2018 OHL Playoffs – Second Round Schedule

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The first round of the 2018 Ontario Hockey League Playoffs wrapped up Sunday with a trio of Game 6 decisions meaning all four Conference Semi-Final matchups are now set and final second round schedules have been confirmed.  For the second straight season, the top four seeds in each conference have advanced.

OHL Logo

In the Western Conference, the OHL’s Regular Season and West Division champion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds advanced with a 4-0 series win over the Saginaw Spirit and will face the fourth place Owen Sound Attack who also advanced with a 4-0 series win defeating the London Knights.  The other Western Conference Semi-Final features the Midwest Division champion Kitchener Rangers against the third seeded Sarnia Sting who both advanced with Game 6 victories over the Guelph Storm and Windsor Spitfires respectively.

In the Eastern Conference, the first place East Division champion Hamilton Bulldogs advanced with a 4-1 series win over the Ottawa 67’s and will meet the fourth place Niagara IceDogs who also advanced with a 4-1 series victory against the Oshawa Generals.  The other Eastern Conference Semi-Final features the Central Division champion Barrie Colts who eliminated the Mississauga Steelheads in a 4-2 series win, up against the third place Kingston Frontenacs who advanced with a 4-1 series win over the North Bay Battalion clinching in dramatic triple overtime to end the league’s third longest game in playoff history. The puck drops on second round action beginning Wednesday night, April 4. 2018 #OHLPLAYOFFS BRACKETS

2018 OHL WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:

Series E: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (1) vs. Owen Sound Attack (4):

Game 1,Thurs., April 5 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07 p.m.

Game 2, Fri., April 6 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07 p.m.

Game 3, Mon., April 9 at Owen Sound, 7:00 p.m.

Game 4, Wed., April 11 at Owen Sound, 7:00 p.m.

Game 5, Fri., April 13 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07 p.m.*

Game 6, Sun., April 15 at Owen Sound, 7:00 p.m.*

Game 7, Tues., April 17 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07 p.m.*

#SSMvsOS

Series F: Kitchener Rangers (2) vs. Sarnia Sting (3):

Game 1, Fri., April 6 at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2, Sun., April 8 at Kitchener, 7:00 p.m.

Game 3, Tues., April 10 at Sarnia, 7:05 p.m.

Game 4, Thurs., April 12 at Sarnia, 7:05 p.m.

Game 5, Fri., April 13 at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m.*

Game 6, Sun., April 15 at Sarnia, 5:00 p.m.*

Game 7, Tues., April 17 at Kitchener, 7:00 p.m.*

#KITvsSAR

*if necessary

2018 OHL EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:

Series E: Hamilton Bulldogs (1) vs. Niagara IceDogs (4):

Game 1, Thurs., April 5 at Hamilton, 7:00 p.m.

Game 2, Sat., April 7 at Hamilton, 7:00 p.m.

Game 3, Mon., April 9 at Niagara, 7:00 p.m.

Game 4, Wed., April 11 at Niagara, 7:00 p.m.

Game 5, Thurs., April 12 at Hamilton, 7:00 p.m.*

Game 6, Sat., April 14 at Niagara, 7:00 p.m.*

Game 7, Mon., April 16 at Hamilton, 7:00 p.m.*

#HAMvsNIAG

Series F: Barrie Colts (2) vs. Kingston Frontenacs (3):

Game 1, Wed., April 4 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2, Fri., April 6 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.

Game 3, Sun., April 8 at Kingston, 6:00 p.m.

Game 4, Tues., April 10 at Kingston, 7:00 p.m.

Game 5, Thurs., April 12 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.*

Game 6, Fri., April 13 at Kingston, 7:00 p.m.*

Game 7, Mon., April 16 at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.*

#BARvsKGN 

*if necessary

2017-18 OHL LIVE PLAYOFF PACKAGE SPECIALS:

The Ontario Hockey League, in association with its digital media partner NeuLion, are proud to offer special packages and rates for OHL Live coverage of the 2018 OHL Playoffs.  Powered by NeuLion, OHL Live provides coverage of all 20 teams in the OHL delivering all games throughout the regular season and playoffs.

Single Round Team Pass Home and Away: $25.99 Playoff All Access : $79.99

*All prices in Canadian dollars

In addition to these packages, OHL Live continues to offer single game passes and are available at a rate of $7.99 per game.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OHL LIVE AND TO SUBSCRIBE

OHL fans will continue to enjoy the enhanced OHL Live platform launched in the 2014-15 season. The enhanced OHL Live platform gives viewers the opportunity to watch up to four games at once with picture-in-picture and quad-view options along with the ability to choose between the home or away audio feed. OHL Live is also available for the iPhone, iPad, Android Smartphone, and Android Tablet through the OHL Live app.

Nico Gross – Oshawa Generals – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 185 Pounds

Date of birth: January 26, 2000

Hometown: Pontresina, Switzerland

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 1, 40th overall, 2017 CHL Import Draft

NHL Central Scouting pre-season: B Prospect

NHL Central Scouting mid-term: 47th overall North American Skaters

NHL Central Scouting final rank: Not available at present

The 2018 National Hockey League Draft could be the year for defencemen with as many as 10 Ontario Hockey League blueliners going in the first two rounds of this year’s draft on June 22 – 23 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Where do I think Oshawa Generals’ rearguard Nico Gross gets selected? Well those rankings will come out before the draft.

