By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photo: Rian Sidorkiewicz Photography

The 2017-18 GOJHL Regular Season has reached its final week and the playoff picture is anything but clear in all three Conferences. Five of eight playoff positions have been locked in in the Golden Horseshoe Conference, three of eight playoff positions have been locked up in the Midwest and only one of the eight playoff positions has been locked up in the West.

Of the three Conferences the Golden Horseshoe has the clearest playoff picture and has two first round match-ups in place. The Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs have clinched first place and will play the Fort Erie Meteors in the first round. We also know that the Niagara Falls Canucks and Thorold Blackhawks will face off in the first round, with the Canucks holding home ice advantage as the number four seed. The other two series are totally up for grabs as the St. Catharines Falcons and Ancaster Avalanche are still battling for second and third, while their potential playoff partners, the Pelham Panthers and Welland Jr. Canadians are locked in a battle for sixth and seventh.

The Listowel Cyclones have clinched the top seed in the Midwestern Conference and the Stratford Warriors have clinched the second position. The Elmira Sugar Kings and Waterloo Siskins are tied for third and the two teams both have two games left, including a head-to-head matchup on Saturday in Waterloo that might determine third place in the Midwest. The Kitchener Dutchmen are locked into the number five slot and will play either Elmira or Waterloo in the first round. Positions six through eight are still in play as the Brantford 99ers currently hold sixth, but only by one point over the Guelph Hurricanes, who lead the Brampton Bombers by just two points for seventh. The order of these three teams will take shape over the course of this week.

In the Western Conference the London Nationals have hit a rough patch but control their own destiny over the final week of the season, leading the Leamington Flyers by two points for first place and have the edge on the first tie-breaker with more wins. These two teams will finish one and two, but the order will be decided this week. Their playoff partners are still up in the air as well as the Komoka Kings, Strathroy Rockets and St. Marys Lincolns are all battling for the final two playoff spots and the right to face London or Leamington in the first round. The only team locked into their position are the Chatham Maroons who will be the sixth seed and the Maroons could be entering the playoffs playing their best hockey of the season, winning four straight. Similar to the bottom of the standings, there is a group of three teams battling for third, fourth and fifth as the LaSalle Vipers, St. Thomas Stars and Sarnia Legionnaires are separated by just two points entering the final week. It’s going to be the wild West during the last week of the season.

SCORING LEADERS
Points: 91 - Jesse Barwell, Caledonia
Goals: 40 - Frank Pucci, Niagara Falls
Assists: 68 - Jesse Barwell, Caledonia
PPG: 16 - Joel Mazzilli, Komoka
SHG: 5 - Frank Pucci, Niagara Falls & Kevn Hu, St. Thomas & Ethan Skinner, Elmira & Cullen Mercer, Listowel
Click here for full GOJHL Scoring Leader stats
 

GOALIE LEADERS
Wins: 29 - Owen Savory, St. Catharines
GAA: 1.51 - Pierce Charleson, Caledonia
SV%: .938 - Owen Savory, St. Catharines
Shutouts: 5 - Owen Savory, St. Catharines
Minutes: 2382:14 - Zach Moore, Niagara Falls
Click here for full GOJHL Goalie Leader stats
 

GOLDEN HORSESHOE CONFERENCE
1. Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs 87 PTS (43-4-0-1)
Home (23-1-0-0) Away (20-3-0-1) Last 10 (10-0-0-0)
2 games remaining (Pelham, @Pelham)
- clinched #1 and will play Fort Erie

2. St. Catharines Falcons 76 PTS (36-7-1-3)
Home (17-3-1-3) Away (19-4-0-0) Last 10 (9-0-0-1)
3 games remaining (@Buffalo, Ancaster, @Niagara Falls)
- will finish #2 or #3

3. Ancaster Avalanche 74 PTS (36-10-1-1) 
Home (18-4-0-1) Away (18-6-1-0) Last 10 (7-3-0-0)
2 games remaining (@St. Catharines, Thorold)
- will finish #2 or #3

4. Niagara Falls Canucks 66 PTS (31-13-0-4
Home (15-6-0-2) Away (16-7-0-2) Last 10 (6-4-0-0)
2 games remaining (Welland, St. Catharines)
- clinched #4 and will play Thorold

