NEWSLETTER
The Ontario Hockey League playoffs begin this week on Thursday. The Chicago Blackhawks will have five prospects still playing in the OHL postseason: Gavin Hayes (Sault Ste. Marie), Paul Ludwinski (Kingston), Nick Lardis (Brantford), Alex Pharand (Sudbury) and Martin Misiak (Erie).
The big question among Blackhawks prospects is the status of Lardis, who has been out for an extended period of time because of a wrist injury. He is supposed to be ready for the playoffs; we’ll find out how ready he is in a couple days.
If you’re looking ahead to the 2024 NHL Draft (or 2025 for that matter), there are a lot of good draft-eligible prospects in these playoffs as well.
Here’s the full slate of OHL playoff series with where the Hawks’ prospects will be skating and a few names to watch for this summer’s draft.
Western Conference Playoff Matchups, Schedules
(1) London Knights vs. (8) Flint Firebirds
Game 1: Fri., March 29 – Flint at London, 7:00pm
Game 2: Sun., March 31 – Flint at London, 2:00pm
Game 3: Tues., April 2 – London at Flint, 7:00pm
Game 4: Thurs., April 4 – London at Flint, 7:00pm
Game 5: Fri., April 5 – Flint at London, 7:00pm*
Game 6: Sun., April 7 – London at Flint, 4:00pm*
Game 7: Tues., April 9 – Flint at London, 7:00pm*
London – Sam Dickinson, Sam O’Reilly
Flint – Kaden Pitre
(2) Saginaw Spirit vs. (7) Owen Sound Attack
Game 1: Thurs., March 28 – Owen Sound at Saginaw, 7:05pm
Game 2: Sat., March 30 – Owen Sound at Saginaw, 7:05pm
Game 3: Mon., April 1 – Saginaw at Owen Sound, 7:00pm
Game 4: Wed., April 3 – Saginaw at Owen Sound, 7:00pm
Game 5: Thurs., April 4 – Owen Sound at Saginaw, 7:05pm*
Game 6: Sat., April 6 – Saginaw at Owen Sound, 7:00pm*
Game 7: Mon., April 8 – Owen Sound at Saginaw, 7:05pm*
Saginaw – Zayne Parekh
Owen Sound – Sam McCue
(3) Soo Greyhounds vs. (6) Guelph Storm
Game 1: Thurs., March 28 – Guelph at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm
Game 2: Sat., March 30 – Guelph at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm
Game 3: Mon., April 1 – Sault Ste. Marie at Guelph, 6:30pm
Game 4: Wed., April 3 – Sault Ste. Marie at Guelph, 6:30pm
Game 5: Fri., April 5 – Guelph at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm*
Game 6: Sun., April 7 – Sault Ste. Marie at Guelph, 6:30pm*
Game 7: Tues., April 9 – Guelph at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm*
Soo – Gavin Hayes
Soo – Owen Allard
Guelph – Jett Luchanko
(4) Kitchener Rangers vs. (5) Erie Otters
Game 1: Fri., March 29 – Erie at Kitchener, 7:00pm
Game 2: Sun., March 31 – Erie at Kitchener, 2:00pm
Game 3: Tues., April 2 – Kitchener at Erie, 7:00pm
Game 4: Thurs., April 4 – Kitchener at Erie, 7:00pm
Game 5: Fri., April 5 – Erie at Kitchener, 7:00pm*
Game 6: Mon., April 8 – Kitchener at Erie, 7:00pm*
Game 7: Tues., April 9 – Erie at Kitchener, 7:00pm*
Erie – Martin Misiak
Kitchener – Lucas Ellinas
Eastern Conference Playoff Matchups, Schedules
(1) Oshawa Generals vs. (8) Barrie Colts
Game 1: Fri., March 29 – Barrie at Oshawa, 7:35pm
Game 2: Sun., March 31 – Barrie at Oshawa, 1:05pm
Game 3: Tues., April 2 – Oshawa at Barrie, 7:00pm
Game 4: Thurs., April 4 – Oshawa at Barrie, 7:00pm
Game 5: Fri., April 5 – Barrie at Oshawa, 7:35pm*
Game 6: Sun. April 7 – Oshawa at Barrie, 6:00pm*
Game 7: Tues., April 9 – Barrie at Oshawa, 7:05pm*
Oshawa – Beckett Sennecke, Ben Danford, Luka Marrelli
Barrie – Cole Beaudoin
(2) North Bay Battalion vs. (7) Kingston Frontenacs
Game 1: Thurs., March 28 – Kingston at North Bay, 7:00pm
Game 2: Sat., March 30 – Kingston at North Bay, 7:00pm
Game 3: Mon., April 1 – North Bay at Kingston, 7:00pm
Game 4: Wed., April 3 – North Bay at Kingston, 7:00pm
Game 5: Fri., April 5 – Kingston at North Bay, 7:00pm*
Game 6: Sun., April 7 – North Bay at Kingston, 2:00pm*
Game 7: Tues., April 9 – Kingston at North Bay, 7:00pm*
Kingston – captain Paul Ludwinski
North Bay – Ethan Procyszyn
Kingston – Gabriel Frasca, Jacob Battaglia
(3) Brantford Bulldogs vs. (6) Ottawa 67’s
Game 1: Fri., March 29 – Ottawa at Brantford, 7:00pm
Game 2: Sun., March 31 – Ottawa at Brantford, 7:00pm
Game 3: Tues., April 2 – Brantford at Ottawa, 7:00pm
Game 4: Thurs., April 4 – Brantford at Ottawa, 7:00pm
Game 5: Sat., April 6 – Ottawa at Brantford, 4:00pm*
Game 6: Sun., April 7 – Brantford at Ottawa, 7:00pm*
Game 7: Tues., April 9 – Ottawa at Brantford, 7:00pm*
Brantford – Nick Lardis
Brantford – Marek Vanacker
Ottawa – Henry Mews
(4) Mississauga Steelheads vs. (5) Sudbury Wolves
Game 1: Thurs., March 28 – Sudbury at Mississauga, 7:00pm
Game 2: Sat., March 30 – Sudbury at Mississauga, 4:00pm
Game 3: Mon., April 1 – Mississauga at Sudbury, 7:05pm
Game 4: Wed., April 3 – Mississauga at Sudbury, 7:05pm
Game 5: Fri., April 5 – Sudbury at Mississauga, 7:00pm*
Game 6: Mon., April 8 – Mississauga at Sudbury, 7:05pm*
Game 7: Tues., April 9 – Sudbury at Mississauga, 7:00pm*
Sudbury – Alex Pharand
Mississauga – Luke Misa, Jakub Fibigr
Sudbury – Nathan Villenueve
*- if necessary
