OTTAWA, ON – With the second round of the OUA Men’s Hockey Playoffs starting today, let’s take a look at a few key players from each team that advanced to round two. 

McGill

Two McGill players led all players in scoring in the first round, registering five points each. William Rouleau registered three goals and two assists and his teammate Alexandre Gagnon recorded two goals and three assists. 

Both players were critical in their two-game sweep of the Ottawa GeeGees which saw them cruise to 4-2 and 8-2 victories. Not only were they consistently putting pucks in the net and setting up their teammates with crisp passes, but they were physical in the neutral zone, forechecked hard, created turnovers, and chipped in defensively and on the counter.

McGill had four of the five highest-scoring players in round one of the OUA playoffs; forwards Eric Uba and Jordan-Ty Fournier were also beneficiaries of the Martlets’ offensive explosion recording four and three points respectively. 

McGill’s offence scored 12 goals in their two-game series, the most of any playoff team thanks to their ability to drive the net, move the puck to create scoring chances and open shooting lanes, and their physical defence that forechecked well and caused multiple turnovers.

They have a tough test against the Concordia Stingers in round two, who are known for their aggressive and physical defence. The Stingers conceded only 55 goals in 26 regular season games, the fewest of any team in the OUA. 

Therefore, the Martlets will have to rely on their key players to move the puck and create scoring chances if they want to remain competitive. They’ll also have to ensure the Stingers’ offence doesn’t get going as they have been able to score at will this season with 101 goals, third most in the OUA. The Stingers defeated the Martlets in two of three games this season by an aggregate score of 10-6.

Carleton

The Carleton Ravens were the only other team to have a player in the top five scoring list, Ravens’ defenseman Majid Kaddoura scored one goal and added three assists in two games. 

Kaddoura was an integral aspect of the Ravens’ success on both sides of the puck in their two game sweep of the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. The Ravens won both games by a score of 4-0; his ability to limit passing and shooting lanes with his stick, to be physical and finish checks, to create turnovers, and use his speed to attack in transition were all critical reasons why the Ravens were able to shutout the Ridgebacks.

Ravens’ goaltender Mark Grametbauer was also critical to the Ravens’ success. He saved all 87 shots he faced against the Ridgebacks and recorded two shutouts. 

The Ravens’ two highest-scoring players were defensemen which shows their ability to get all their players involved in their offensive production. Defenseman Lukas Matthews also recorded one goal and two assists in two games while shutting down his opponents, giving them limited space to operate in the attacking zone. The Ravens had five forwards including centermen Brogan O’Brien and Alex Johnston to record two points. 

The Ravens will be suiting up to face the defending U Cup Champion UQTR Patriotes in the second round. The Patriotes were the best overall team in the OUA this season and only lost five games. They had the best offense in the league and a top-three defence. The Ravens will need to be at their best at all times if they hope to pull off an upset.

Toronto

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeated the Toronto Metropolitan University Bold their cross-town rivals, in a thrilling three-game series that saw them concede only five goals and score nine.

The Varsity Blues’ defencemen were aggressive, limiting the time their opponent spent in the attacking zone and limiting the number of quality chances their opponents create with their physicality, strong forecheck, and ability to create turnovers and move the puck up the ice quickly in transition

They played a huge role in the playmaking department, moving the puck up the ice quickly to find the open man to create scoring chances and shooting lanes. Their top three defensemen recorded five assists, many on important, momentum-changing goals. 

They only conceded two goals in the first two games against TMU and three in game three but their strong offence was able to score five to secure their berth in the second round of the postseason.

Speaking of their strong offense, they have a plethora of players who are able to get pucks to the net, score goals in bunches, and put themselves in the right positions to receive passes in dangerous areas. 

Forwards Cole Purbo, Nicholas Wong, and Ben Woodhouse each recorded two goals. They all have a nose for the net, a powerful slapshot shot, a quick-release wrist shot, and can set up their teammates with their accurate passing, stickhandling, and clever playmaking.

The Varsity Blues relied on a balanced attack and got an ample amount of production from all four of their lines. They had four forwards who scored three points in the three-game series and another three with two points.

Toronto has a tough matchup in round two against a well-balanced Lakehead squad with a lot of talent and depth who finished tied atop the OUA Western Conference. 

Brock 

Finally, the Brock Badgers defeated the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in a back-and-forth three-game series. The Badgers won the first game 2-0, lost the second game 4-1 but won the deciding third game also by a score of 4-1.

The Badgers relied on a balanced attack in the regular season; they had 12 players who scored over 10 points and six with 19 or more points. In the playoffs, they didn’t have a single player to record three or more points in three games against the Golden Hawks, however, their ability to get all four lines involved in their offence showed through in the first round: they had six forwards who recorded two points, all of whom were critical in their success. 

Defensively, Brock are solid and don’t give up a lot of goals; they’ve given up 78 goals in the regular season which ranks the fourth fewest in the OUA’s Western Division. They gave up four of their five goals in their lone playoff loss, in their two wins, they gave up only one goal. 

Their defense plays well together, they are structured, well set up and are relessentless when defending in their own zone; they clear pucks away from their net and out of their own zone with ease and are not afraid to throw their body to make a play. Matthew Barnes and Cole Thiessen lead the way on their blue line – their aggressive style of play conttributes to the team’s defensive success. 

Goaltender Roman Basran also played well against Laurier, conceding only four goals while recording a GAA of 1.34, a save percentage of .956 and one shutout. 

Brock will suit up against the high-speed and fast paced Windsor Lancers in the second round.