The Owen Sound Attack and Erie Otters have clinched their spots in the OHL Playoffs, becoming the 5th and 6th teams to clinch in the Western Conference.
With the Attack beating the Otters in a high-scoring 7-6 final on Sunday, both teams have clinched a spot in the OHL Playoffs. They have become the 5th and 6th teams to clinch in the Western Conference.
Both of these teams haven't exactly had the performance that they were hoping for this season, but they have found a way to clinch a spot in the postseason.
The Owen Sound Attack have taken a dip in progression this season. They currently have a 28-27-5 record, after being one of the top teams in the league last season. Captain Colby Barlow hasn't quite had the dominant season that most teams expected, and they have been lacking in the defensive end.
Rookie goaltender Carter George has been a bright spot, putting up amazing numbers despite a weak defence core in front of him. He has become accustomed to making 40+ saves per game on a regular basis.
Overagers Sam Sedly and Deni Goure have also had impressive seasons as they close out their major junior careers. Goure leads the team in scoring, and ranks 5th in the league with 90 points in 63 games.
The Erie Otters are right on their tail with one less point in the league standings, sitting in the 6th spot in the West.
The Otters are a very young team. Going into the season, they had slightly higher expectations than last year, but still not extremely high expectations. They have found their way into the playoffs after missing last season, and their young talent has began to emerge.
Top 2025 NHL Draft eligibles Malcolm Spence and Matthew Schaefer are the keys to the future for Erie, as both should be very high picks in their draft class. Spence's speed and electricity is contagious throughout their lineup, and he makes this a faster team.
In goal, the Otters traded for Ben Gaudreau at the beginning of the season. He hasn't had the best season, but he has been good enough to get his team wins.
Carey Terrance, Pano Fimis, and Martin Misiak are a couple other threats that the Otters have offensively.
Now, Erie is not projected to go far in the postseason, but making an appearance is significant in their development as a team.