2022 OHL Playoff Schedule

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS:

Series E: (1) Hamilton Bulldogs (51-12-3-2) vs. (4) Mississauga Steelheads (37-23-2-6) – #HAMvsMISS
Hamilton leads 1-0
Game 1 – Mississauga 2 at Hamilton 4
Game 2, Sun., May 8 at Hamilton , 2:00pm
Game 3, Tues., May 10 at Mississauga, 7:00pm
Game 4, Fri., May 13 at Mississauga, 7:00pm
Game 5, Sun., May 15 at Hamilton, 2:00pm*
Game 6, Tues., May 17 at Mississauga, 7:00pm*
Game 7, Wed., May 18 at Hamilton, 7:00pm*

Series F: (2) North Bay Battalion (43-18-3-4) vs. (3) Kingston Frontenacs (41-22-4-1) – #NBvsKGN
Game 1, Fri., May 6 at North Bay, 7:00pm
Game 2, Sun. May 8 at North Bay, 2:00pm
Game 3, Tues., May 10 at Kingston, 7:00pm
Game 4, Thurs., May 12 at Kingston, 7:00pm
Game 5, Sat., May 14 at North Bay, 7:00pm*
Game 6, Sun., May 15 at Kingston, 6:00pm*
Game 7, Tues., May 17 at North Bay, 7:00pm*

*if necessary

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS:

Series E: (1) Windsor Spitfires (44-17-4-3) vs. (7) Kitchener Rangers (30-31-5-2)
Game 1, Sat., May 7 at Windsor, 7:05pm
Game 2, Sun., May 8 at Windsor, 7:05pm
Game 3, Tues., May 10 at Kitchener, 7:00pm
Game 4, Thurs., May 12 at Kitchener, 7:00pm
Game 5, Sat., May 14 at Windsor, 7:05pm*
Game 6, Mon., May 16 at Kitchener, 7:00pm*
Game 7, Tues., May 17 at Windsor, 7:05pm*

Series F: (3) Flint Firebirds (42-21-1-4) vs. (4) Soo Greyhounds (39-22-6-1)
Game 1, Fri., May 6 at Flint, 7:00pm
Game 2, Sun., May 8 at Flint, 4:00pm
Game 3, Tues., May 10 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm
Game 4, Thurs, May 12 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm
Game 5, Sat., May 14 at Flint, 7:00pm*
Game 6, Mon., May 16 at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm*
Game 7, Wed., May 18 at Flint, 7:00pm*

*if necessary

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OHL ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE TO 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

Regular season extended through Sunday, April 17

The Ontario Hockey League has announced a comprehensive update to the 2021-22 Regular Season schedule, one that will enable all 20 member teams to complete their respective 68-game schedules by an extended closing date of Sunday, April 17.

“In keeping with the League’s approach of placing the health and well-being of players at the forefront, the regular season will be extended by two weeks to accommodate the rescheduling of games previously postponed due to Covid-19 protocols,” said OHL Commissioner David Branch. “We look ahead to completing our season and awarding the J. Ross Robertson Cup to an OHL champion that will compete for the prestigious Memorial Cup in June.”

The top eight teams in each Conference will qualify for the 2022 OHL Playoffs that commence on Thursday, April 21. The playoffs include three best-of-seven rounds followed by a best-of-seven OHL Championship Series for the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

The OHL champion will compete at the 2022 Memorial Cup presented by Kia that takes place from Monday, June 20 through Wednesday, June 29 in Saint John, NB.

Windsor Spitfires Schedule

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Kirsten Welsh Makes Hockey History

Kirsten Welsh made hockey history last week when she became the first woman to work the officiating lines during an Ontario Hockey League game.

The 24-year old native of Blackstock (north of Toronto, near Port Perry) Ontario, worked her first OHL regular season game at the Memorial Auditorium as the Kitchener Rangers hosted the Owen Sound Attack. The first female to ever work as a member of the OHL Officiating Team joined the league after attending the National Hockey League Officiating Exposure Combine last August in Buffalo, New York. She was contacted by the OHL after that event and worked a pair of OHL exhibition games shortly thereafter when the Missisauga Steelheads hosted the Guelph Storm and the Windsor Spitfires played the Generals in Oshawa in September of this year.

“This is an incredible opportunity and I can’t really put into words what it feels like to be working in the Ontario Hockey League,” Welsh said in a statement released by the OHL and posted on the league’s website. “Just being one of the first women to do this, it really opens that door to women in hockey who want to have an alternate avenue that maybe isn’t playing in the Premier Hockey Federation or playing on a national team.

