Soo-Erie series starts next week
Soo Greyhounds and Erie Otters are both on spring break.
To be sure, the two teams will meet in the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference finals — but the series won’t start for another week.
That’s because OHL rules dictate that the Western Conference and Eastern Conference finals must begin within a day of each other.
And while the Soo and Erie have already advanced to the Western Conference finals, the Eastern Conference finalists have yet to be determined.
In the Eastern block, the Oshawa Generals have a two-games-to-one lead on the Niagara Ice Dogs and the North Battalion has the same edge on the Barrie Colts.
Thus, both the Soo and Erie will have several more days off until their Western final gets underway.
Of note, the Greyhounds and Otters are both on eight-game winning streaks thus far in the playoffs.
The regular-season champs from the Soo swept both the Saginaw Spirit and Guelph Storm to breeze through the first two rounds.
Meanwhile, after losing the first game of the opening round to Sarnia, Erie took the next four and then swept the London Knights to advance to the Western final.
At any rate, the Greyhounds-Otters series will begin in Sault Ste. Marie with Games 1 and 2 set for Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24.
PHOTO: Erie Otters goalie Devin Williams and Soo Greyhounds forward Nick Ritchie will be opponents in the OHL’s Western Conference final. (Photo by Ontario Hockey League.)
It’s unfortunate that one of these teams will be out. The Soo, Erie and Oshawa might be the 3 best Junior teams in the country.
The Otters are a much better team, I predict a North Bay vs Erie Final… North Bay and Oshawa will go 7 and Erie will take the Soo in 5 or 6
NO WAY that Erie will beat the Soo NO WAY. As for the Troops we take itin 6.