2022 OMHA Championships Preview

With the regular season coming to an end, the OMHA saw their two AAA league’s playoffs get underway. The OMHA Championships is always a staple on the U16 AAA Minor Hockey calendar, with the SCTA and ETA coming together in one centralized location to battle it out for OMHA supremacy and of course those coveted championship red hats. Let’s take a look at how we got our 8 teams.

With the SCTA split into two groups featuring the 1^st, 2^nd, 8^th, and 9^th seeds in Group A, and the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th seeds in Group B, each team played each other twice in a round robin format, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the OMHA Championships. Group 1 went as many expected with the Niagara North Stars and Halton Hurricanes finishing atop Group A, with both teams splitting their two games against each other, in two tight games.

While in Group B, the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs ran the table and went undefeated through eight games with a record of 7 wins and 1 tie. Although Hamilton booked their ticket to the OMHAs much earlier, there was a battle for that 2^nd and final SCTA spot in the OMHAs, between the Southern Tier Admirals and the Burlington Eagles. With a 5-4 win over Guelph in the last game of the SCTA Playoffs, Burlington would book their ticket to the OMHAs.

Out east in the ETA, the number one seed Quinte Red Devils and number two seed Markham Waxers battled it out for that top spot in Group A. Despite both teams qualifying for the OMHA Championships, taking care of business against Oshawa, Whitby, and Peterborough, both teams wanted to come out of that group hot and undefeated. Markham would ultimately finish undefeated in the group, topping Quinte in both playoff matchups in two physical close games.

Looking at Group B in the ETA, the Ajax/Pickering Raiders came into the playdowns as the 3^rd seed, and early on saw some adversity. Starting off with two ties against Barrie and Kingston, Ajax/Pickering knew they needed to come together and find another gear to make it to OMHAs, and that is exactly what they did. Closing out the playdowns with four straight wins, including a 6-0 win over Kingston to book their ticket to Oakville.

Last, but certainly not least, Group C in the ETA playdowns was by far the tightest of all the groups in the ETA, and the SCTA for that matter. With all four teams finishing with 6 points each, this group needed an extra game to decide who would advance to the OMHA Championships. Unfortunately, despite outstanding games from North Central and Clarington both teams would be eliminated as a result of goal average calculation. York-Simcoe and Richmond Hill would play in a winner take all play in game at St. Andrews College due to York-Simcoe having the best goal average, where the Express would take it by a score of 5-2 to advance to the OMHA Championships.

Group 1:

1. Markham Waxers

The Markham Waxers are a team that has continually been trending up as the season has progressed, with their play getting better and better. Although many expected the Waxers to be one of the two teams to make it to the OMHAs out of Group A in the ETA, they come into the OMHA Championships with two statement victories over the Quinte Red Devils. Starting in the crease, the Waxers are lead by a hot goaltender in Nate Gillis who started both games vs Quinte, while making key saves at the right time throughout the game. As we transition out of the crease, Markham has one of the top defencemen in the 2022 OHL Draft class, in their captain Frankie Marrelli. An outstanding skater, who uses his skating effectively in his own zone to create time and space as well as to push the pace up ice offensively, while also using his strength to establish a physical presence on the ice. Looking at the Waxers forward group, they bring a lot of pressure and physicality using their speed to play with pace and put pressure on the defence, while not being afraid to go in and separate man from puck with the body. Nathan Aspinall has been a strong presence bringing both size and a scoring touch to his team, while his linemate Owen Griffin is a 2007 born player who has been impactful throughout the year. Along with Aspinall and Griffin, Jack Good is a forward who plays a quick game, with skill and creativity that helps him create offence when he is on the ice.

3 Players to Watch: D – Frankie Marrelli, F – Nathan Aspinall, G – Nate Gillis

2. Quinte Red Devils

Having gone undefeated throughout the ETA regular season, the Red Devils may be coming in to the OMHA Championships a bit more fired up after suffering their first two losses in the ETA Playdowns. Despite those two losses though, those Red Devils are a team not to be taken lightly. With one of the best goalie tandems in U16 AAA, with Glen McInnes and Mike McIvor between the pipes, the opposition knows they definitely cannot give up much offensively to Quinte, because of McInnes’ and McIvor’s ability to make big saves and shut the door. As you look at Quinte as a whole, they play a very strong game defensively, bringing a high level of physicality and not giving the opposition many quality scoring chances. With two top defencemen in Ben Danford and Braedyn Rogers moving the puck up ice with their high-end skating ability and IQ. Quinte also has shown depth on their blueline with a couple gritty, physical defencemen in Carson Campbell and Reed Gee. Previewing the forward group, Ethan Toms is a centreman who has shown to have a very high drive and work ethic, paired with his skill, high hockey IQ and playmaking abilities, while also being a strong 2-way centre, who does not allow much in his own end. In addition to Toms, Quinte boasts a forward group that forechecks hard, and brings a high level of physicality making them tough to play against, featuring players like Nolan Donnelly, Beckett Ewart, and Liam Philip to name a few.

3 Players to Watch: D – Ben Danford, D – Braedyn Rogers, F – Ethan Toms

3. Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs

Although some may count out the Jr. Bulldogs against the top two ETA teams, you had better not take these Bulldogs lightly as they will make you pay. Hamilton will be coming into OMHAs on a high note, after a successful SCTA Playoffs saw them go undefeated, while in the regular season they were the only team to beat top seeded Niagara North in the SCTA regular season. With a forward group featuring players like, Brayden Russell, Clark Dunford, Jack Gallo, Jake Peters, Dean Deligeorgis, and more. The Bulldogs bring a lot of energy to the ice, and are at their best when they are playing well as a unit, while bringing a strong forecheck offensively while not allowing much space for the opposition’s offence to go to work. No matter what happens this weekend, you can be sure there will be no easy games vs the Bulldogs.

