Stage set for OHL Cup playoff showdowns

By Rob Benneian

When the dust settled following the round robin portion of the 2013 OHL Cup, just eight teams were left standing.

A jam-packed 40 game schedule saw 12 teams eliminated by Friday evening but none went down without a fight.  The top two seeds from each division have now advanced to the playoffs after surviving a grueling test against the best competition in the province.

“You’ve got the factor of fatigue and lots of games in a short period of time, so it’s going to be interesting who comes out,” said London Knights General Manager Mark Hunter. “(The top teams) have more depth in their third line, their fifth and sixth (defencemen).  There are top-end guys on the other teams but there’s not as much depth.”

Hunter identified the undefeated Elgin Middlesex Chiefs as a potential favourite with standout performances from players like Travis Konecny, who sits second in the tournament in points with 11, and Lawson Crouse.

“I take it one day at a time because if you don’t get through that day, there’s not a next day,” said Chiefs head coach Thomas Milne.

Hunter also said he’d been impressed with Toronto Marlboros co-captains Dylan Strome and Mitchell Stephens.  The Marlboros earned the second seed in Division 1 with a 3-1-0 record, losing only to the undefeated Barrie Jr. Colts on the tournament’s first day.

“We know we’re capable of beating any team in this tournament,” Strome said. “When we’re playing as a team, we’re tough to beat.”

The OMHA Champion Oakville Rangers qualified for the playoffs as the two seed in Division 3 with a 2-1-1 record.  The Rangers recovered from a slow start to the tournament, winning their last two games against the Thunder Bay Kings and Toronto Jr. Canadiens by an 11-0 margin.  Though they are able to light it up offensively, the Rangers played stingy defence allowing a tournament-low four goals in four games.

“We’re just happy after a slow start, we weren’t completely out of it,” said Rangers head coach Duncan Harvey. “We’ve had a really productive season, so I like our chances when we’re playing well against anyone.”

The Halton Hurricanes grabbed the final playoff spot with a dramatic 1-1 tie with the Mississauga Rebels.  Halton entered the game one point up on Mississauga, setting up for a winner-take-all scenario.

When the game went into overtime, the Hurricanes dropped into a defensive shell and the Rebels threw everything they had into going for the winning goal.  With Rebels goaltender Dalton Ewing pulled for an extra attacker, the Hurricanes Michael McNiven was tremendous.  His finest work came on a desperation save right before the final buzzer off the stick of Ethan Wiseman.

According to Hunter, with the OHL Cup on the line, the playoffs will provide one last opportunity for players to make an impression on scouts.

“It seems to follow people when they can win games, or win tournaments or win championships.”

 

2013 OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Playoffs

Saturday March 16 – Quarter Finals:

10:00 a.m. Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs. York Simcoe Express

10:30 a.m. Halton Hurricanes vs. Oakville Rangers

11:45 a.m. Elgin Middlesex Chiefs vs. Toronto Marlboros

12:15 p.m. Barrie Jr. Colts vs. TPH Thunder

Saturday March 16 – Semi Finals:

6:00 p.m. Winner TJC/YSE vs. Winner HAL/OAK

8:00 p.m. Winner EMC/TMAR vs. Winner BAR/TPH

Sunday March 17 – Championship Final

3 p.m. at Herb Carnegie Arena