Goodbye Joseph Woll, thanks for the great season. Yes the Boston College Eagles join the Maine Black Bears and Wisconsin Badgers as Maple Leafs prospect teams who are finished playing after losing to Boston University in the Hockey East semi-finals.
Also finished is Fedor Gordeev, as the Flint Firebirds missed the OHL playoffs again this year. The others are still going or just beginning their playoff races.
Ontario Hockey League
#77 - Eemeli Räsänen (D) - 1G, 2A, +2
x - Kingston Frontenacs - 36-23-6-8
3rd overall in Eastern Conference
March 14th: vs Oshawa Generals
L 7-4 - 1G, 0A, -1
March 16th: vs North Bay Battalion
W 5-3 - 0G, 2A, +3
March 17th: @ Mississauga Steelheads
L 3-1 - Did Not Play
The Frontenacs were considered on par with the Bulldogs but by seasons end they finished just one point ahead of fourth place in the East. Räsänen and the Fronts face off against the North Bay Battalion in round one, and for any Leafs fans in Sudbury, you can see game three of this series at the Sudbury Community Arena, as North Bay is hosting a curling tournament in their arena at the time of game three. My prediction is Kingston in five games.
#55 - Keaton Middleton (D) - 0G, 1A, -2
x - Saginaw Spirit - 29-30-9-0
8th in Western Conference
March 14th: @ Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
L 8-1 - 0G, 1A, -1
March 17th: vs London Knights
L 4-3 OT - 0G, 0A, +1
March 18th: @ Windsor Spitfires
L 3-2 - 0G, 0A, -2
Keaton Middleton and the Spirit are the Soo Greyhounds cannon fodder in the first round. Expect a quick exit for Saginaw and a Marlies ATO for Middleton come early April.
#15 - Fedor Gordeev (D) - 1G, 1A, -1
Flint Firebirds - 20-43-3-2
Season Over
March 14th: vs Owen Sound Attack
L 7-1 - No Points
March 16th: @ Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
W 4-3 OT - 1G, 1A, +1
March 17th: vs Windsor Spitfires
L 4-2 - 0G, 0A, -2
The Firebirds miss the playoffs, and finished second last in the OHL. Hopefully they’re preferred selection in the draft will report.
#19 - Ryan McGregor (F) - 1G, 2A, -1
x - Sarnia Sting - 46-17-4-1
Third seed in Western Conference
March 14th: vs Kitchener Rangers
W 4-3 SO - 0G, 0A, -1
March 16th: @ London Knights
W 4-2 - 0G, 1A
March 17th: @ Owen Sound Attack
L 9-4 - 1G, 1A
McGregor is ready to go for the playoffs, and the Sting get the third seed in the west, which gives them the reigning Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires as their first round opponent. Don’t let the title fool you, they are a shell of their former selves and should see a quick exit in five games at the hands of the Sting.
#52 - Nicolas Mattinen (D) - 1G, 0A, +4
xyz - Hamilton Bulldogs - 43-18-4-3
1st in Eastern Conference, 1st in East Division
March 15th: @ Niagara IceDogs
L 3-2 OT - 1G, 0A, +1
March 17th: @ Peterborough Petes
W 5-3 - 0G, 0A, +3
The Bulldogs ended their third season in Steeltown by claiming first overall in the Eastern Conference and are entering the playoffs as the favourite to come out of the East to make it to the OHL Championship Series. They’ll face off against the Ottawa 67’s, who finished 8th and 24 points back of the ‘dogs. My prediction is a Bulldogs sweep of the 67’s.
Western Hockey League
#33 - Ian Scott (G) - 56sv, 59sh, .949sv%
x - Prince Albert Raiders - 32-27-9-4
2nd Wild Card, Eastern Conference
March 13th: @ Moose Jaw Warriors
L 2-1 SO - 36sv, 37sh, .973sv%
March 14th: @ Regina Pats
L 3-2 SO - Did Not Play
March 16th: vs Saskatoon Blades
L 2-1 - 20sv, 22sh, .909sv%
March 17th: @ Saskatoon Blades
L 5-4 - Did Not Play
The Raiders just made the playoffs, finishing three points ahead of the Saskatoon Blades. Their late season losses cost them the first wild card and an easier path. Now they play the Moose Jaw Warriors in the first round, who finished the season 32 points ahead of the Raiders.
Junior A
#24 - Ryan O'Connell (D) - Injured
Penticton Vees, BCHL
O’Connell is injured and may miss the remainder of the season.
The Vees are in the second round of the playoffs, and currently lead the Trail Smoke Eaters 2-0.
NCAA
#31 - Joseph Woll (G) - 37sv, 41sh, .902sv%
Boston College Eagles
Season Over
March 16th: vs Boston University
L 4-3 OT - 37sv, 41sh, .902sv%
Woll and the Eagles were one goal away from the Hockey East finals, but fell short in over time. They were also left out of the NCAA bracket, and won’t be competing for a spot in the Frozen Four this year.
#8 - Dakota Joshua (F) - No Points
Ohio State Buckeyes
March 17th: @ Notre Dame
L 3-2 OT - No Points
The Buckeyes also fell one goal short, but they were in the Big10 Championship game. A great season ending one goal shy of glory gets a second chance as the Buckeyes will face off against Princeton this Saturday in the NCAA regionals. You can follow along at SBN College Hockey.
Completed Seasons
#14 - JD Greenway (D)
Wisconsin Badgers
#13 - Nolan Vesey (F)
Maine Black Bears