5. Thorold Blackhawks 46 PTS (19-21-3-5)
Home (9-11-2-2) Away (10-10-1-3) Last 10 (4-4-0-2)
2 games remaining (Buffalo, @Ancaster)
- clinched #5 and will play Niagara Falls

6. Pelham Panthers 38 PTS (17-27-1-3)
Home (9-13-1-1) Away (8-14-0-2) Last 10 (4-6-0-0)
2 games remaining (@Caledonia, Caledonia)
- will finish #6 or #7

7. Welland Jr. Canadians 37 PTS (16-27-3-2)
Home (8-13-1-2) Away (8-14-2-0) Last 10 (2-8-0-0)
2 games remaining (@Niagara Falls, Fort Erie)
- will finish #6 or #7

8. Fort Erie Meteors 26 PTS (9-30-1-7)
Home (5-16-0-3) Away (4-15-1-4) Last 10 (0-7-0-3)
2 games remaining (Buffalo, @Welland)
- clinched #8
--------------------------
9. Buffalo Regals 9 PTS (2-40-0-5)
Home (1-20-0-3) Away (1-20-0-2) Last 10 (1-7-0-2)
3 games remaining (St. Catharines, @Thorold, @Fort Erie)
- have been eliminated from postseason contention

Top Performances
Goals: 3 - Griffin Roubos (Caledonia) vs Buffalo Feb. 13, Nolan Gardiner (Caledonia) vs Buffalo Feb. 13, Adam Craievich (Caledonia) vs Fort Erie Feb. 17, Matt Ruigrok (Pelham) vs Buffalo Feb. 18
Assists: 4 - Tanner McEachern (Welland) vs Buffalo Feb. 17, Jesse Barwell (Caledonia) vs Fort Erie Feb. 17
Points: 4 - Griffin Roubos (3G, 1A) (Caledonia) vs Buffalo Feb. 13, Jesse Barwell (2G, 2A) (Caledonia) vs Buffalo Feb. 13, Joshua DeFarias (1G, 3A) (Caledonia) vs Buffalo Feb. 13, Tanner McEachern (4A) (Welland) vs Buffalo Feb. 17, Jesse Barwell (4A) (Caledonia) vs Fort Erie Feb. 17, Adam Craievich (3G, 1A) (Caledonia) vs Fort Erie Feb. 17, Owen Lane (1G, 3A) (Caledonia) vs Fort Erie Feb. 17, Matt Ruigrok (3G, 1A) (Pelham) vs Buffalo Feb. 18, Liam Dunda (2G, 2A) (St. Catharines) vs Welland Feb. 18
Saves: 53 - Peyton Zern (L) (Buffalo) vs Caledonia Feb. 13

MIDWESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Listowel Cyclones 83 PTS (41-5-0-1)
Home (20-2-0-1) Away (21-3-0-0) Last 10 (10-0-0-0)
3 games remaining (Brantford, Brampton, @Brampton)
- clinched #1

2. Stratford Warriors 72 PTS (35-11-1-1)
Home (17-6-0-1) Away (18-5-1-0) Last 10 (7-3-0-0)
2 games remaining (Waterloo, @Guelph)
- clinched #2

3. Elmira Sugar Kings 54 PTS (27-21-0-0)
Home (12-12-0-0) Away (15-9-0-0) Last 10 (5-5-0-0)
2 games remaining (@Waterloo, Brantford)
- will finish #3 or #4

4. Waterloo Siskins 54 PTS (25-19-1-3)
Home (10-11-1-2) Away (15-8-0-1) Last 10 (4-6-0-0)
6 games remaining (@Stratford, Elmira)
- will finish #3 or #4

5. Kitchener Dutchmen 47 PTS (22-23-1-2)
Home (11-11-0-2) Away (11-12-1-0) Last 10 (5-4-1-0)
2 games remaining (Brampton, @Brantford)
- clinched #5

6. Brantford 99ers 32 PTS (13-28-2-4)
Home (7-13-2-2) Away (6-15-0-2) Last 10 (2-6-1-1)
3 games remaining (Kitchener, @Listowel, @Elmira)
- can finish as high as #6 and as low as #8

7. Guelph Hurricanes 31 PTS (12-29-1-6)
Home (6-13-1-4) Away (6-16-0-2) Last 10 (3-5-0-2)
2 games remaining (@Brampton, Stratford)
- can finish as high as #6 and as low as #8

