2024-25 Owen Sound Attack (Chasing the Memorial Cup)

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I thought I would create a thread in honour of one of the greatest regular seasons in the history of the OHL (and CHL).

The 2024-25 Owen Sound Attack finished the regular season 57-6-5, good enough for 119 points, 1 point behind the 2004-05 London Knights record 120 points (59-7-2).

We have experienced regular season success over the last few years but the OHL Championship has eluded us thus far. Can Owen Sound win the OHL and their first Memorial Cup in franchise history? The Attack are loaded at forward and defence but goaltending remains a bit of a question mark.

Kitchener was a thorn in our side over the last month of the season as we lost 3 games to them. Can the Rangers or anyone else in the OHL take down this powerhouse Attack squad? If history has proven anything, junior hockey is unpredictable. 2023-24 resulted in a shocking first round loss in 6 games to an overachieving 30-32-6 London Knights squad.

Some brief snapshots of the team to begin with, followed by the contenders from the WHL and QMJHL. This thread will track the progress of those league playoffs as well.

Owen Sound boasts 8 NHL drafted players on its roster with Sigrist going to be drafted in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft.

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WHL 2024-25 Regular Season Standings...

The Vancouver Giants and Calgary Hitmen look like they could be potential roadblocks to the Memorial Cup from out West.

Western Conference 1st round Matchups

Everett (30-35-3) at Vancouver (59-9-0)
Kelowna (29-33-6) at Tri-City (38-24-6)
Kamloops (34-29-5) at Victoria (35-23-10)
Seattle (35-27-6) at Spokane (34-25-9)

Eastern Conference 1st round Matchups

Brandon (31-32-5) at Calgary (52-10-6)
Moose Jaw (33-31-4) at Saskatoon (39-26-3)
Edmonton (35-24-9) at Regina (42-23-3)
Red Deer (39-22-7) at Swift Current (44-20-4)

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QMJHL 2024-25 Regular Season Standings

Sherbrooke and Charlottetown look very strong out of the Q....

Western Conference 1st round Matchups

Blainville-Boisbrand (21-42-5) at Sherbrooke (54-9-5)
Rouyn-Noranda (24-38-6) at Val D'Or (37-26-5)
Victoriaville (32-34-2) at Shawinigan (46-20-2)
Gatineau (33-33-2) at Drummondville (41-25-2)

Eastern Conference 1st round Matchups

Acadie-Bathurst (29-38-1) at Charlottetown (52-13-3)
Saint John (30-36-2) at Chicoutimi (31-30-7)
Baie-Comeau (26-31-11) at Moncton (42-24-2)
Quebec (30-33-5) at Halifax (32-32-4)

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OHL Playoff Bracket.....

Western Conference 1st round Matchups

#8 Saginaw (32-31-5) at #1 Owen Sound (57-6-5)
#7 Sarnia (32-31-5) at #2 Windsor (40-25-3)
#6 Guelph (32-28-8) at #3 Erie (44-20-4)
#5 Flint (34-29-5) at #4 Kitchener (39-26-3)

Eastern Conference 1st round Matchups

#8 Sudbury (29-35-4) at #1 Peterborough (46-18-4)
#7 Kingston (34-29-5) at #2 Niagara (41-23-4)
#6 Mississauga (34-27-7) at #3 Oshawa (39-23-6)
#5 North Bay (33-26-9) at #4 Hamilton (38-24-6)

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QMJHL 1st Round Game 1 Results

Charlottetown 4 Acadie-Bathurst 2 (CHA leads 1-0)
Chicoutimi 4 Saint John 3 (OT) (CHI leads 1-0)
Moncton 4 Baie-Comeau 2 (MON leads 1-0)
Halifax 1 Quebec 0 (HAL leads 1-0)

Sherbrooke 7 Blainville-Boisbrand 1 (SHE leads 1-0)
Val D'Or 1 Rouyn-Noranda 0 (VD leads 1-0)
Shawinigan 4 Victoriaville 3 (SHA leads 1-0)
Drummondville 4 Gatineau 2 (DRU leads 1-0)

WHL 1st Round Game 1 Results

Calgary 3 Brandon 1 (CAL leads 1-0)
Swift Current 3 Red Deer 1 (SC leads 1-0)
Edmonton 5 Regina 4 (OT) (EDM leads 1-0)
Saskatoon 5 Moose Jaw 3 (SASK leads 1-0)

Vancouver 7 Everett 2 (VAN leads 1-0)
Victoria 2 Kamloops 1 (OT) (VIC leads 1-0)
Kelowna 4 Tri-City 3 (OT) (KEL leads 1-0)
Spokane 4 Seattle 2 (SPO leads 1-0)

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Preview of our 1st round opponent Saginaw.

Saginaw relies on their top line of McCullough-Bires-Sheppard to lead the way. McCullough was the 2nd overall pick in the 2024 OHL Draft and Jeff Sheppard is a 6'6" 236lb. monster who was drafted by the New York Islanders 20th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Spenser Laronde is their top scorer and is featured on the second line flanked by 6'6" 221 Matus Mudroncik and Dan Ormston (a 3rd round 2024 NHL Draft pick by the Bruins).

