Colts clinch division title as OHL season enters final stretch

As the OHL’s regular season winds down, the Barrie Colts have clinched the ninth divisional title in franchise history.

As most teams only have five or six games left in the season, the Colts have already engraved their name on the Emms Trophy, awarded to the OHL central division’s top team. 

It’s the first time Barrie has won the regular season award since 2017-18. 

Through 63 games, the Colts have notched a 39-20-4 record, leaving them tied for second-place in the eastern conference, behind the Brantford Bulldogs.

The Colts have also already wrapped up their spot in the OHL playoffs, which will get underway later this month, though it remains to be seen who they will play in the opening round. 

Barrie has guaranteed themselves home ice advantage as one of the conference’s four best teams, but the top-seed remains up for grabs between Brantford, Barrie, the Oshawa Generals, and the Kingston Frontenacs. 

The Colts will be looking to improve upon last year’s performance in the playoffs, when they were bounced in the opening round by Oshawa in six games.

Up next, Barrie will play its final back-to-back-to-back of the season, meaning they will play three games in three consecutive days this weekend, a phenomenon unique to major junior hockey.

They will play a road game against the Brampton Steelheads on Friday, then host the Sarnia Sting for a matinee matchup on Saturday, before travelling to North Bay to take on the Battalion on Sunday.

The Colts will then wrap up the regular season with a two-game home stand against the Owen Sound Attack and Niagara IceDogs next week.