Play-In Day: Meet the Wild Cards
Eight teams have a shot to gain entry to the 2017 OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour, but only four will be granted entry following a win today.
It’s been a long season and these eight teams have battled hard to get this far. One win will push them even further toward the ultimate goal of an OHL Cup title.
Here’s a closer look at today’s competing teams.
Wild Card Play-In Game #3 – 2:00pm
Halton Hurricanes (OMHA) vs. Mississauga Reps (GTHL)
Halton Hurricanes
Regular season: 26-9-1, 53 pts., 3rd OMHA SCTA
Qualified: 2-1 SCTA OHL Cup Qualifier win over Guelph, eliminated by Brampton (6-0 pts.) in semi-final
Players to Watch: Lucas Peric (D), Mitchell Brewer (D), Liam Galton (C)
Notable Alumni: Michael McNiven (Owen Sound Attack), Matthew Kreis (Saginaw Spirit), Nick Deakin-Poot (Guelph Storm)
Mississauga Reps
Regular season: 20-5-8, 48 pts., 2nd GTHL
Qualified: GTHL Wild Card Series win over Mississauga Senators (8-6 pts.), eliminated in first round by Vaughan (8-4 pts.)
Players to Watch: Jamieson Rees (C), Lucas Rowe (C), Igor Chibrikov (D), Klim Georgiev (D)
Notable Alumni: Mario Peccia (Kingston Frontenacs), Gianluca Fuoco (Saginaw Spirit)
Winner to compete in Shanahan Division with Toronto Marlboros, Ajax-Pickering Raiders, Eastern Ontario Wild and Thunder Bay Kings.
Wild Card Play-In Game #1 – 3:15pm
Grey-Bruce Highlanders (OMHA – SCTA) vs. Toronto Young Nationals (GTHL)
Grey-Bruce Highlanders
Regular season: 7-22-7, 21 pts. – 8th SCTA
Qualified: Eliminated Guelph (6-0 pts.) in semi-final, 5th place at OMHA Championship
Players to Watch: Emmett Sproule (C), Keegan Foster (RW)
Notable Alumni: Connor Roberts (Hamilton Bulldogs), Garrett McFadden (Guelph Storm)
Toronto Young Nationals
Regular season: 23-7-3, 49 pts. – 1st GTHL
Qualified: OHL Cup Selection Committee – Eliminated in 1st round by Jr. Canadiens (8-6 pts.), lost GTHL Wild Card Series to Titans (8-6 pts.)
Players to Watch: Brandon Coe (RW), Ethan Keppen (C), Zachary Roy (G)
Notable Alumni: Steve Harland (North Bay Battalion)
Winner to compete in Nash Division with Mississauga Rebels, Quinte Red Devils, Cambridge Hawks and Elite Hockey Group.
Wild Card Play-In Game #4 – 4:00pm
Kitchener Jr. Rangers (ALLIANCE) vs. Toronto Titans (GTHL)
Kitchener Jr. Rangers
Regular season: 17-9-7, 41 pts., 3rd ALLIANCE
Qualified: Lost ALLIANCE Wild Card Series 2-0 to Cambridge, eliminated Windsor 3-0, eliminated by Waterloo 3-2 in semi-final
Players to Watch: Cole Schwindt (C), Justin McCombs (C), Cole MacKay (RW)
Notable Alumni: Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads), Jason Willms (Barrie Colts), Owen Lane (Sudbury Wolves)
Toronto Titans
Regular season: 17-9-7, 41 pts., 6th GTHL
Qualified: GTHL Wild Card Series win over Toronto Young Nationals (8-6 pts.), eliminated by Toronto Marlboros (8-2 pts.)
Players to Watch: Xavier Henry (D), Alex Dominique (C)
Notable Alumni: Markus Phillips (Owen Sound Attack), Joseph Garreffa (Kitchener Rangers), Nick Grima (Sarnia Sting)
Winner to compete in Lindros Division with Whitby Wildcats, Waterloo Wolves, Vaughan Kings and Team NOHA.
Wild Card Play-In Game #2 – 5:15pm
Mississauga Senators (GTHL) vs. York Simcoe Express (OMHA)
Mississauga Senators
Regular season: 20-6-7, 47 pts. – T-3rd GTHL
Qualified: OHL Cup Selection Committee – Eliminated in 1st round by Rebels (8-2 pts.), lost GTHL Wild Card Series to Reps (8-6 pts.)
Players to Watch: Nick Wong (C), Anthony Tabak (LW), Jordan Frasca (C)
Notable Alumni: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting), Michael Pezzetta (Sudbury Wolves), Givani Smith (Guelph Storm)
York Simcoe Express
Regular season: 27-6-1, 55 pts. – 1st OMHA ETA West Division
Qualified: Eliminated Markham (6-0 pts.), eliminated by Quinte in 2nd round (6-0 pts)., lost ETA OMHA Championship Play-In Game to Ajax-Pickering (5-2)
Players to Watch: Alex Newhook (C), Jalen Balbosa (C), Liam Whittaker (D), Cameron Butler (RW)
Notable Alumni: Robert Thomas (London Knights), Graham Knott (Windsor Spitfires), Maurizio Colella (Flint Firebirds)
Winner to compete in Subban Division with London Jr. Knights, Brampton 45’s, Toronto Jr. Canadiens and TPH Thunder.
