Round one of the CHL playoffs is completed and the Maple Leafs lost only three prospects, one temporarily. The Victoria Royals were eliminated from the WHL playoffs in six games by the Everett Silvertips. The upstart Royals tried their best, but Jack Walker being injured for the series, along with other members of the team, put the shorthanded Royals at a disadvantage. Neither Walker or Bobylyov have been asked to join the Marlies yet.
Jeremy Bracco is gone for now, the Memorial Cup hosts have been eliminated in round one by the London Knights - and are the first OHL Memorial Cup host to not play atleast round two of the playoffs since the 1980 Dukes of Hamilton. Before anyone asks, no Bracco can’t join the Marlies in the meantime. He has 6 weeks off now, until the Memorial cup.
JP was at the game and you can read his article on it here.
The round two match ups are set, and games start tomorrow!
Ontario Hockey League
JJ Piccinich (F) / Nicolas Mattinen (D)
1G, 1A, -2 / 0G, 0A, +2
London Knights defeat Windsor Spitfires: 4-3
March 28th - Away
L 3-1 - 0G, 0A, -1 / 0G, 0A, -1
March 30th - Away
L 3-2 OT - 0G, 1A, +1 / No Points
March 31st - Home
W 2-1 - 0G, 0A, -1 / 0G, 0A, +1
April 2nd - Away
W 5-3 - 1G, 0A, -1 / 0G, 0A, +1
April 4th - Home
W 3-2 - No Points / 0G, 0A, +1
Coming back from a 3-1 series deficit the unkillable London Knights took down the Memorial Cup hosts with a three game win streak. They’ll take on the Erie Otters in round two, and that series starts Thusday in Erie.
Stephen Desrocher (D)
Kingston Frontenacs defeat Hamilton Bulldogs 4-3
March 28th - Away
W 4-2 - No Points
March 30th - Away
W 5-1 - 0G, 1A, +3
March 31st - Home
W 4-2 - 1G, 0A
April 2nd - Away
L 5-2 - 0G, 0A, -3
April 4th - Home
W 3-2 OT - 0G, 1A, +2
The Frontenacs make the second round for the second straight year - can they pull off an upset like the Niagara IceDogs did to them last year? They upset the young and hungry Hamilton Bulldogs, who made their first playoff appearance since moving from Belleville, and now have a chance to keep playing spoiler. The Fronts play the OHL Eastern Conference leader Peterborough Petes in round two. Game one is Thursday in Peterborough.
Jeremy Bracco (F) - 2G, 3A, +1
Windsor Spitfires lose series vs London: 4-3
March 28th - Home
W 3-1 - 0G, 0A, -1
March 30th - Home
W 3-2 OT - 0G, 2A, +1
March 31st - Away
L 2-1 - 1G, 0A
April 2nd - Home
L 5-3 - 0G, 1A
April 4th - Away
L 3-2 - 1G, 0A, +1
Dropping three straight games to the reigning OHL and Memorial Cup Champions is a hard pill to swallow, harder still when you’re hosting the Memorial Cup this year. Bracco went a point per game in the final five, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Knights at bay.
Nikita Korostelev (F) - 0G, 2A, +1
Peterborough Petes
Sweep series vs Niagara IceDogs: 4-0
March 28 - Away
W 4-3 OT - 0G, 1A
March 30th - Away
W 6-2 - 0G, 1A, +1
The Peterborough Petes swept the Niagara IceDogs in round one. They will host the Kingston Frontenacs in round two.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Martins Dzierkals (F) - No Points
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies defeat Halifax Mooseheads: 4-2
March 28th - Away
W 2-0 - 0G, 0A, +1
March 29th - Away
L 3-1 - No Points
March 31st - Away
W 6-5 3OT - Suspended (Head shot)
April 3rd - Home
W 5-2 - 0G, 0A, -1
After missing the marathon game due to a suspension, Dzierkals came back and the 2016 QMJHL Champion Huskies will move on to the second round and host the Chicoutimi Sagueens starting Friday night.
Western Hockey League
Adam Brooks (F)
Regina Pats
Sweeps series vs Calgary Hitmen 4-0
March 28th - Away
W 5-2 - 0G, 1A
In not at all surprising news, the Regina Pats swept their first round opponent. The Pats will now play the Swift Current Broncos in the second round.
Jack Walker (F) / Vladimir Bobylyov (F)
Victoria Royals
Lost series vs Everett: 2-4
March 28th - Home
L 2-0 - Did Not Play / No Points
March 29th - Home
W 2-1 - Did Not Play / 0G, 1A, +1
March 31st - Away
L 3-2 OT - Did Not Play / No Points
April 2nd - Home
L 3-2 5OT - Did Not Play / 0G, 1A
The Royals weren’t expected to go far in the playoffs this year, it took a surge of winning to clinch a wild card playoff spot, then they went on a long losing streak. Without the versatile Jack Walker in play, the Royals were at more of a disadvantage. Victoria was very in this series however, going back and forth with Everett for wins in the first four games, and then losing the final two in overtime - game five in a single frame, but game six went to FIVE overtime periods before a winner was decided.
The Royals who are coming back will remember how close they made this series.
NCAA
Dominic Toninato (F)
U-Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
There are no games for UMD this week as the teams prepare for the Frozen Four in Chicago next week.
Completed seasons:
Nolan Vesey (F) - Maine Black Bears
Vesey has one more year to go with Maine, and is looking to return.
JD Greenway (D) - Wisconsin Badgers
The Freshman will return to the Badgers next year.
Joseph Woll (G) - Boston College Eagles
The Freshman will return to the Eagles next year.
Keaton Middleton (D) - Saginaw Spirit
Middleton could return for an overage year in the OHL next season.
Dakota Joshua (F) - Ohio State Buckeyes
Dakota will be returning to the Buckeyes next season.
Jack Walker (F) - Victoria Royals
Walker’s time in the CHL is now over. The overager missed his final playoff series due to injury, but is now free to sign a PTO/ATO with the Marlies/Solar Bears for the remainder of the year.
Vladimir Bobylyov (F) - Victoria Royals
Bobylyov could sign with the Marlies for the remainder of the season, and is eligible for an overage year in Victoria. It will be interesting to see where he ends up - On a Marlies/Solar Bears deal, on a Leafs/Marlies deal or back in the WHL.
Jeremy Bracco (F) - Windsor Spitfires
Bracco and the Spitfires aren’t quite done. They’re hosting the 99th Memorial Cup tournament, so they now have 6 weeks to rest and practice before they face off with the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL champions.