“Being an advocate and having this opportunity, I just feel so lucky,” she continued. “It’s an incredible process to be a part of. I’m so lucky I can be a part of something that is going to affect generations of little girls.”

The OHL was similarly thrilled to be able to add a person of Welsh’s abilities to its officiating staff.

“On behalf of the OHL and its member teams, I’d like to extend a warm welcome and congratulate Kirsten Welsh on the accomplishment of joining the OHL Officiating Team,” said Commissioner David Branch. “Kirsten has demonstrated an ability to officiate the game at a high level and we’re excited to see her break barriers as she continues her development as a linesperson in the OHL.”

Welsh currently lives in Freedom, Pennsylvania after graduating as captain of the Robert Morris University women’s NCAA hockey program. She was a highly-skilled offensive defenceperson during her four-year university career, as evidenced by her 34 goals and 57 assists in 128 regular season games.; Prior to joining the American school, Welsh excelled as a member of the Whitby Wolves Women’s Hockey Program.

Welsh continued to make hockey history the next night after her Ontario Hockey League game when she was back on the ice for her first-ever American Hockey League regular season game in the circuit that is comprised of the top farm teams of National Hockey League clubs.. She worked the lines as the Belleville Senators hosted the Bridgeport Islanders.

Welsh will continue to split her work during the 2021-2022 season between the OHL and AHL.

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KIRSTEN WELSH TO BECOME FIRST WOMAN LINESPERSON IN OHL HISTORY

The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Kirsten Welsh will become the first woman linesperson in OHL history when she takes the ice tonight in OHL Pre-Season action between the host Mississauga Steelheads and visiting Guelph Storm.

Originally from Blackstock, Ont., Welsh will also work Friday’s pre-season game between the host Oshawa Generals and visiting Windsor Spitfires. She will be a member of the OHL Officiating Team for the 2021-22 season after attending the NHL Officiating Exposure Combine this past August in Buffalo, NY.

“This is an incredible opportunity and I can’t really put into words what it feels like to be working in the Ontario Hockey League,” said Welsh. “Just being one of the first women to do this, it really opens that door to women in hockey who want to have an alternate avenue that maybe isn’t playing in the Premier Hockey Federation or playing on a national team.

“Being an advocate and having this opportunity, I just feel so lucky,” she added. “It’s an incredible process to be a part of. I’m so lucky I can be a part of something that is going to affect generations of little girls.”

Welsh, 24, resides in Freedom, Pennsylvania after graduating as captain of the Robert Morris University women’s NCAA hockey program where she patrolled the blue line from 2015-19, recording 91 points (34-57—91) over 128 regular season games. A graduate of the Whitby Wolves Women’s Hockey Program, her collegiate career included several awards and honours including being named the 2018 CHA Defender of the Year.

In September 2019, Welsh became one of four women to officiate at the NHL level for the first time, working in the Buffalo Sabres’ pre-season prospects tournament held at the LECOM Harborcenter. She also worked the Elite Women’s 3-on-3 event at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis, MO.

“We first met Kirsten at the NHL Exposure Combine in 2019 and we were immediately impressed by her presence on the ice,” said OHL Director of Officiating Conrad Haché. “She approaches and prepares for each game in a professional way, is a great skater and has a tremendous desire to continually improve. These traits will not only make her a great OHL official, but also a great ambassador for our League.”

“On behalf of the OHL and its member teams, I’d like to extend a warm welcome and congratulate Kirsten Welsh on the accomplishment of joining the OHL Officiating Team,” said Commissioner David Branch. “Kirsten has demonstrated an ability to officiate the game at a high level and we’re excited to see her break barriers as she continues her development as a linesperson in the OHL.”

Welsh, who has spent the past year officiating throughout Pennsylvania covering NCAA Division III hockey as well as the NAPHL, Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League and Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League, will take the ice tonight in Mississauga for her first official OHL assignment at 7:00pm.

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OHL ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR UPCOMING SEASON

The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is announcing that effective October 7, 2021 with the commencement of the 2021-22 regular season, the League will be expanding its current vaccination policy which applies to members of the OHL Community. This expanded policy will cover all spectators and other attendees at all OHL events, including games and practices.

Those wishing to gain access to OHL facilities of the 17 Ontario-based teams will be required to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and follow any other safety protocols while in the facility. Children under the age of 12 will be required to be accompanied and supervised by a fully vaccinated adult and will be required to follow all safety protocols.

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