Their defence is pretty weak and is a glaring weakness (along with a lack of forward depth) on the squad. With our prolific offence which scored 391 goals this season, we should be able to exploit this weakness and keep pressure in the Spirit's end.

If Saginaw wants to pull off the big upset their top 2 lines will have to carry them and their overage goalie, Tom Duncan will have to stand on his head.

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OHL 1st Round Game 1 Results

Sudbury 4 Peterborough 2 (SUD leads 1-0)
Niagara 6 Kingston 5 (OT) (NIA leads 1-0)
Oshawa 5 Mississauga 3 (OSH leads 1-0)
North Bay 5 Hamilton 0 (NB leads 1-0)

Owen Sound 6 Saginaw 2 (OS leads 1-0)
Windsor 4 Sarnia 0 (WIN leads 1-0)
Guelph 4 Erie 3 (GUE leads 1-0)
Kitchener 10 Flint 0 (KIT leads 1-0)

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QMJHL 1st Round Game 2 Results

Acadie-Bathurst 3 Charlottetown1 (series tied 1-1)
Saint John 4 Chicoutimi 2 (series tied 1-1)
Baie-Comeau 4 Moncton 3(series tied 1-1)
Halifax 6 Quebec 2 (HAL leads 2-0)

Sherbrooke 2 Blainville-Boisbrand 0 (SHE leads 2-0)
Val D'Or 6 Rouyn-Noranda 1 (VD leads 2-0)
Shawinigan 4 Victoriaville 2 (SHA leads 2-0)
Gatineau 4 Drummondville 3 OT (series tied 1-1)

WHL 1st Round Game 2 Results

Calgary 4 Brandon 2 (CAL leads 2-0)
Swift Current 4 Red Deer 3 (SC leads 2-0)
Edmonton 3 Regina 2 (EDM leads 2-0)
Moose Jaw 2 Saskatoon 1 (series tied 1-1)

Everett 3 Vancouver 1 (series tied 1-1)
Victoria 5 Kamloops 2 (VIC leads 2-0)
Kelowna 4 Tri-City 3 (KEL leads 2-0)
Seattle 5 Spokane 3 (series tied 1-1)

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OHL Round 1 Game 2 Results

Peterborough 4 Sudbury 3 (series tied 1-1)
Kingston 6 Niagara 2 (series tied 1-1)
Oshawa 3 Mississauga 0 (OSH leads 2-0)
North Bay 10 Hamilton 2 (NB leads 2-0)

Owen Sound 6 Saginaw 1 (OS leads 2-0)
Windsor 3 Sarnia 1 (WIN leads 2-0)
Guelph 5 Erie 0 (GUE leads 2-0)
Flint 6 Kitchener 3 (series tied 1-1)

For Owen Sound, Madden Steen, team captain and OHL bad boy came back from suspension in Game 1 so now we are fully healthy. Dominated Saginaw the first two games at home, series now heading to Saginaw.

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QMJHL 1st Round Game 3 Results

Charlottetown 4 Acadie-Bathurst 3 (CHA leads series 2-1)
Saint John 7 Chicoutimi 3 (SNB leads series 2-1)
Baie-Comeau 2 Moncton 1 (BAC leads series 2-1)
Quebec 5 Halifax 4 (HAL leads series 2-1)

Sherbrooke 4 Blainville-Boisbrand 0 (SHE leads series 3-0)
Val D'Or 7 Rouyn-Noranda 3 (VD leads series 3-0)
Shawinigan 7 Victoriaville 3 (SHA leads series 3-0)
Gatineau 4 Drummondville 3 (GAT leads series 2-1)

WHL 1st Round Game 3 Results

Brandon 5 Calgary 3 (CAL leads 2-1)
Swift Current 5 Red Deer 2 (SC leads 3-0)
Regina 3 Edmonton 1 (EDM leads 2-1)
Moose Jaw 5 Saskatoon 1 (MJ leads 2-1)

Everett 3 Vancouver 2 (EVE leads 2-1)
Kamloops 2 Victoria 1 (VIC leads 2-1)
Tri-City 6 Kelowna 2 (KEL leads 2-1)
Seattle 7 Spokane 1 (SEA leads 2-1)

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OHL Round 1 Game 3 Results

Peterborough 7 Sudbury 1 (PBO leads 2-1)
Niagara 3 Kingston 1 (NIA leads 2-1)
Oshawa 2 Mississauga 1 OT (OSH leads 3-0)
North Bay 3 Hamilton 2 OT (NB leads 3-0) - UPSET ALERT!!!

Owen Sound 5 Saginaw 4 (OS leads 3-0)
Windsor 6 Sarnia 5 2OT (WIN leads 3-0)
Guelph 4 Erie 2 (GUE leads 3-0) - UPSET ALERT!!!
Kitchener 3 Flint 2 (KIT leads 2-1)

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QMJHL Round 1 Game 4 Results

Acadie-Bathurst 4 Charlottetown 2 (series tied 2-2)
Saint John 8 Chicoutimi 3 (SNB leads series 3-1) - UPSET ALERT!!
Moncton 4 Baie-Comeau 3 OT (series tied 2-2)
Halfiax 4 Quebec 1 (HAL leads series 3-1)

Sherbrooke 6 Blainville-Boisbrand 1 (SHE wins series 4-0)
Val D'Or 7 Rouyn-Noranda 2 (VD wins series 4-0)
Shawinigan 3 Victoriaville 2 (SHA wins series 4-0)
Gatineau 5 Drummondville 2 (GAT leads series 3-1) - UPSET ALERT!!

