 OHL champ Owen Beck (Canadiens) scored 18 goals and 51 points in 32 games, including a 20-game point streak, since move from Peterborough . . . Michael Misa’s 75-point sophom*ore season was most in franchise history by a player who started the year at age 16.

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Attack: Captain Colby Barlow (Jets) scored 40 goals in 50 games . . . Carter George, the NHL’s top North American goaltending prospect, led the OHL in shots faced (1,923), saves (1,744) and tied for lead in shutouts (four) . . . Overager Deni Goure paced Bayshore Bears with 96 points.

Head-to-head: Spirit won both meetings.

Prediction: Saginaw in five.

Sault Ste. Marie (3) vs. Guelph (6)

Greyhounds: Gavin Hayes (Blackhawks) posted 18 goals and 40 points in 28 games since arrival from Flint . . . Over-ager Jack Beck led the way with a career-high 27 goals, 85 points . . . Finn d-man Arttu Karki (Golden Knights) scored 21 goals from the back end.

Storm: Jett Luchanko (20 goals, 74 points) played himself into NHL first-round contention . . . Over-age captain Braeden Bowman had a team-high 37 goals . . . The blue-line combo of Michael Buchinger (Blues) and Cam Allen (Capitals) overcame injuries to play solid hockey down the stretch.

Head-to-head: Greyhounds won three of four.

Prediction: Hounds in six

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Kitchener (4) vs. Erie (5)

Rangers: Carson Rehkopf (Kraken) sniped 52 goals in 60 games . . . Hunter Brzustewicz (Flames) tied a franchise record with 92 points from the back end . . . Over-ager Matthew Sop jumped from 23 goals last year to 43 this season.

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Otters: Carey Terrance (Ducks) put 29 goals and 52 points in 59 games . . . Dylan Edwards scored 22 times in 38 games after starting season with the Junior A Toronto Patriots. . . Malcolm Spence (19 goals, 62 points) isn’t eligible for NHL draft until 2025.

Head-to-head: Rangers won four of six, but three meetings went to overtime.

Prediction: Otters in seven

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Eastern Conference

Oshawa (1) vs. Barrie (8)

Generals: Finished season on a 12-game heater . . . Only 40-win team in the conference . . . Goalie Jacob Oster led league with 35 wins and 60 appearances . . . Calum Ritchie (Avalanche) had 80 points in 50 games . . . Overage defenceman Connor Punnett solidified Oshawa back end after 3 1/2 years with Barrie.

Colts: Beau Jelsma (37 goals, 81 points) emerged as one of best offensive players in the league . . . Worst power play (16.3 per cent) and penalty kill (66.2) of all playoff teams . . . With Beau Akey (Oilers) hurt, 17-year-old Kashawn Aitcheson led blue line with 39 points and 126 penalty minutes . . . Barrie won 20 games at home, but only eight on the road.

Head-to-head: Teams split four games.

Prediction: Generals in five.

North Bay (2) vs. Kingston (7)

Battalion: Lost in Game 7 of conference final at home to Peterborough last year . . . NHL undrafted Anthony Romani’s 58 goals most in the OHL since ex-Troop Justin Brazeau’s 61 in 2018-19 . . . First time two Troops scored 100 points in same season (Romani and Dalyn Wakely) since team move from Brampton in 2013 . . . Undrafted Owen Van Steensel improved from 11 goals last year to 41 this season . . . Latvian Sandis Vilmanis (Panthers) scored 28 times in 30 games since deal with Sarnia.

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Frontenacs: Captain Paul Ludwinski (Blackhawks) led the team with 69 points . . . Jacob Battaglia, son of ex-NHLer Bates, put up Fronts-best 31 goals in sophom*ore campaign . . . Jax Dubois, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound over-age centre, brings winning savvy after time with OHL champion Peterborough last year.

Head-to-head: Teams split four games.

Prediction: North Bay in five

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Brantford (3) vs. Ottawa (6)

Bulldogs: Marek Vanacker led the way with 35 goals and 82 points in NHL draft year . . . Florian Xhekaj (Canadiens) hammered home 34 goals . . . Zakary Lavoie scored 18 times in 31 games since being dealt from Niagara.

67’s: Luca Pinelli (Blue Jackets) pumped in 48 goals, seven more than his older brother Francesco’s best season in Kitchener . . . Top NHL d-man prospect Henry Mews put up 61 points in 65 gamers . . . Over-age d-man Samuel Mayer racked up 21 goals and 100 penalty minutes between Peterborough and Ottawa this year.

Head-to-head: Brantford won three of four.

Prediction: Bulldogs in seven

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Mississauga (4) vs. Sudbury (5)

Steelheads: Sophom*ore goaltender Ryerson Leenders led the league with a .909 save percentage in 46 games . . . Luke Misa had a solid 26-goal, 81-point season in his NHL draft year . . . Former Sarnia first-rounder Porter Martone scored 33 goals and isn’t NHL draft-eligible until next year.

Wolves: David Goyette (Kraken) won the OHL scoring title with 40 goals and 117 points . . . Quentin Musty (Sharks) put up a ridiculous 43 goals and 102 points in 53 games . . . Slovakian Dalibor Dvorsky (Blues) scored 45 goals in first major junior season.

Head-to-head: Teams split six meetings.

Prediction: Steelheads in seven

rpyette@postmedia.com

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