Nico Gross of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Nico Gross of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Gross hails from Pontresina, Switzerland where the Swiss are developing more and more quality players. Look no further than last year’s first overall pick by the New Jersey Devils and Nico Hischier.

Prior to being the 40th overall selection at the 2017 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, Gross played for EVZ Academy in the Swiss NLB League – a level below their top National League. Gross carries with him a wealth of international experience having represented the Swiss at the Under-16, while competing twice at each of the World Hockey Championship Under-18, the World Hockey Championship Under-20, and the Ivan Hlinka Memorial.

Gross has okay size for a blueliner at 6’1” but could stand to add some muscle. Despite that, he will not shy away from the physical game as he is comfortable throwing the body and battling down low and in front of his goal area. Once he adds that bulk, he could become a more dominant physical presence.

Gross is also an excellent skater with very good lateral movement and a superb backwards skater. His good acceleration allows him to evade the forecheck and skate out of danger. Along with his skating abilities, his hockey smarts allow him to jump into the play and join the offence. He is however, a little weak on his skates and that can change when he adds some strength.

Gross is very good with the puck on his stick. He handles it well and protects the puck very well. With his vision, he finds open lanes and can make crisp, clean passes to his teammates. He has shown an ability to quarterback the powerplay. He’s grown as a player who was prone to making bad pinches to one who picks his spots better.

Defensively, Gross is difficult to beat one-on-one. His skating allows him to keep forwards to the outside. He keeps his gaps tight and uses his stick effectively. He holds the blue line like a seasoned veteran. It’s hard to judge his penalty killing abilities on a Generals’ team where the PK wasn’t that great. But he seems to understand his responsibilities when a man down.

Gross is the type of high-risk, high-reward type of player that could make an NHL team jump early on him or cause him to slide a bit in the draft. He certainly has plenty of experience playing against older players and already having some professional games under his belt.

Wherever he is drafted, I think an NHL team will come away happy with him.

Stat page of Nico Gross from Elite Prospects

Billy Moskal – London Knights – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 185 pounds

Date of birth: March 22, 2000

Hometown: Sudbury, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 2, 40th overall, 2016 Priority Selection

NHL Central Scouting pre-season: C Prospect

NHL Central Scouting mid-term: 130th North American Skaters

NHL Central Scouting final rank: Not available at present

A native of Sudbury Ontario, London Knights’ pivot Billy Moskal played his minor midget hockey with the Sudbury Wolves Minor Midget squad during the 2015-2016 season where he scored 18 goals and added 18 assists in 23 games.

Moskal has never been a stranger when it comes to putting up points. A year earlier, while playing Bantam AAA for the Sudbury Wolves, he scored 24 goals and 22 assists in 37 games. But it was during the playoffs where he stepped it up. In just 6 games, Moskal compiled 6 goals and 11 assists.

The Knights would select Moskal with their second-round pick at the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. He would be selected 40th overall.

Billy Moskal of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Billy Moskal of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

At the time of his draft, OHL Central Scouting had this scouting report:

Billy is one of the hardest working and hardest to play against players in this year’s draft. He brings everything he has each and every shift he is on the ice. His skating lets him create offense and allows him to get in the face of the opponent. He always finds a way to create offense for himself and his teammates. His compete level is very high, and he wins the majority of his battles for pucks. He is the kind of player that every coach loves to have on his team. 

Last season, Moskal split time with the Knights and the St Marys Lincolns of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. He would register 2 assists in 13 games with the Knights. With the Lincolns, Moskal would score 23 goals and 29 assists in 41 games and add 7 assists in 5 playoff games.

The list of personal and team achievements is impressive:

2013/2014:

NOMBHL Champion

2014/2015:

  • Big Nickel International Tournament Bantam AAA All-Star Team
  • Big Nickel International Tournament Bantam AAA Champion
  • Big Nickel International Tournament Bantam AAA MVP

2015/2016:

GNHL Champion

2016/2017:

GOJHL Rookie of the Year (Western Conference)

Moskal has some impressive leadership qualities. He’s captained squads prior to the OHL while also being an Alternate Captain. It should come to no one’s surprise if Dale Hunter and his staff were to place a letter on his jersey for next season. As Central Scouting said prior to his draft, he is one of the hardest workers and hardest players to play against, and teammates just want to follow his lead.

Moskal’s size is okay. He is a very good skater with some very good speed. He get’s in on the forecheck quickly and isn’t afraid to get dirty and creates turnovers by doing so. He possesses silky-smooth hands and very good at keeping possession. He is shifty and can create scoring chances for himself or use those silky mitts to create chances for his teammates.

Moskal is a very intelligent player who understands the game at both ends. Coach Hunter wasn’t afraid to use Moskal in any situation, be it the penalty kill, powerplay, taking key faceoffs, or protecting the lead late in the game. He looks like a player who relishes the defensive responsibilities. He skates hard on the back-check, is positionally strong in his own zone, understands how to close off passing and shooting lanes and uses his body and stick effectively.

Moskal finished the regular season with 7 goals and 19 assists in 66 games for the Knights. He won 452 of 798 faceoffs for 56.6% – tops among draft eligible players in the OHL.

If I were to make an honest projection on Moskal, I can see him top out as a third line two-way pivot who is strong defensively and can provide some offence. Or he could play a fourth line energy guy who is skilled at killing penalties and be a top faceoff guy.

Stat Page of Billy Moskal from Elite Prospects