Sherbrooke, Val D-Or and Shawinigan all make quick work of their weaker opponents in 4 straight games. Sherbrooke only allows 2 goals in those 4 games. Charlottetown and Moncton struggling against their underdog opponents. Chicoutimi and Drummondville are on UPSET ALERT.

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Introducing the QMJHL's top regular season team, the vaunted Sherbrooke Phoenix. This is one scary looking team.

Sherbrooke Phoenix (54-9-5)

QMJHL Playoff Results

RD 1 - Blainville-Boisbrand (21-42-5) - won series 4-0 GF: 19 GA: 2

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QMJHL's Val D'or Foreurs, the defending Q league champs.

Val D-Or Foreurs (37-26-5)

QMJHL Playoff Results

RD 1 - Rouyn-Noranda (24-38-6) - won series 4-0 GF: 21 GA: 6

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Another strong contender from the Q, the Shawinigan Cataractes.

Shawinigan Cataractes (46-20-2)

QMJHL Playoff Results

RD 1 - Victoriaville (32-34-2) - won series 4-0 GF: 18 GA: 10

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WHL 1st Round Game 4 Results

Calgary 4 Brandon 1 (CAL leads 3-1)
Red Deer 5 Swift Current 1 (SC leads 3-1)
Edmonton 7 Regina 2 (EDM leads 3-1) - UPSET ALERT!!
Saskatoon 3 Moose Jaw 2 (series tied 2-2)

Everett 3 Vancouver 2 (EVE leads 3-1) - MAJOR UPSET ALERT!!
Victoria 4 Kamloops 2 (VIC leads 3-1)
Tri-City 3 Kelowna 2 (series tied 2-2)
Seattle 5 Spokane 4 OT (SEA leads 3-1)

Everett (30-35-3) has Vancouver (59-9-0) on the ropes down 3-1 in the series. Can the Silvertips pull off one of the biggest upsets in WHL history?

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OHL Round 1 Game 4 Results

Sudbury 4 Peterborough 3 (series tied 2-2)
Niagara 7 Kingston 4 (NIA leads 3-1)
Mississauga 4 Oshawa 1 (OSH leads 3-1)
North Bay 3 Hamilton 1 (NB wins series 4-0)

Saginaw 5 Owen Sound 3 (OS leads 3-1)
Sarnia 3 Windsor 1 (WIN leads 3-1)
Erie 4 Guelph 1 (GUE leads 3-1) - UPSET ALERT!!!
Kitchener 4 Flint 3 OT (KIT leads 3-1)

Owen Sound dominates Saginaw in the shots department but Saginaw's goalie turns in an outstanding performance in Game 4! Poor performance by Misin who suffers his first ever loss in the OHL (he went 22-0 during the season after signing a contract from Russia halfway through the year). Might be time to change up the goalies and give Terry Fulgham a start.

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OHL's first team to enter Round 2, the North Bay Battalion. A very impressive first round sweep of the favoured Bulldogs.

North Bay Battalion (33-26-9)

OHL Playoff Results

RD 1 - Hamilton (38-24-6) - won series 4-0 GF: 21 GA: 5

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QMJHL Round 1 Game 5 Results

Acadie-Bathurst 3 Charlottetown 0 (ACA leads 3-2) - MAJOR UPSET ALERT!!
Chicoutimi 7 Saint John 4 (SNB leads series 3-2) - UPSET ALERT!!
Moncton 3 Baie-Comeau 0 (MON leads 3-2)
Quebec 3 Halifax 1 (HAL leads series 3-2)

Sherbrooke 6 Blainville-Boisbrand 1 (SHE wins series 4-0)
Val D'Or 7 Rouyn-Noranda 2 (VD wins series 4-0)
Shawinigan 3 Victoriaville 2 (SHA wins series 4-0)
Drummondville 3 Gatineau 1(GAT leads series 3-2) - UPSET ALERT!!

Acadie-Bathurst (29-38-1) has Charlottetown (52-13-3) in some serious trouble up 3-2 in that series. This would be a serious upset if they can pull it off on home ice in Game 6!

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WHL 1st Round Game 5 Results

Calgary 4 Brandon 2 (CAL wins series 4-1)
Red Deer 1 Swift Current 0 (SC leads 3-2)
Edmonton 5 Regina 2 (EDM wins series 4-1)
Saskatoon 6 Moose Jaw 3 (SASK leads 3-2)

Vancouver 3 Everett 0 (EVE leads 3-2) - MAJOR UPSET ALERT!!
Kamloops 4 Victoria 3 OT (VIC leads 3-2)
Tri-City 4 Kelowna 2 (Tri-City leads 3-2)
Spokane 5 Seattle 2 (SEA leads 3-2)