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OHL Brampton Steelheads

Round One Playoff Preview

March 21, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brampton Steelheads News Release


The Four-Five matchup in the Eastern Conference sees the Mississauga Steelheads take on the Sudbury Wolves in Round One. The Mississauga Steelheads lost the season series between the two sides four games to two, winning all three games at the Sudbury Community Arena and stealing one game at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre.

The Wolves will be returning to the playoffs after a year outside of the postseason in the 2017-18 season. Their reward for finishing at the bottom of the OHL standings was Newmarket, ON's Quinton Byfield, the Jack Ferguson Award winner ranks third in rookie scoring in the 2018-19 season recording 61 points in 64 games. Byfield coupled with the acquisition of two European-born players; goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, acquired with the third pick in the 2018 CHL Import Draft has played in 53 games for the Wolves this season posting league-best marks in SO and SAV% and forward Adam Ruzicka, acquired from the Sarnia Sting at the deadline for draft picks, has scored a remarkable 24 goals and 41 points in 30 games since joining the Steelheads.

The Steelheads leading scorer against the Wolves this season was Alan Lyszczarczyk with four points in six games followed closely by Cole Carter with three assists. Jacob Ingham suited up in five out of six games against the Wolves this season going 2-3 in those meetings.

James Richmond spoke about the team first round opponent.

Regular Season Series Recap

November 18th Mississauga 5 Sudbury 3 - Paramount Fine Foods Centre

Two goals and two assists From Owen Tippett and one goal and one assist from Nicholas Canade power the Steelheads to a two-goal win. Ukko Pekka Luukkonen makes 32 saves on 37 shots in the losing effort.

November 24th Mississauga 2 Sudbury 3 - Sudbury Community Arena

Darian Pilon scores Sudbury's second and third goal to push the Wolves over the Steelheads in a Saturday afternoon tilt. Owen Tippett would score both goals for the Steelheads in the loss.

December 2nd Mississauga 0 Sudbury 7 - Sudbury Community Arena

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's first of two shutouts against the Mississauga Steelheads on the season paves the way to a big victory for the Wolves. Blake Murray scored two goals and assisted on another in the win.

December 16th Mississauga 3 Sudbury 1 - Paramount Fine Foods Centre

The Steelheads dominated the game from start to finish, outshooting the Wolves 41-20. The Steelheads persistence is rewarded in the second period, a 20 shot frame from the Trout yielded three goals. Alan Lyszczarczyk was pivotal in all three, scoring one and picking up the primary assists on the other two.

January 11th Mississauga 0 Sudbury 3 - Sudbury Community Arena

Returning from a gold medal at the World Junior Championships Luukkonen stopped 19 of 19 shots for his second shutout of the season against the Trout. Adam Ruzicka picked up the game-winner in the second period.

January 27th Mississauga 3 Sudbury 1 - Paramount Fine Foods Centre

Mississauga's Pink at the Rink game ended in frustrating fashion for the Steelheads on the ice. Despite firing 41 pucks in the direction of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen the team could only record a single goal. The Steelheads would lead for 25 minutes and 11 seconds of the game, but two third period goals; one from Nolan Hutcheson and the game-winner from Adam Ruzicka earned the Wolves a 2-1 victory.

Round One Series Schedule

The playoff schedule breakdown for Round One will see the teams play two in Sudbury to open the series on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23rd before two games in Mississauga on Sunday, March 24th and Wednesday, March 27th. If necessary Game 5, 6 and 7 will take place on Thursday, March 28th in Sudbury, Friday, March 31st in Mississauga and Monday, March 1st in Sudbury.

Some historical context for both teams; The Wolves and Steelheads have both made the finals once since 2005; the Wolves in 2007 and the Steelheads in 2017 with both losing to American teams in Plymouth and Erie respectively. The Wolves will be making just their second postseason appearance in the past five seasons, while the Steelheads will be competing in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Puck drops on the series at 7:05 PM on Friday night in Sudbury.

Check out the Brampton Steelheads Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2019


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