2014 OHL Playoff Tracker

The 2013-14 Ontario Hockey League regular season schedule wrapped up on Monday March 17 with playoffs starting on Thursday March 20. All 16 playoff positions and eight first round matchups have been confirmed.

In the Eastern Conference the first place Oshawa Generals will host the eighth place Mississauga Steelheads, the second place North Bay Battalion will host the seventh place Niagara IceDogs, the third place Kingston Frontenacs will host the sixth place Peterborough Petes, and the fourth place Barrie Colts will host the fifth place Sudbury Wolves. 

In the Western Conference, the first place Guelph Storm will host the eighth place Plymouth Whalers, the second place Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds will host the seventh place Owen Sound Attack, the third place Erie Otters will host the sixth place Saginaw Spirit, and the fourth place London Knights will host the fifth place Windsor Spitfires.

Click here to see the 2014 OHL Playoff Schedule

OHL Eastern Conference Standings:

1. Oshawa Generals – 90 points (42-20-0-6)
          – Generals finish 1st place in Eastern Conference and win East Division title

2. North Bay Battalion – 82 points (38-24-4-2)
          – Battalion finish with 2nd seed in Eastern Conference playoffs and win Central Division title

3. Kingston Frontenacs – 84 points (39-23-3-3)
          – Frontenacs finish 3rd place in Eastern Conference and will play Petes in first round playoffs

4. Barrie Colts – 77 points (37-28-1-2)
          – Colts finish 4th place in Eastern Conference and will play Wolves in first round playoffs

5. Sudbury Wolves – 77 points (33-24-3-8)
          – Wolves finish 5th place in Eastern Conference and will play Colts in first round playoffs

6. Peterborough Petes – 70 points (32-30-0-6)
          – Petes finish 6th place in Eastern Conference and will play Frontenacs in first round playoffs

7. Niagara IceDogs – 57 points (24-35-3-6)
          – IceDogs finish 7th place in Eastern Conference and will play Battalion in first round playoffs

8. Mississauga Steelheads – 54 points (24-38-1-5)
          – Steelheads finish 8th place in Eastern Conference and will play Generals in first round playoffs

9. Belleville Bulls – 53 points (23-38-4-3)
          – Bulls will pick 4th overall in OHL Priority Selection on Saturday April 5

10. Ottawa 67’s – 52 points (23-39-3-3)
          – 67’s will pick 3rd overall in OHL Priority Selection on Saturday April 5

OHL Western Conference Standings:

1. Guelph Storm – 108 points (52-12-2-2)
          – Storm win OHL regular season title with 1st place in Western Conference and win Midwest Division title

2. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – 95 points (44-17-2-5)
          – Greyhounds finish in 2nd seed in Western Conference playoffs and win West Division title

3. Erie Otters – 106 points (52-14-2-0)
          – Otters finish 3rd place in Western Conference and will play Spirit in first round playoffs

4. London Knights – 103 points (49-14-1-4)
          – Knights finish 4th place in Western Conference and will play Spitfires in first round playoffs

5. Windsor Spitfires – 77 points (37-28-3-0)
          – Spitfires finish 5th place in Western Conference and will play Knights in first round playoffs

6. Saginaw Spirit – 71 points (33-30-4-1)
          – Spirit finish 6th place in Western Conference and will play Otters in first round playoffs

7. Owen Sound Attack – 70 points (31-29-3-5)
          – Attack finish 7th place in Western Conference and will play Greyhounds in first round playoffs

8. Plymouth Whalers – 63 points (28-33-0-7)
          – Whalers finish 8th place in Western Conference and will play Storm in first round playoffs

9. Kitchener Rangers – 49 points (22-41-2-3)
          – Rangers will pick 2nd overall in the OHL Priority Selection on Saturday April 5

10. Sarnia Sting – 41 points (17-44-2-5)
          – Sting will pick 1st overall in OHL Priority Selection on Saturday April 5

PLAYOFF STRUCTURE

The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the OHL playoffs with the division leaders ranked one-two in each Conference.

In the first round of the playoffs, first place plays eighth, second plays seventh, third plays sixth and fourth plays fifth in each conference.

Teams are re-seeded within their conference after each round and the division winners are always ranked 1-2 within the conference as long as they progress. The champions from each conference play in the OHL Championship Series for the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

The OHL Playoffs are scheduled to begin on the Thursday following the conclusion of the regular season. The first round series must be completed within 13 days; the second round series also have 13 days to finish while the Conference Championships are 14 days in length. The OHL Championship Series is also 14 days in length.

TIE BREAKING SYSTEM

If two or more teams are tied for the final OHL playoff position in either conference, sudden-death playoff games will be used to determine the team that advances.

For all other playoff positions, the following tie-breaking procedures are in place:

1. The team with the most number of wins during the regular season shall be declared higher in the standings.
2. If two teams are still tied, the team with the best record in head-to-head competition (based on points including overtime losses) shall be declared higher in the standings. If more than two teams are tied after the first tie-breaker, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other shall be used to determine the standing.
3. If still tied, the team with the greater differential between goals scored for and against by clubs having equal standing after the second tie-breaker shall be declared higher in the standings.

REGULAR SEASON TROPHIES

Hamilton Spectator Trophy: Guelph Storm
The Hamilton Spectator Trophy is awarded to the team that finishes the regular season first overall in the Ontario Hockey League. The Storm are the 2013-14 recipient of this trophy earning it for the fourth time since 1995 also winning in 1996, and in 1998.  The trophy was presented to the Ontario Hockey Association by the Hamilton Spectator in the 1957-58 season.  The winner of the Hamilton Spectator Trophy has gone on to win the OHL championship 21 times and the Memorial Cup 11 times.

Leyden Trophy (East Division): Oshawa Generals
The Generals captured the East Division title for the fourth time and first since 1991. They also earned division titles in 1987 and 1990 before winning the OHL Championship in both years.

Emms Trophy (Central Division): North Bay Battalion
The Battalion captured the Central Division title for the fifth time since 2003 also winning in 2006, and back-to-back in 2008-09.  This marks the Battalion’s first division title in North Bay since relocating from Brampton this season.  The last time North Bay celebrated a division title it was with the Centennials in 1994 earning the Leyden Trophy.  The club also earned the Emms Trophy two straight times in 1986-87. 

The Emms and Leyden Trophies were first presented in the 1975-76 season when the OHL was split into divisions with the expansion of the league to 12 teams. The awards originated in recognition of Matt Leyden and Leighton ‘Hap’ Emms for their contributions to junior hockey in Ontario.

Bumbacco Trophy (West Division): Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Greyhounds locked up the Bumbacco Trophy with their West Division crown for the fourth time in franchise history and for the first time since the 2007-08 season.  The club also earned West Division titles in 1997 and 2005.  The Bumbacco Trophy was inaugurated in 1994-95 when the league realigned into three divisions.  The award is named after former Greyhounds’ General Manager Angelo Bumbacco.

Holody Trophy (Midwest Division): Guelph Storm
The Storm captured their second Holody Trophy as Midwest Division winners last claiming the trophy in 1999 when it was first introduced.  The Holody Trophy, awarded in recognition of the contributions to the OHL by former Guelph and Owen Sound Platers Governor Joe Holody, was presented following the 1998-99 season for the first time with the realignment of the league into four divisions.