Photo Credit: OHL/Facebook
As the calendar turns to March it means one thing when it comes to sports in Niagara.
Playoff hockey for the junior clubs across the region.
We’ll start at the top with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Niagara IceDogs. And despite currently being mired in a 12-game losing streak, the IceDogs sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 10 games left in the regular season.
Niagara is hoping to qualify for the post-season for the first time since 2019 and are led by 17-year old Ryan Roobroeck and his 35 goals and 74 points on the season.
It’s amazing to think that Roobroeck isn’t eligible for the National Hockey League (NHL) Draft until 2026.
To the OJHL or Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Niagara Falls Canucks.
With Buffalo’s 3-0 victory over Georgetown Thursday night, the Canucks clinched a playoff spot as they’ll wrap up their regular season this weekend.
Niagara Falls native Parker Forlin leads his hometown team with 39 goals and 75 points on the campaign.
In the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) the regular season wraps up next weekend with the St. Catharines Falcons on top of the Eastern Conference.
The defending Golden Horseshoe regular season champion Fort Erie Meteors are in a battle for second place with Ayr.
The Port Colborne Sailors currently sit in fourth place.
The Pelham Panthers are in a battle for the eighth and final playoff spot, while the Welland Jr. Canadians will miss the playoffs here in 2025.
The Meteors Sam Tonelli, of Port Colborne, is the top local scorer with 29 goals and 65 points. Fort Erie’s John Lloyd (North York) is also the top goaltender among the Niagara based teams with a 1.95 goals against average and .926 save-percentage.
Meantime, the post-season is already underway in the PJHL (Provincial Junior Hockey League) featuring two teams from Niagara – the Grimsby Peach Kings and Niagara Riverhawks.
The Peach Kings swept aside Dunnville in four straight games, while Niagara ousted Streetsville in five games.
St. Catharines native Hunter Zoccoli led Grimsby in scoring in the regular season with 55 points, while Michael Colavecchia of Niagara Falls was Niagara’s top scorer with 50 points.
The Riverhawks Keenan Bateman, also of Niagara Falls, had a tremendous opening round of the playoffs registering 10 points in five games.
The Niagara Independent will keep you updated on all local junior hockey teams and their playoffs runs.
Good luck to all.
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.
