For the ‘X’: Ottawa’s playoff ritual returns for 2025-26 run

OTTAWA, ON – With the 67’s clinching the playoffs this season, the Barber Poles are set to bring back their playoff tradition: For The X. 

First unveiled during the team’s 2018-19 run, the 67’s would unveil an ‘X’ on the board at TD Place after each playoff win. With this being the fifth playoff series since the introduction of the ritual, here’s a look at the 67’s playoff history since then.

 

2018-19 – XXXX XXXX XXXX XX

The original run was one of glory. 

The 67’s—whose roster was spearheaded by veterans Tye Felhaber, Austin Keating and Noel Hoefenmayer, and featured future NHLers in Marco Rossi, Jack Quinn and Kevin Bahl—entered the post-season as one of the league’s most dominant teams, finishing first in the league with a 50-12-6 record.

The 67’s faced off against the then Hamilton Bulldogs, who were fresh off an OHL championship in 2018. Despite boasting a roster with future Ottawa Senators Jan Jenik and Arthur Kaliyev, who had a 102-point season, it was clear that the Bulldogs stood no chance after losing 9-2 in Game 1. The Barber Poles wouldn’t relent, picking up the next three to send the Bulldogs back to Hamilton.

The Sudbury Wolves would prove to be a tougher challenge on paper for the 67’s in Round 2, featuring eventual second overall NHL draft pick Quinton Byfield up front and future Sabres starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net, who was the top goaltender in the OHL that season. However, Ottawa would continue to roll, scoring 21 goals in the first three games before picking up its second straight sweep with a tight 3-2 win in Game 4.

The 67’s would face a longstanding rival in the Oshawa Generals in round three. While lacking in bona fide future NHL talent, the Generals’ roster was deep with plenty of NHL draft picks and a couple of eventual NHLers in Kyle MacLean and Jack Studnicka. However, Ottawa was still too much for the Generals, blowing the Generals out offensively in the first few games before closing out the series with an overtime thriller for the third sweep in a row.

For the last dance, the 67’s got paired with the Guelph Storm. While the 67’s had faced little adversity from their opponents thus far, the Storm’s roster would prove to be a different beast—boasting the star power in Nick Suzuki and Sean Durzi, but also down the lineup depth as well. However, the first two games proved to be more of the same for Ottawa, with the 67’s taking the first game 7-2 and the second 4-3. Unlike any of the teams the Barber Poles had faced thus far, the Storm pushed back with a 7-2 win as they returned home. They’d then edge out two close games over Ottawa to put them up 3-2, and the 67’s on the brink of elimination. Ultimately, the 67’s would capitulate the series and their season in the sixth game.

While the ending wasn’t quite as hoped, the run birthed a new tradition that has followed the 67’s through each playoff run since.

 

2021-22 – 

After a worldwide pandemic shutdown, the 67’s chances at a second go in 2018-19 and cancelled the 2019-20 season entirely, the Barber Poles returned with a nearly entirely new roster since the last time they made the playoffs. Jack Beck, Cameron Tolnai, Alec Belanger and Will Cranley, who were all youngsters during the 2019 finals run, had now ascended into veteran roles on the team. Meanwhile, Dave Cameron had taken over the reins as head coach as Andre Tourigny signed on as the head coach of the then Arizona Coyotes.

While youngsters Jack Matier, Brady Stonehouse, Vincenz Rohrer, and Luca Pinelli, and NCAA free agent signing Tyler Boucher would elevate into becoming key pieces by season’s end. 

After finishing just under .500, the 67’s would get a tough matchup in the first round against the No. 1 seed North Bay Battalion. The Battalion’s roster featured the likes of 101-point scorer Brandon Coe, as well as notable NHL prospects such as Ty Nelson, Matvei Petrov, and Dalyn Wakely. Not to mention, overager Mitchell Russell—who’d prove to be a thorn in the sides of the 67’s in the playoffs with eight points in the series—and a young Nic Sima. 

After bringing out the brooms throughout 2019’s run, this time, it was Ottawa who got swept. Between the regular season record and first-round exit, this proved to be a learning year for the young 67’s. 