3 Players to Watch: F – Brayden Russell, F – Clark Dunford, F – Jack Gallo

4. Burlington Eagles

Probably one of the most battle tested teams to make it to the OMHA Championships weekend, a .500 team through the regular season, they had to earn the final SCTA spot this weekend with a tight 5-4 win over Guelph. Led by their Captain Hudson Gill on defence, the Eagles have a blend of defencemen who can play the rough physical game down low, but also defencemen who can use their feet to work out of pressure quickly. Offensively, Burlington is a team that brings high compete to the ice, with players like Owen McCambridge who can also create offence with their skill and creativity. With the Eagles high compete and never give up attitude, Burlington will surely be looking to complete an upset or too at OMHAs this weekend.

2 Players to Watch: D- Hudson Gill, F – Owen McCambridge, D- Mackenzie Curd

Group 2:

1. Niagara North Stars

Sitting amongst some of the top teams in U16 AAA in Ontario throughout the season, and holding a spot in the OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour U16 AAA Ranking through all ten weeks, Niagara North has established themselves as a team to watch this weekend in Oakville. One of the most lethal teams offensively, Niagara has one of the best goal scorers in the draft class in Luca Testa who broke the Niagara North U16 organization scoring record. While Testa broke the scoring record, Niagara also has several other high scoring offensive contributors, including Parker Forlin. Forlin is an incredibly smart player, who uses his on-ice awareness to know where his teammates will be, and then is able to use his high-end playmaking ability to set his teammates up through area passes or tape to tape passes. Along with Forlin is Andrew Vermeulen, who plays a skilled power forward style of game where he can push you off the puck in the corners and drive the net or he can dangle his way to the slot and rip one home. Niagara’s forward group has some depth with a dangerous top two lines with players like Dominic DiFrancesco and Ben Theron playing there, both players are key contributors to the North Stars success. As much as Niagara has the high-octane offence, an X-factor for them this year has been in the crease with Finn Wilson. Wilson has started in several big games against the Sens, and started the game Niagara tied the Toronto Jr. Canadiens at the Silver Stick. Wilson competes in the crease, and will battle to come up with big saves when his team needs them.

3 Players to Watch: F – Luca Testa, F – Parker Forlin, F – Andrew Vermeulen

2. Halton Hurricanes

The 2^nd seed team out of the SCTA, the Hurricanes have been consistently trending in the right direction all season long. The Hurricanes come in on a high note, after picking up that coveted win over Niagara that they’ve been searching for all year in the final game of the SCTA Playoffs. Goaltender Ben Hrebik started both games against Niagara in the SCTA Playoffs, holding the North Stars high octane offence to just two goals in each game, and coming up with big saves in both games. Halton is a team that plays hard and plays physical, with their forwards providing relentless pressure on the forecheck, while their defencemen play a no-nonsense game being tough below the dots and looking to clear the puck when they get the chance. A great deal of attention will be paid to a couple players in particular, Hunter McKenzie and Captain Christopher Soares. McKenzie is a player who has a strong stick, difficult to knock off the puck, and possesses a quick hard shot. While Soares is a player who brings a consistent high work ethic with relentless pressure along with a quick stick to put pressure on the opposition, paired with his leadership abilities both on and off the ice.

3 Players to Watch: F – Hunter McKenzie, F – Christopher Soares, G – Ben Hrebik

3. Ajax/Pickering Raiders

Given their history in big games at big events this year, Ajax/Pickering is not a team to gloss over. With two statement games back at the Silver Stick, the Raiders made it known that on any given day they could take down anyone. Ajax/Pickering found their groove midway through their Group B playdowns (with four straight wins), after coming together knowing they had to find that next gear. Ajax/Pickering displayed a combination of strong goaltending in the crease from Easton Rye, physical and efficient puck moving defencemen with the likes of Vann Williamson, and a forward group that has a blend of skill and size throughout the lineup. Ajax/Pickering is a team that is not afraid to be physical, but have also shown that if you make a mistake, they will make you pay.

3 Players to Watch: D – Vann Williamson, F – Sean Doherty, G – Easton Rye

4. York-Simcoe Express

After battling in that tough Group C in the ETA Playdowns and coming back down 2-0 to top Richmond Hill 5-2 in the winner take all play in game, York-Simcoe will be coming in with confidence. The Express have two centremen in Jared McNeil and Daniel Vasic who they can throw out on the ice to get things going, with both players having the ability to light the lamp. While at wing, Cole Davis is an impactful player game in and game out, who is able to use his skating effectively to shift directions and protect the puck, while blending in his skill and willingness to drive the net front area and finish in tight on goalies. While York-Simcoe has a forward group that can put the puck in the back of the net at any given moment, they also have a defence core that has a blend of big defencemen who play a tough physical game in their own end, and smooth skating defenceman with the ability to move the puck up ice efficiently. The Express may have had the toughest route to the OMHA Championships, so you can be sure they won’t be an easy out.

3 Players to Watch: F – Cole Davis, F – Jared McNeil, F – Daniel Vasic

OHL Cup Impact:

As we look at all these teams competing in this years OMHA Championships, although we know the coveted OMHA Championship Red Hats will be on the forefront of everyone’s mind, the OMHA Championships is also an event that will have an impact on the OHL Cup. With COVID in mind there was a slight change made in terms of how many teams will qualify as an automatic wild card play in game entry, so here is how it will breakdown. The four teams that make the semi finals at the OMHA Championships will receive automatic entries into the OHL Cup. While in a normal year the 5^th place team (due to only 5 teams competing) would automatically be in a wild card play in game. This year, in addition to the 5^th place team, the team that places 6^th will also be granted an automatic spot in a wild card play in game.