Etched forever into the history books, the 2021-2022 edition of the Hamilton Bulldogs will obviously be remembered as champions, but the accomplishments of the team along the way deserve equal recognition. With deadlline additions including Mason McTavish and Arber Xhekaj the Bulldogs made FirstOntario Centre into a fortress, rattling off 18 straight victories on home ice heading into the playoffs. The team would do so sporting a Hamilton junior record 51 wins and 107 total points during the regular season, and a target on their backs as the team to beat.
No matter, the Bulldogs quickly disposed of the Peterborough, Mississauga, and North Bay in consecutive four-game sweeps, and headed into the OHL Championship Series against the Windsor Spitfires with a 12-0 playoff record. In a spirited Game 1 which went to overtime, the Spits came away with the victory – ending Hamilton’s home win streak at an incredible 24 games. Despite the early setback in the series, the Bulldogs’ habit of not losing two games in a row – something they had last done back on Nov. 5 – came in handy, as the teams dueled all the way to Game 7. With a record attendance of nearly 13,000 cheering them on, the Bulldogs sealed the series and earned the right to hoist the J. Ross Robertson Cup as 2022 OHL champions with a 6-1 win.
