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The Erie Otters won't need passports for their upcoming Ontario Hockey League playoff series.
Erie will remain on United States roads throughout its Western Conference first-rounder against the Saginaw Spirit. Their best-of-seven series opener is Thursday at the Dow Event Center.
The fourth-seeded Spirit will host the first two games at their Michigan rink, followed by games three (April 1) and four (April 3) at Erie Insurance Arena. If needed, a sixth game (April 7) also would be held there.
Erie and Saginaw are involved in their first Robertson Cup playoff since the OHL's 2016 tournament. The Otters, the conference's top seeds that year, swept the Spirit during the first round.
The rival London Knights eliminated Erie in the conference final.
Erie and Saginaw split their four regular season games, with each team also 1-1 as visitors.
Those results included the Otters' 8-2 home victory last Dec. 14. A 5-0 first period highlighted their second-highest scoring game this season.
Saginaw, in the teams' lone meeting of the current calendar year, won 6-2 at Erie. That Jan. 10 game was secondary to what happened before the opening puck drop, when the Otters officially retired Connor McDavid's No. 97 jersey.
More than 6,600 fans jammed EIA for a ceremony that honored the current Edmonton Oilers star, who skated here from 2012-15.
No. 98 Pano Fimis, center: He was the Otters' best offensive threat during the regular season. His team-high 86 points, which included 32 goals, ranked 16th in the league.
No. 33 Sam Alfano, right wing: Like Fimis, his OHL career will conclude whenever Erie's playoff fate is determined. His team-high 41 goals included a hat trick during Erie's Dec. 14 victory at Saginaw.
No. 17 Malcolm Spence, left wing: His 32 goals tied him with Fimis for second behind Alfano's total.
No. 1 Noah Erliden, goaltender: The Swedish netminder, whom Erie chose during last August's OHL import draft, went 28-18-4-2 with a goals-against average of 3.42 during his first North American season.
Erie enters the postseason minus its top two talents, defenseman Matthew Schaefer and center Carey Terrance.
Schaefer, while representing Team Canada, broke his right collarbone during a Dec. 27 game in the IIHF World Junior Championship. Although the Stoney Creek, Ontario, native hasn't played since, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau still projects him as the overall first pick for this summer's draft.
Terrance, the Otters' team captain, had 20 goals and 19 assists at the time of a violent check during Erie's Feb. 14 game at Owen Sound. The former Anaheim Ducks draft pick was removed from the rink on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital, but was soon released.
Terrance, like Schaefer, hasn't played since.
Otters coach Kris Mallette, in a media session earlier this week, said the team awaits word of their return upon medical clearances.
No. 77 Michael Misa, center: Proved this season why Saginaw selected him with the first overall pick for the OHL's 2022 draft. His 134 points (62 goals and 72 assists) not only led that league, but the entire Canadian Hockey League.
No. 19 Zayne Parekh, defenseman: Would be the team's star if not for Misa. Last year's first round pick by the NHL's Calgary Flames compiled 107 points, the fifth most during the OHL's regular season, and was second in assists with 74.
No. 7 Calem Mangone, left wing: Benefitted from the presence of Misa and Parekh to the tune of 33 goals and 50 assists during the regular season.
No. 31 Kaleb Papineau, goaltender: Has been Saginaw's regular starter in net since Andrew Oke was injured Feb. 27. He has a 12-6 record in 23 overall appearances and a 3.56 goals-against average.
More: Erie Otters win in coach Kris Mallette's return behind the bench
Erie and Saginaw comprise one of two Western Conference series that start Thursday. The seventh-seeded Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds also open their first-rounder at the second-seeded Windsor Spitfires.
Friday marks the start of the series between the top-seeded London Knights, the league's defending champions, and the eighth-seeded Owen Sound Attack. No. 6 Flint and No. 3 Kitchener round out that half of the league's overall Robertson Cup bracket.
The league's Eastern Conference series are No. 8 North Bay vs. No. 1 Brantford; No. 7 Niagara vs. No. 2 Barrie; No. 6 Sudbury vs. No. 3 Kingston; and No. 5 Brampton vs. No. 4 Oshawa.
Thursday: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m.
April 3: Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m.
April 5: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
April 7: Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
April 8: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
Contact Mike Copper at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Otters open OHL playoffs against the Saginaw Spirit
Continue reading...
