Colts, Frontenacs go the distance in Game 7 tonight

Back-to-back overtime finishes have paved the way to Game 7 tonight in Barrie as the Colts and visiting Kingston Frontenacs battle to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship Series.

Gage Heyes buried a rebound to put an end to Game 6 on Sunday after NHL Draft prospect Kashawn Aitcheson was the OT hero at Sadlon Arena on Saturday night.

While the Frontenacs are next to unbeatable at home, Kingston is still searching for its first win in its sixth trip to Barrie this season, something Troy Mann’s club will ultimately have to cross off the list if they hope to advance. The home team has won all six games to this point in the series.

Tonight marks arguably one of the biggest games in Kingston Frontenacs history. The franchise has only been to the East Final twice, losing to eventual OHL champions Hamilton in 2018 and Peterborough in 1993.

Charlie Schenkel stepped up his game in Games 5 and 6 to help the Fronts stay alive while the Colts, who had seemed to have settled on Sam Hillebrandt in the crease heading into Game 6, saw their starter go down with an injury as Ben Hrebik performed well, making 26 saves in relief on Sunday.

The Colts will look for a little playoff magic from the former North Bay Battalion trio of Dalyn Wakely, Anthony Romani and Owen Van Steensel tonight as the veterans seek to advance to their fourth consecutive Eastern Conference Final, each seeking to capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup for the first time. Romani enters play on an 11-game point streak.

Watch tonight’s game live at 7:00pm on OHL Live on CHL TV, as well as on Rogers tv in Barrie and YourTV in Kingston.

The Series so far:
Game 1 – Kingston 2 at Barrie 6 (BAR: Patterson 1G, 2A / Hillebrandt 38 SV)
Game 2 – Kingston 4 at Barrie 7 (BAR: Patterson 2G, 1A / Tiller 1G, 2A)
Game 3 – Barrie 3 at Kingston 5 (KGN: Guindon 2G / Heyes 1G, 2A)
Game 4 – Barrie 4 at Kingston 9 (KGN: Uronen 3G, 1A / Burns 1G, 3A)
Game 5 – Kingston 1 at Barrie 2 OT (BAR: Aitcheson OTW / Hillebrandt 27 SV)
Game 6 – Barrie 2 at Kingston 3 OT (KGN: Heyes OTW / Battaglia 2G)

Barrie Game 7 History (4-6):
2023 – lost to North Bay in second round / 2016 – defeated Mississauga in first round / 2013 – lost to London OHL Championship / 2013 – defeated Belleville East Final / 2012 – lost to Ottawa second round / 2004 – lost to Mississauga second round / 2000 – defeated Plymouth in OHL Championship / 2000 – defeated Sudbury in second round / 1999 lost to Oshawa in second round / 1996 lost to Kitchener in first round

Kingston Game 7 History (2-5):
2017 – defeated Hamilton in first round / 2014 – lost to Peterborough in first round / 2010 – lost to Brampton in first round / 1998 – defeated Oshawa in first round / 1990 – lost to Belleville in first round / 1977 – lost to Ottawa in semi-finals / 1975 – lost to Toronto in quarterfinals