 

2022-23 – XXXX XX

The following year would see the 67’s take a massive leap forward. The aforementioned youngsters would continue to elevate their play, while new blood in Cooper Foster, Brad Gardiner, Frankie Marrelli, and Thomas Sirman would make their impact. The team would get rewarded near the deadline with a few big additions in Anaheim Ducks 10th overall pick, Pavel Mintyukhov from Saginaw, and star overager Logan Morrison from Hamilton. Furthermore, the tandem of breakout goaltender Collin MacKenzie and Max Donoso would prove to be invaluable. As a result, Ottawa would once again break the 50-win mark, with a 51-12-5 record for first in the league—surpassing their record from 2019 and setting a franchise record in wins. 

In the first round, the Barber Poles would get fed the Oshawa Generals. The Gens were a rather young team, with several notable future NHL draft picks, including Beckett Sennecke, Ben Danford, Calum Ritchie, Luca Marrelli, and David Bedkowski. While plenty talented, the 67’s would prove to be too much for the Generals to handle to start, with Ottawa picking up a 7-0 win to open the series and a 3-2 victory in Game 2. Oshawa would find its footing with a 5-4 overtime winner in Game 3. But Ottawa would steamroll Oshawa in Game 4, winning 9-0, before closing out the series in 5 with a 4-2 victory.

The 67’s then faced off against the Peterborough Petes for round two. Heading into the playoffs, the Petes weren’t considered heavy favourites, but had prepared themselves for a run. The team featured the likes of eventual NHL prospects in Owen Beck, Tucker Robertson, Brennan Othmann, Chase Stillman, and J.R. Avon. Furthermore, the Petes’ roster also featured a young Samuel Mayer and Sam McCue. The 67’s would take Game 1 in a tit-for-tat battle that’d end 4-3 for Ottawa. However, the Petes would answer back with three games to put Ottawa on the brink of elimination. A return to TD Place proved to be extra motivation in their 5-4 win over Peterborough, but the Barber Poles would ultimately fall in the sixth game to end their record-book season short.

While the loss was bittersweet, especially being so early, the Petes would end up going on to win the OHL championship that season. 

 

2023-24 – XXXX XX

The 2023-24 Ottawa 67’s team remained competitive, but they incurred some heavy losses in the departures of Matier, Tolnai, and Beck. However, the additions of Jacob Maillet, Samuel Mayer, and Braeden Kressler would prove enough to keep the team competitive. They’d finish with a 36-24-8 record, setting themselves up for a matchup against the Brantford Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs roster at this point was stacked, featuring the likes of future first-rounders in Jake O’Brien and Marek Vanacker, as well as NHL prospects in Nick Lardis, Patrick Thomas and Florian Xhekaj. Their strength was evident in Game 1, with Brantford picking up a 5-2 win. The 67’s would then put the Bulldogs on their back heels, with three straight wins. Brantford would pick up the win in Game 5, but Ottawa would return the favour at home to end the series with a dominant 6-1 outing.

In round two, Ottawa would get matched with the Oshawa Generals. The Generals’ team was nearly identical to the one that fell to Ottawa in the first round the year before, but this time, they were much faster, stronger and ultimately better. Oshawa would take the first two games at home before heading to TD Place for Game 3. Ottawa would put up a valiant effort at home, taking the Gens to overtime, but they’d ultimately fall 4-3. The Generals would close out the series undefeated with a 4-1 win to kick the 67’s out of the playoffs.

 

2025-26 – To be continued

After a disappointing season, which saw the 67’s miss the playoffs in 2024-25, Ottawa has fought its way back into the playoffs and into contention. The Barber Poles have amassed a 39-14-1-2 record, sitting third in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the league.

This 67’s group seems poised for a good run, one ‘X’ at a time, as the club’s first OHL championship since 2001, and first Memorial Cup berth since 2005. 

In the meantime, Ottawa has 12 more games of regular-season action to tune up for the playoffs. climb up the standings for a favourable matchup and secure home ice advantage.