Troops join Hounds in final four


By
April 19, 2015

Four teams remain in the quest for the 2014-2015 Ontario Hockey League championship — and two are from northern Ontario.

North Bay Battalion has joined the Soo Greyhounds as the two northern teams who have made it to the conference finals.

(Sudbury Wolves are the only other northern team in the 20-member OHL.)

The Battalion punched a ticket into the Eastern Conference against the Oshawa Generals by virtue of a 7-5 win over the Barrie Colts on Saturday that gave the Troops the best-of-seven series in five games.

Oshawa had previously advanced by ousting the Niagara Ice Dogs in five games.

Soo Greyhounds and Erie Otters will meet in the Western Conference finals.

As the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Oshawa will have home-ice advantage on third-ranked North Bay.

And as the top seed in the Western Conference — and first overall in the OHL — the Soo will have home-ice advantage for its series with second-ranked Erie.

Both conference finals will begin later in the week.

PHOTO: North Bay Battalion players celebrate their series win over the Barrie Colts. (Photo by Terry Wilson.)


What you think about “Troops join Hounds in final four”

  1. North Bay and Soo in the Final Four baby ! and them wolves are still enjoying that early golf game ! sad really. All the best to the Hounds and Battalion ! Bringer home to the North !

  2. Sorry Barons fan, put down those rose colored glasses it will be Oshawa coming out of the East, as far ads the West, well I see that as a pick em. Pulling for Hounds but Erie is a darn good hockey club too. If Hounds win their first 2 at home then I think they will have paved their way to the finals, but if Erie gets a split, it will go 7 and in the 7th game any team can win with right break or two.

  3. You guys thought that way last year to did you not lol, either way should be some awesome hockey for the great fans of North Bay Oshawa Soo and Erie.

  4. When the Battalion fell behind Niagara last season 3 games to 1, the ‘experts’ said they were finished. They beat the Dogs and met Barrie in the second round. The ‘experts’ said they were no match for the Colts but they beat them in six. Then they had to face the Generals, who the ‘experts’ said couldn’t be beat. The Troops swept them in 4. This season, the ‘experts’ said with Sam Bennett back from Calgary, the Battalion wouldn’t get past the Frontenacs but they did. The ‘experts’ then said that the Colts’ three 100+ point forwards and the league’s #1 goalie would be too much for Troops – but they won in 5. Now the ‘experts’ are predicting a sweep by the Generals because they are just too strong. Maybe the ‘experts’ will be right this time – but I would never predict anything for a Stan Butler team until the final buzzer goes.

    1. Well stated, Armand. See my story posted today: “Troops and Generals” –and see who I am picking to win.

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