8. Brampton Bombers 29 PTS (14-31-1-0)
Home (8-15-0-0) Away (6-16-1-0) Last 10 (2-7-1-0)
4 games remaining (@Kitchener, Guelph, @Listowel, Listowel)
- can finish as high as #6 and as low as #8

Top Performances
Goals: 2 - Anthony Mota (Guelph) vs Brantford Feb. 15, Tyler Beauparlant (Elmira) vs Listowel Feb. 16, Dylan Lebold (Stratford) vs Brantford Feb. 16, Sean Ross (Stratford) vs Brantford Feb. 16, Corson Searles (Stratford) vs Brantford Feb. 16, Mathieu Mercier (Guelph) vs Listowel Feb. 17, Patrick Del Vecchio (Brampton) vs Waterloo Feb. 18
Assists: 4 - Kameron Shearer (Stratford) vs Brantford Feb. 16
Points: 5 - Kameron Shearer (1G, 4A) (Stratford) vs Brantford Feb. 16
Saves: 51 - Travis Smith (W) (Brampton) vs Waterloo Feb. 16
Shutout: 28 SV - Jet Greaves (Guelph) vs Brantford Feb. 15

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. London Nationals 69 PTS (33-12-0-3)
Home (18-5-0-1) Away (15-7-0-2) Last 10 (3-6-0-1)
2 games remaining (Strathroy, @Chatham)
- will finish #1 or #2

2. Leamington Flyers 67 PTS (30-11-4-3)
Home (17-3-1-3) Away (13-8-3-0) Last 10 (8-1-0-1)
4 games remaining (St. Thomas, @Komoka)
- will finish #1 or #2

3. LaSalle Vipers 62 PTS (30-16-1-1)
Home (18-5-1-0) Away (12-11-0-1) Last 10 (6-4-0-0)
2 games remaining (St. Marys, @St. Marys)
- can finish as high as #3 and as low as #5

4. St. Thomas Stars 60 PTS (28-15-2-2)
Home (15-5-1-2) Away (13-10-1-0) Last 10 (7-2-0-1)
3 games remaining (@Leamington, Sarnia, St. Marys)
- can finish as high as #3 and as low as #5

5. Sarnia Legionnaires 60 PTS (27-14-1-5)
Home (18-3-0-4) Away (9-11-1-1) Last 10 (7-3-0-0)
3 games remaining (Chatham, @St. Thomas, @Strathroy)
- can finish as high as #3 and as low as #5

6. Chatham Maroons 49 PTS (23-21-1-2)
Home (14-9-0-0) Away (9-12-1-2) Last 10 (6-3-0-1)
3 games remaining (Komoka, @Sarnia, London)
- clinched #6

7. Komoka Kings 29 PTS (11-29-4-3)
Home (8-12-3-1) Away (3-17-1-2) Last 10 (2-7-0-1)
3 games remaining (@Chatham, @St. Marys, Leamington)
- can finish as high as #7 and as low as #9

8. Strathroy Rockets 28 PTS (11-31-2-4)
Home (6-14-2-2) Away (5-17-0-2) Last 10 (3-4-1-2)
2 games remaining (@London, Sarnia)
- can finish as high as #7 and as low as #9

9. St. Marys Lincolns 27 PTS (10-29-2-5)
Home (5-14-0-4) Away (5-15-2-1) Last 10 (3-4-1-2)
4 games remaining (@LaSalle, Komoka, LaSalle, @St. Thomas)
- can finish as high as #7 and as low as #9

Top Performances
Goals: 3 - Griffin Robinson (Leamington) vs LaSalle Feb. 15
Assists: 3 - Alec DeKoning (Sarnia) vs St. Marys Feb. 15, Zach Vanderwal (Sarnia) vs Leamington Feb. 17
Points: 4 - Alec DeKoning (1G, 3A) (Sarnia) vs St. Marys Feb. 15, Bryce Yetman (2G, 2A) (Chatham) vs LaSalle Feb. 18
Saves: 58 - Will Barber (W) (Sarnia) vs London Feb. 13
Shutout: 35 SV - Ryan Wagner (Chatham) vs LaSalle Feb. 18

This Week: 32 games

(The last GOJHL Week in Review for 2017-18 will be Tuesday, February 27)

For more stats, scores and news from the OHA, please visit: www.ohahockey.ca

Follow the GOJHL on Twitter: @GOJHL

Like the GOJHL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GOJHLhockey