Playoff Preview | Ottawa Canadians vs Alexandria Glens

Ottawa, Ontario – This afternoon, the Ottawa Canadians faceoff against Alexandria Glens in Martin Division Semi-Finals at Earl Armstrong Arena at 3:50.

Game 1, Sat March 3 – Earl Armstrong Arena: 3:50

Game 2, Sun March 4 – Glengarry Sports Palace: 2:00

Game 3, Tues March 6 – Earl Armstrong Arena: 7:20

Game 4, Fri March 9 – Glengarry Sports Palace: 8:00

Game 5, Sat March 10 – Earl Armstrong Arena: 7:20 (If Ness.)

Game 6, Mon March 12 – Glengarry Sports Palace: 8:00 (If ness.)

Game 7, Tues March 13 – Earl Armstrong Arena: 7:20 (If ness.)

It will be the first time that these two teams will square off in a series before CCHL2 came into existence. They were both in different divisions when the league was called the EOJHL.  

Ottawa Canadians and Alexandria Glens didn’t make the playoffs last year but the Glens did two years ago only to be swept in the 2nd round from Casselman.

Alexandria is coming into the playoffs after ending the season on an eight game winning streak. They have so many players hot and Ottawa ended their season on a five game winning streak.

Season Series:

Ottawa Canadians 4, Alexandria Glens 1 – Tues, Oct 10: 7:20

Ottawa Canadians 5, Alexandria Glens 1 – Fri, Oct 20: 8:00

Alexandria Glens 4, Ottawa Canadians 2 – Fri, Dec 22: 8:00

Ottawa Canadians 4, Alexandria Glens 3 – Sun, Jan 28: 8:20

OJC won their season series. In the first part of the season they were on a roll only losing two games in regulation. Second half they weren’t the best but were able to win some key games to keep the 2nd place spot in Martin Division.

Who to Watch

The Alexandria Glens are going to have to watchout for Joshua Filoso, Devin Saumur and Justin Turner. Filoso is in his final year of his junior hockey career. He scored 29 goals, one shy of 30 and had 34 assists with 63 points in his breakout year. He can create plays on special teams, get open room plus has a good shot.

Same goes to Saumur, he had 34 goals throughout the season with one more year to go in his career. Turner was acquired in a trade from Ottawa West back in December. He had 21 points in 20 games with OJC. As for Goaltending, OJC will expect Ryan Whitehurst to be their starter throughout the playoffs. He posted 24 wins on the season plus a 2.51 G.A.A and .917 save percentage and won goalie of the year.

The Ottawa Canadians will have to watch out for Kevin Howson, Mikael Gibeault, Jakob Brunette, William Simpson and Dylan Stacey. Howson had 23 points during the 8 game winning streak that they went on and is dangerous on the ice with the chemistry he has with Gibeault.

Gibeault scored 12 goals in his final eight games of the year before going to the playoffs. Howson and Gibeault can fool the defense, make simple plays and play a physical game on the puck. Brunette is a playmaker that sets up other players. Simpson can go up on the rush as a defenseman a lot and will be graduating after the year is done. He can create plays and turn them into odd man rushes. Stacey was acquired from the Glens from Athens and Perth. Has done a tremendous job since coming to the Glens. He didn’t have a point in his final four games but at later parts of the season he was a big factor scoring key goals.

As for Goaltending, Nicholas Rousseau will be the starter. He was 1st in the league with 25 wins, posted a 3.11 G.A.A and .910 save percentage.

The Verdict:

It will depend on the results but expect Whitehurst to be a difference maker in this series. I’ll say OJC is going to get off to a great start in the series. If Alexandria wants to win their series, they will need to keep games at a close contest since they lost their season series.