2015 OHL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES BEGINS FRIDAY
It’s been a successful playoff journey for the Oshawa Generals so far. After making it to the third round, the Generals took out the North Bay Battalion in game six, becoming the 2015 Eastern Conference Champions. The last time the team won the third round of the playoffs was in 1997. As the Eastern Conference Champions, the Generals earned the Bobby Orr Trophy and brought it back to Oshawa for the first time. Heading into the OHL Championship Series, the Generals are set to take on the Erie Otters at home this Friday, May 8 at 7:35p.m. followed by game two on Saturday, May 9 at 7:05p.m.
It hasn’t been an easy journey to get to the OHL Final. Both the Generals and the Otters have had to work to get to where they are. The first round for Oshawa was a matchup with their long-time rivals, the Peterborough Petes. The Generals were able to pull off a 4-1 series win, which sent them to round two to take on the Niagara IceDogs. Heading into the series, the team knew they were going to be challenged, following two losses to the IceDogs in the regular season. However, the Generals kept the playoff trend going and beat out Niagara in five games. With two series wins, Oshawa did not get ahead of themselves going into the third round with the North Bay Battalion. After a 4-0 series sweep in 2014, the Generals were hungry for redemption. The Battalion put up a good fight winning one at the GM Centre and one at home, but Oshawa came out on top with a 4-2 series win to earn the title of Eastern Conference Champions and advance to the next round.
The Otters were also put to the test during the post-season. They first beat out the Sarnia Sting, followed by the London Knights in four games, and then the first place Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in six games, to advance to the OHL Final. As OHL Western Conference champions, Erie earned the Wayne Gretzky Trophy for the second time in franchise history.
Both teams have some key players to look out for. Of course, the top 2015 NHL Draft prospect Connor McDavid, will be in the spotlight. McDavid leads the entire Canadian Hockey League (CHL) in playoff points with 19 goals and 23 assists in 15 games played. McDavid’s teammate and another top NHL prospect, Dylan Strome, will also be on Oshawa’s radar. Strome, younger brother of NHLer Ryan Strome, finished first in the league in scoring in the regular season, with 129 points in 68 games played. Through the 2015 playoffs, he’s recorded 19 points in 15 games. The duo will be a challenge for the Generals but Oshawa has proved they can compete with the best.
Oshawa’s depth is what makes them a top competitor, and the reason they sat at the top of the BMO CHL Top 10 Rankings for so many weeks. The Generals have seven NHL draftees in their top three offensive lines, including Anthony Cirelli, who was ranked 67th in the final 2015 NHL Central Scouting Draft Rankings. On defence, there is captain and Florida Panthers prospect Josh Brown, and Mitch Vande Sompel, who was ranked 34th in the NHL Scouting rankings, and Stephen Desrocher who sits 145th on the list. The Generals will keep their same style of play heading into the OHL Finals. They’ll use their size to grind and finish checks, and their size and skill to score goals. Players like Michael Dal Colle (seven goals, 18 assists in 16 playoff games) and Cole Cassels (six goals and 13 assists in 16 playoff games) will continue to be key players for the team. Other top forwards including Michael McCarron, Hunter Smith and Tobias Lindberg will also be crucial. If the series is similar to the third round with the Battalion, the d-men will continue to chip in offensively with players like Dakota Mermis, Vande Sompel and Desrocher.
The Generals were the winning team earlier in the regular season when they topped the Otters 5-1 in the first game, followed by a final score of 4-1 in the second meeting, both without McDavid. The last game was in December, so this Friday will be an exciting matchup on the ice. Off the ice, we’ll also have lots going on for fans. The warm weather is back and so are our Ontario Motor Sales pre-game tailgate parties. Stop by the front of the GM Centre before the playoff action to have a cold one and enjoy music by 94.9 The Rock, and an army tank for #GENSarmy from the Ontario Regiment Museum. Face painting, temporary tattoos and a sign-making station will be back, and of course Deke will be there to get the crowd pumped up. The tailgate begins at 5:30p.m. on Friday, and 5:00p.m. on Saturday.
