Four teams remain in OHL playoffs
As the dominoes continue to fall, only four teams remain in the 2024 Ontario Hockey League playoffs.
The Eastern Conference final will see the Peterborough Petes’ arch rival Oshawa Generals duel with the North Bay Battalion, while in the Western Conference the perennial contender London Knights lock horns with the 2024 Memorial Cup host Saginaw Spirit.
The Generals march into the eastern finals with a very respectable 8-2 record in the post-season. Gens goalie and OHL goaltender of the year Jacob Oster has been spectacular posting a 1.91 goalsagainst average and .933 save percentage, while the team has found lightning in a bottle with hulking six-foot-seven centreman Dylan Roobroeck registering 16 points over 10 games including seven goals.
Roobroeck has been accompanied by Beckett Sennecke at the top of the Gens’ scoring leaders. Sennecke has potted six post-season goals and 15 points. Sennecke has shown offensive flair all season long with his creativity and excellent stick handling. Sennecke is projected to be a top pick in the upcoming 2024 NHL entry draft.
The North Bay Battalion have had success by committee. Rookie goaltender Mike McIvor, a Warkworth native who had only 20 games of OHL experience under his belt, has been forced into action after an injury to starting goaltender Dom Divincentiis. McIvor has been superb posting a 7-1 record to go along with a .924 save percentage. McIvor was excellent in Game 4 of round two of the Battalion’s series with the Sudbury Wolves, where he pitched a 36-save shutout to eliminate Sudbury on home ice in four straight games.
The Battalion have relied heavily on Sandis Vilmanis who has been brilliant in the absence of star forward and 58 goal scorer Anthony Romani. Vilmanis, who came over in a trade earlier in the year from the Sarnia Sting, has banked 16 points in nine post-season affairs. Dalyn Wakely, of Curve Lake First Nation, has followed up a solid regular season by registering a sizzling 11 goals in nine playoff games.
In the west, it is déjà vu once again. Dale Hunter and his powerhouse London Knights embark on another Western Conference final. Jacob Julien has been the offensive catalyst for the Knights, putting up 12 points in eight games. The Knights also possess two of the most dangerous threats on the penalty kill in Toronto Maple Leafs first rounder Easton Cowan and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey. Let’s not forget another top NHL prospect plies his trade for the Knights on the blue line in Sam Dickinson. Dickinson has great size at six-foot-three, 204 pounds and has exemplary poise on the back end for a 17-year-old rearguard.
The Knights are backstopped by former Petes netminder and 2023 OHL playoff MVP Michael Simpson. The London native and his teammates are undefeated thus far in the post-season with eight wins and zero losses. Simpson has posted a 2.44 GAA and .907 save percentage.
When it comes to the Saginaw Spirit, ex-Pete Owen Beck is atop the Spirit’s scoring leaders with 10 points in 11 games. Beck has only notched two goals and the Spirit will need him to elevate his offensive production if they are able to knock off the Knights. Nolan Lalonde has taken over the starting reins in goal for the Spirit after an injury to Andrew Oke. Lalonde, who signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022, is 3-3 with an .890 save percentage.
My prediction is an OHL finals matchup between ex-Petes Connor Lockhart and his Oshawa Generals and Simpson and his London Knights.
CHRIS HARDILL IS A PETERBOROUGH NATIVE WHO PLAYED GOAL FOR THE OHL’S BARRIE COLTS, KINGSTON FRONTENACS AND OTTAWA 67’S FROM 2000 TO 2003 AND DOES COLOUR COMMENTARY ON PETERBOROUGH PETES RADIO BROADCASTS.
HIS COLUMN WILL APPEAR WEEKLY IN THE EXAMINER DURING THE HOCKEY SEASON.