WEEKEND PREVIEW: Final Four
Erie, Pennsylvania — It’s the final week of the regular season as the Otters prepare for a four-game week to conclude the year, with three of the four games being played away from the EIA.
It all begins Tuesday as the Otters head to Windsor for a St. Patrick’s Day clash with the Spitfires. Wednesday will see the team head to Sarnia to battle the Sting. The Otters return home Saturday for Fan Appreciation Night against the Guelph Storm. The season concludes Sunday in St. Catharines as the Otters head to the Meridian Centre to take on the IceDogs.
AHEC YEAH!
NWPA AHEC’s Weekend Preview brings the latest news, promotions, and what YOU need to know before YOU go further into the new year.
Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Centre is a non-profit organization committed to helping communities in Northwest Pennsylvania meet their primary health care needs and enhance the quality of health in our region, especially the rural and underserved communities.
‘AHEC’ maintains partnerships with community, government, and educational agencies and institutions that will connect students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health.
Head to nwpaahec.org to learn more or to apply!
LAST TIME OUT
The Otters would begin their weekend with a home contest against the Kingston Frontenacs, the one and only time the team from the “Limestone City” would make their way to Erie. The visitors would get on the board just 25 seconds into the game following an other-worldly deflection from Maleek McGowan. The Otters would answer swiftly with Ulysses Lombardi striking to make it a 1-1 game. Erie would add a short-handed goal just moments later with Julius Saari scoring to give the Otters a 2-1 lead they would take into the second period. The Fronts would grow into the game, dominating the second and tying the game at 2-2 heading to the third. In the final frame, Kingston would take the lead before a late power play goal from Tyler Cooper would send the game to overtime. In the extra period, Kieren Dervin would be the hero and the Frontenacs would take the extra point.
Saturday would see the Niagara IceDogs make their final visit of the season to Erie as the teams would take to green ice to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend. The visitors would score the game’s first goal before Evan Headrick would get the Otters back to even at 1-1. Niagara would add another to make it a 2-1 game heading into the second period. From here, the IceDogs would take over, scoring five more times and routing the Otters on home ice by a final of 7-1.
FOUR GAMES, ONE WEEK
Erie kicks off their final week of the season by heading to Windsor for a St. Patty’s Day tilt with the Spitfires.
It’s then off to Sarnia for a mid-week clash with the Sting on Wednesday from Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Erie then heads home for their final game of the season at Erie Insurance Arena as they take on the Guelph Storm.
The Otters will end their regular season with a Sunday afternoon visit to the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines to battle the IceDogs in game 68/68.
WHO TO WATCH
It has been a bit of a roller coaster for Otters forward Evan Headrick since being acquired from the Kitchener Rangers but he’s hoping his eighth goal of the season Saturday will spark a big end of the season. Headrick is in just his second OHL season but with injuries in his rookie year, this has been his first true year in major junior hockey. Headrick still has a big future ahead of him in navy and gold and he’s hoping he’s able to finish strong and come back stronger when the team gets ready for camp in August.
It has been an outstanding year for Otters defenseman Julius Saari and he’s heated up offensively lately as he looks to end his season on a high-note. Saari has two goals in his last three games and points in three of his last four. The Finnish blueliner has been a steady presence all season for the Otters, even in a season that has had its ups and downs. The Otters are looking forward to having number 6 back in their lineup next season and he’s looking to end the year the right way.
KNOW THE FOE
The Windsor Spitfires are first-up for the Otters on the week and this is a team the Otters have had their troubles with this season. The Spits are one of a few teams that are truly all-in, bringing in big names at the trade deadline like Jakub Fibigr, Alex Pharand and Nathan Villeneuve. Lately however, the Spits have been dealing with injuries to key players like Ethan Belchetz and Villeneuve. In their absence , it’s been players like Caden Harvey, Beksultan Makysh and John McLaughlin carrying the offensive load. Not to mention, the outstanding goaltending they’ve gotten this season from Joey Costanzo, Windsor is sure to be a tough nut to crack for the Otters.
Erie heads to Sarnia to take on the Sting next, a team the Otters have had some success against, especially at home. Sarnia, like Erie, is also out of the playoff picture as they look forward to next season and adding a top-four pick. The Sting have gotten nice years out of guys like Beckham Edwards and Alessandro Di Iorio as expected but perhaps a bit more out of left field has been the season that Easton Walos has had, leading the Sting in scoring. Sarnia is a team that can play a physical style and should be an interesting test as the Otters look to exact a bit of revenge for a 9-1 beating they took the last time they crossed the Blue Water Bridge just after the trade deadline.
The Guelph Storm are next up for the Otters as they close out the home schedule with a visit from the 2027 Memorial Cup hosts. The Storm are set to make their return to the postseason and hoping to build momentum to gain experience for a rather young team looking to make their mark. Tyler Hopkins has been an excellent add for the Storm with players like veteran forward Ethan Midema also having a strong season. In net, Zachary Jovanovski has been strong and busy, playing in 50 games for Guelph entering the weekend. The Storm have high-hopes next season but look to shock the world making their way to the postseason, the Otters stand in their way for what is Guelph’s final regular season game.
The Otters will end their season with a team they know quite well in the Niagara IceDogs as they pay a visit to the Meridian Centre. These two just met last Saturday at the EIA with the IceDogs victorious by a 7-1 score. The IceDogs are still missing forward Ryan Roobroeck, however, Riley Patterson continues to lead the way with a terrific season up-front. The IceDogs look to use this final test to their advantage as they prepare for the postseason and a match-up with either Barrie or Ottawa.
HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN, & FOLLOW ALONG
The new home of Otters hockey is Flo Hockey!
Delivering a high-quality viewing experience, Flo Hockey provides access to more than 700 OHL games, and games from the QMJHL, AHL, ECHL, and more, streamed across a range of platforms, including PC and Tablet on Safari and Google Chrome web browsers, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices.
Fans can also see the NHL’s stars of tomorrow on the Amazon Fire, Apple TV, V and Roku platforms – right from the comfort of their homes!
For more information, head to flohockey.tv!
:
- PC and/or Tablet on Safari and Google Chrome web browsers
- iOS / Android mobile devices.
- Amazon Fire
- Apple TV
- Roku platforms
Flo Hockey provides live game action all season long, plus free-to-access video-on-demand content and a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate. For more information, head to flohockey.tv.
LISTEN
Listen to Otters Hockey all across Erie County with iHeart Media Erie and the Otters broadcast network!
Every game can feel like a home game as a fan with the Otters Radio Network. With live-game broadcasts of all 68 Regular Season games, fans can always hear the action as it happens. Thanks to the Broadcast Home for Otters Hockey, iHeart Media Erie, fans can listen to every game LIVE on the iHeart App from ANYWHERE in the world! From Pennsylvania to Transylvania and everywhere in between, you’ll always be in range to hear Otters Hockey.
- iHeart Media(Erie, PA) is the Flagship Station for the Otters on WJET 1400 AM, and home to Otters Hockey in Pennsylvania. Games can be heard on terrestrial radio on 96.7 FM/1400 AM in Erie and the surrounding communities of NWPA, or can be livestreamed worldwide on the iHeart App.
FOLLOW ALONG
If you want to follow along in real-time to the weekend’s games, make sure you’re following the Otters on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. From live tweets of the action, scoring updates, photos, and highlights, the Otters’ social media is the best way to keep up with the team wherever they are.
UP NEXT
This does it for the 2025-26 regular season. The Otters will prepare for a busy offseason which will include a top-four pick in the OHL Priority Selection and a high pick in the CHL Import Draft as they prepare for training camp in August ahead of the 2026-27 season.
