Fort Erie Meteors
First Home Game: April 20th, 7:30pm @ Fort Erie Leisureplex
Season Series: FEM 4 at LIS 5 / FEM 1 at SMY 2
Fort Erie is coming off an amazing series with the Caledonia Corvairs going all the way to 7 games. Newly Niagara Ice Dogs U18 Fourth Overall Pick, Jaden Flora came up in Game 7 when needed most. The rookie scored the critical game-tying goal and game-winning goal in the 3rd period. He now has 7 goals for 11 points in 14 playoff games for the Meteors. Charlie Burns remains a robust piece to the puzzle posting a .936 save percentage and 1.83 goals against and winning the Governors Trophy for most valuable playoff performer. Kyle Adamo, with 4 goals and 8 points has added to his playoff-best 20 points in 17 games.
Nik Passero seems to be playing chess with great line matching and systematic play, not only has he put players in positions to succeed, but to come clutch when needed most. His leadership is prevalent in his team and will be a difficult hockey mind to face off against for any coach. Liam Beamish remains the fierce two-way forward that was key against this veteran Caledonia Corvairs team. Taking crucial faceoff draws while winning at an extremely high percentage. The X-Factor however is Rylan Masterson playing up to 25+ minutes a night, is the endurance you want from your top defensemen. He plays in every role you need him in making him one of the most complete backend players this playoffs. His reliable/physical play has been the cornerstone of his play style that helps Metoers in close games down the stretch. Providing chances every way he can with up to 4+ shots a night, are opportunities that have continued to create offensive opportunities for the Metoers forward group.
The Fort Erie attendance has been amazing throughout these playoffs, as they sell out nearly every game. They should be a key factor during these home-home games during the round-robin. With a systematic approach to the game, look out for close games with the Metoers as most of their games if not all will always be one-score games. The Ntumb-Muntu, Tonelli, and Coley, are a match-up nightmare for any team as it’s the perfect mix of playmaking, finishing, and grit. This will be Fort Erie’s first appearance in the round-robin and their strong pace should make any game entertaining throughout this play-in.
Listowel Cyclones
First Home Game: April 19th, 7:30pm @ Steve Kerr Memorial Complex
Season Series: FEM 4 at LIS 5 / LIS 1 at SMY 2 (Showcase)
Calling Listowel dominating would be an understatement, with 12 wins and 1 loss record so far this playoffs their deep team has controlled every game possible so far. They have 2.8 goals for to goals against ratio, a 29.7% power play that is 2nd ranked, and a 90.2% penalty kill that is 3rd ranked. Led by the coach of the year, Jesse Cole, he is another coach of the year candidate to be in the Sutherland Cup, alongside Nik Passero. It should be true chess matches between the two hockey minds. Listowel has found ways to keep almost every game below 3 goals against them throughout the Stratford Warriors series. Listowel loves, to shoot the puck nearly, outshooting their opponent every game, with at least 34 shots a game in the previous series. Wylie Birkett has stepped up when they needed it most with 6 goals for 25 points in his 13 playoff games played. While 3 of those 6 goals were game-winning goals. Jordan Alexander has been the threat on this high percentage powerplays have left teams terrified. He has been the quarterback that every team needs especially in the playoffs with 3 powerplay goals and 15 points in the playoffs. Additionally, he has averaged the highest amount of playing time among players in the playoffs with 26:30 time on ice a game.
The Midwestern Conference First-Team All-Star and GOJHL Player of the Month for November, Luke Eurig is a player to watch out for as the games become more competitive, he thrives as the top-line player and should heat up in the next coming games. Listowel is arguably the deepest forward-group team, in the league and it has shown, as they equally distribute their shifts better than any team has all playoffs. With constant fresh legs, it’s this balanced lineup that poses as a threat in the 3rd period. In the last series, this strategy truly glimmered with middle-six lines of MacRobbie, O’Donnell, and Dietz, also Coombs, Hudson, and Brenner accounted for a majority of their goals last series. This poses as a matchup nightmare for any team, looking to play their bottom-six forward group.
Lastly, the X-factor remains Co-recipient of Twin Cities Trophies Award for Lowest Team Goals Against Average in Midwestern Conference, GOJHL Goaltender of the Month for January, and February, Dixon Grimes. He has been nothing short of exceptional these playoffs with 2 shutouts in the last series and a .951 save percentage in the series as well. He has felt merely unstoppable so far, playing perfectly, and coming up big when needed. Listowel will be a deep and dynamic team to watch in this round-robin.
St. Marys Lincolns
First Home Game: April 21st, 7:30pm @ Pyramid Recreation Complex
Season Series: LIS 2 at SMY 3 (Showcase)
This will be Lincoln’s first appearance since 1994, and their first shot at the championship since they last won it in 1976. The Western champions are coming off a great series that went to 7 games against the London Nationals. After losing in the Western finals against the Leamington Flyers last year, the Lincolns now have a second shot at glory, and the fans couldn’t be more excited with impeccable attendance in the last playoff games. The head coach, Jeff Bradley has his special teams running on all cylinders, with an 87.7% penalty kill ranked 5th, and a 31% Powerplay ranked 1st. Just like Listowel, they had only lost games until their respective conference finals, putting out a 12 wins and 3 losses playoff record.
Chase Macqueen-Spence has led the ship with a playoff league-leading 13 goals for 26 points in 15 games played. The Recipient of the Sharon Williamson Memorial Award as MVP of the Western Conference Playoffs has been near perfect, with dynamic playmaking and goal-scoring being moved up and down the lineup. Going into the playoffs the Lincolns were most notable for their defensive structure with a low goals against. Nonetheless, the scoring has been the playoff cornerstone for their success recently, with 6 players averaging above .50 goals per game which is tripled what the Metoers and Cyclones have combined. The Co-recipient of Roy Caley Award for Lowest Team Goals Against Average in Western Conference, Brandon Abbott will be a goalie to watch out for as he plays against great company in Charlie Burnes and Dixon Grimes.
The X-Factor for the Lincolns will be the first powerplay line of Spence-MacQueen, Barkley, Weir, Bidgood, and Vandenbrink. It is no conscience this powerplay has been as deadly as it has been with 9 goals in its last 10 games together. With Adam Barkley quarterbacking it he has been a force that controls this unit. The Lincolns, have a chance at franchise history, throughout this round-robin and with a high-powered offence will make them a fun team to watch.
