The Kitchener Jr. Rangers Minor Midget AAA team will now face the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs in a 4 point series for a berth in the prestigious OHL Cup.
After a hard fought 7 game series v London the Jr. Rangers season isn't over as they still have an opportunity to advance to the OHL Cup played at the Buckingham arena March 17-23, 2015.
Kitchener will face Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs with the winner advancing.
Kitchener advanced to the OHL Cup Playdown by sweeping Hamilton 3-0 in the Quarter Finals before losing out in their Semi Final series to London in 7 games. 5 of the games were 1 goal games and 1 game was tied.
Elgin advanced to the OHL Cup Playdown by sweeping Huron Perth 3-0 in their Quarter Final series before losing to Waterloo 4-0 in their Semi-Final Action.
Elgin finished 3rd in league play with a 24-5-4 record while scoring 131 for and giving up 54. In the playoffs the Chiefs are 3-4 scoring 22 and allowing 18 against.
The Jr. Rangers were 4th in league play with a 20-9-4 record, scoring 116 and giving up 59. In the playoffs Kitchener is 5-4-1 scoring 22 while allowing 12.
OHL Cup Playdown Schedule is as follows: (4 point series)
Saturday March 7 - at Elgin-Middlesex (Komoka) 4:45pm (5-4 Kitchener)
Wednesday March 8 - at Kitchener (Activa) 8:00 pm (4-0 Kitchener)
Kitchener: 4 points
Elgin Middlesex: 0 points
The winner of this series advances to the OHL Cup which takes place while the losing team of this series will play in a one game showdown for a wild card berth.
The 2015 OHL Cup will once again include 20 participating teams from across Ontario and the United States, with 17 of the 20 spots guaranteed through league competition. The 17 guaranteed spots include all four GTHL Semi-Finalists, and the top four teams that place at the OMHA Championship. Three teams from the ALLIANCE will be guaranteed a spot in the tournament including the Champion and Finalist, along with the winner of a best-of-three Semi-Final Wild Card Series to be played between the losers of the two league Semi-Finals. The OEMHL Champion and Finalist will also be guaranteed spots in the tournament, along with two United States entries, one HNO representative, and one NOHA representative.
As introduced last season, the final three Wild Card spots will be determined among six teams that will play a one game 'win and in' scenario. The six competing teams aiming for the final three tournament spots will include the fifth place team at the OMHA Championship, the loser of the ALLIANCE Semi-Final Wild Card Series, and four teams named by the Tournament Selection Committee based on regular season, playoff, and tournament play. All three Wild Card matchups and times of play will be determined by random draw among the six competing teams.
Last season the Toronto Marlboros captured their fourth OHL Cup title in 10 years with a 5-0 win over the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Marlies forward and OHL Cup MVP Michael McLeod had seven goals and four assists in the tournament and was later selected fifth overall by the Mississauga Steelheads in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.
McLeod was one of 15 first round draft selections from 2014 OHL Cup teams, including eight of the top ten picks. Those names include Jakob Chychrun (Toronto Jr. Canadiens - 1st overall to the Sarnia Sting), Adam Mascherin (Vaughan Kings - 2nd overall to the Kitchener Rangers), Travis Barron (Toronto Jr. Canadiens - 3rd overall to the Ottawa 67's), Brandon Saigeon (Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs - 4th overall to the Belleville Bulls), William Bitten (Ottawa Jr. 67's - 7th overall to the Plymouth Whalers), Victor Mete (Toronto Jr. Canadiens - 8th overall to the Owen Sound Attack) and Tye Felhaber (Ottawa Valley Titans - 10th overall to the Saginaw Spirit).
Six first round selections in the 2014 NHL Draft are OHL Cup graduates including Sam Bennett (Toronto Marlboros/Calgary Flames), Michael Dal Colle (Vaughan Kings/New York Islanders), Nick Ritchie (Toronto Marlboros/Anaheim Ducks), Robby Fabbri (Mississauga Rebels/St. Louis Blues), Jared McCann (London Jr. Knights/Vancouver Canucks) and Josh Ho-Sang (Toronto Marlboros/New York Islanders).
Notable OHL Cup graduates currently playing in the NHL include Taylor Hall (Greater Kingston Frontenacs/Edmonton Oilers), John Tavares (Toronto Marlboros/New York Islanders), Steven Stamkos (Markham Waxers/Tampa Bay Lightning), Tyler Seguin (Toronto Nationals/Dallas Stars), 2011 NHL Rookie of the Year Jeff Skinner (Toronto Nationals/Carolina Hurricanes) and 2010 OHL Cup MVP Sean Monahan (Mississauga Rebels/Calgary Flames).
For more information, please visit ohlcup.ca.