For the first time since 2019 the Niagara IceDogs will compete in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) postseason.
The seventh ranked IceDogs will play the second seeded Barrie Colts in a best of seven series beginning Thursday night in Barrie.
Niagara finished the 2024-25 regular season with a (29-31-8) record, but won just two of its last 22 games.
The IceDogs were just (1-5) against the Colts this season including Saturday’s 8-1 defeat in both teams regular season finale. That being said, two of the six games between the two clubs were decided by just one goal.
Barrie did sport an impressive (42-22-4) record over 68 games.
Niagara’s top three scorers all finished ahead of Barrie’s top point getter.
Ryan Roobroeck, who isn’t NHL draft eligible until next season, led the way with 41 goals and 87 points.
Winnipeg Jets drafted, and IceDogs captain, Kevin He added 36 goals and 75 points, while Seattle Kraken draft pick Andrei Loshko added 34 goals and 70 points.
The Colts feature nine NHL drafted players but it was blueliner Kashawn Aitcheson that tied for the team lead in points with Vancouver Canucks draft pick Riley Patterson at 59 points.
Barrie also has an advantage in the special teams department over Niagara who did give up an OHL worst 303 goals on the season.
That brings us to between the pipes, and most so called experts and pundits are asking who will start in goal for the Colts.
Former Niagara IceDogs Head Coach and General Manager Marty Williamson now holds the same position in Barrie, and could start either netminder Thursday.
Sam Hillebrandt posted a (21-13-2) record with a 3.16 goals against average and .903 save-percentage, while Ben Hrebik was (21-9-3) with a 2.87 GAA and .920 save-percentage.
At the other end of the rink there’s no question that if the IceDogs want to somehow keep this series close they’ll need overage goaltender Owen Flores to stand tall.
The 20-year old Chicago, Illinois native finished the regular season at (24-16-6) with a 3.82 GAA and .899 save-percentage.
In front of Flores, Niagara’s defense will have to find some sort of cohesion to keep a well balanced Barrie offense at bay.
IceDogs Head Coach Ben Boudreau was full of praise for his team’s first round playoff opponent.
“Barrie is the hardest forechecking team in the league, and they can make you pay,” Boudreau told The Niagara Independent. “We expect them to be physical, aggressive and confident.”
As for his club Boudreau offered this:
“We have the same mindset at the start of the year – nobody would take us seriously so we had to prove ourselves. We’re back to square one and playing for keeps.”
This year’s series will be played in 2-2-1-1-1 format With the first two games in Barrie, followed by two games in Niagara next Tuesday and Thursday.
The last time these two teams met in the postseason was 2016 when Niagara swept Barrie to win the OHL Eastern Conference Championship.
Here’s a look at the first round schedule
(2) Barrie Colts vs. (7) Niagara IceDogs
Game 1 – Thursday, March 27 at Barrie, 7:00pm
Game 2 – Monday, March 31 at Barrie, 7:00pm
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 1 at Niagara, 7:00pm
Game 4 – Thursday, April 3 at Niagara, 7:00pm
Game 5 -Saturday, April 5 at Barrie, 7:30pm*
Game 6 – Sunday, April 6 at Niagara, 7:00pm*
Game 7 – Thursday, April 8 at Barrie, 7:00pm*
* indicates if necessary
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