Erie will remain on United States roads throughout its Western Conference first-rounder against the Saginaw Spirit. Their best-of-seven series opener is Thursday at the Dow Event Center.
The fourth-seeded Spirit will host the first two games at their Michigan rink, followed by games three (April 1) and four (April 3) at Erie Insurance Arena. If needed, a sixth game (April 7) also would be held there.
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Erie and Saginaw are involved in their first Robertson Cup playoff since the OHL's 2016 tournament. The Otters, the conference's top seeds that year, swept the Spirit during the first round.
The rival London Knights eliminated Erie in the conference final.
Season series
Erie and Saginaw split their four regular season games, with each team also 1-1 as visitors.
Those results included the Otters' 8-2 home victory last Dec. 14. A 5-0 first period highlighted their second-highest scoring game this season.
Saginaw, in the teams' lone meeting of the current calendar year, won 6-2 at Erie. That Jan. 10 game was secondary to what happened before the opening puck drop, when the Otters officially retired Connor McDavid's No. 97 jersey.
More than 6,600 fans jammed EIA for a ceremony that honored the current Edmonton Oilers star, who skated here from 2012-15.
Erie's series notables
No. 98 Pano Fimis, center: He was the Otters' best offensive threat during the regular season. His team-high 86 points, which included 32 goals, ranked 16th in the league.
You must be registered for see images attach
No. 33 Sam Alfano, right wing: Like Fimis, his OHL career will conclude whenever Erie's playoff fate is determined. His team-high 41 goals included a hat trick during Erie's Dec. 14 victory at Saginaw.
No. 17 Malcolm Spence, left wing: His 32 goals tied him with Fimis for second behind Alfano's total.
No. 1 Noah Erliden, goaltender: The Swedish netminder, whom Erie chose during last August's OHL import draft, went 28-18-4-2 with a goals-against average of 3.42 during his first North American season.
Erie enters the postseason minus its top two talents, defenseman Matthew Schaefer and center Carey Terrance.
Schaefer, while representing Team Canada, broke his right collarbone during a Dec. 27 game in the IIHF World Junior Championship. Although the Stoney Creek, Ontario, native hasn't played since, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau still projects him as the overall first pick for this summer's draft.
Terrance, the Otters' team captain, had 20 goals and 19 assists at the time of a violent check during Erie's Feb. 14 game at Owen Sound. The former Anaheim Ducks draft pick was removed from the rink on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital, but was soon released.
Terrance, like Schaefer, hasn't played since.
Otters coach Kris Mallette, in a media session earlier this week, said the team awaits word of their return upon medical clearances.
Saginaw's series notables
No. 77 Michael Misa, center: Proved this season why Saginaw selected him with the first overall pick for the OHL's 2022 draft. His 134 points (62 goals and 72 assists) not only led that league, but the entire Canadian Hockey League.
You must be registered for see images attach
No. 19 Zayne Parekh, defenseman: Would be the team's star if not for Misa. Last year's first round pick by the NHL's Calgary Flames compiled 107 points, the fifth most during the OHL's regular season, and was second in assists with 74.
No. 7 Calem Mangone, left wing: Benefitted from the presence of Misa and Parekh to the tune of 33 goals and 50 assists during the regular season.
No. 31 Kaleb Papineau, goaltender: Has been Saginaw's regular starter in net since Andrew Oke was injured Feb. 27. He has a 12-6 record in 23 overall appearances and a 3.56 goals-against average.
More: Erie Otters win in coach Kris Mallette's return behind the bench
Other OHL matchups
Erie and Saginaw comprise one of two Western Conference series that start Thursday. The seventh-seeded Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds also open their first-rounder at the second-seeded Windsor Spitfires.
Friday marks the start of the series between the top-seeded London Knights, the league's defending champions, and the eighth-seeded Owen Sound Attack. No. 6 Flint and No. 3 Kitchener round out that half of the league's overall Robertson Cup bracket.
The league's Eastern Conference series are No. 8 North Bay vs. No. 1 Brantford; No. 7 Niagara vs. No. 2 Barrie; No. 6 Sudbury vs. No. 3 Kingston; and No. 5 Brampton vs. No. 4 Oshawa.
Erie-Saginaw schedule
Thursday: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m.
April 3: Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m.
April 5: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
April 7: Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
April 8: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
Contact Mike Copper at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Otters open OHL playoffs against the Saginaw Spirit
Continue reading...
