THREE STARS: Closing the Book on the 2024-25 Season
Erie, Pennsylvania – After taking Round One of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs (pres. by Rebich Investments) by storm, the Erie Otters turned their sights to Round Two against an all-too familiar foe – the London Knights.
After a five-game series with 32 total goals for Erie, the Otters were in for a rude awakening with a 6-3 loss in Game One.Still in London for Game Two, the Otters would fall again 7-2 and take a 2-0 deficit in the series.
The series would come to the EIA for Game Three, where the Otters would be blanked 4-0. The Otters would give no handouts and would fight to the last breath in Game Four, trading leads and forcing overtime until the Knights finally pulled out a 4-3 win to complete the sweep and end Erie’s playoff journey.
Here are the players who made this week happen.
THIRD STAR – DYLAN EDWARDS
Always there when we need him most, it’s Dylan Edwards.
After an 11-point series against the Saginaw Spirit, Edwards followed it up with four points in four games against the London Knights.
In Game One in London, Edwards helped to find Pano Fimis for the first goal of the series – a power play to give the Otters a 1-0 lead. The Knights would score four unanswered goals before Edwards put the puck in the net himself for an unassisted goal to cut the London lead to 4-2.
Edwards lent a helping hand twice in Game Two, picking up assists on both of the Erie goals for a final score of 7-2.
After four stellar seasons with the Otters, there’s no doubt Dylan Edwards will be a real problem in his overage season next season.
SECOND STAR – PANO FIMIS
With the culmination of his overage season, there is absolutely no denying that Pano Fimis has left an indelible mark on the Erie Otters organization. With 86 points (32G+54A) to lead the regular season and another 17 points (9G+8A) to spearhead the playoffs, Erie’s Notre Dame commit has created a standard that will characterize the Otters for years to come.
Fimis began Game One in the Sweet Caroline series with a goal, putting the Otters up 1-0 in the final minutes of the first period on a power play opportunity.
In Game Two, Fimis picked up dual power play assists in Erie’s 6-3 loss.
To finish off Game Four, the overager had a hand in all three goals. Fimis equalized late in the first period to make it 1-1 before intermission. Three and a half minutes into the second period, Fimis picked up his third assist of the series to give the Otters a 2-1 lead. After two back-to-back goals in the second, Fimis and his fellow overager, Sam Alfano found Malcolm Spence to knot the game back up at 3-3 and force an overtime.
After two and a half seasons with the Erie Otters, Pano’s legacy has been cemented within the organization, and we wish him the best of luck with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Thank you, Pano!
FIRST STAR – OTTERS NATION
As if we didn’t already know it, Otters Nation proved themselves – yet again – to be the best fans in the OHL.
You’ve stuck by us through thick and thin and shown your support every step of the way. From cheering us along at home to hitting the road for away games, we could not be more grateful for the unending faith you’ve put in the Erie Otters.
The season may be over, but this isn’t a goodbye. It’s a see you soon in the 2025-26 regular season, better than ever before.
Otters Nation, you are truly one of one.
