The Barrie Colts open the playoffs on Thursday at home against the Niagara Ice Dogs, hoping for a deep run and a second-ever OHL championship.
They will do so as the conference’s second seed, ensuring home ice advantage for the first round as well as the second — if Barrie gets that far.
The Colts enter the series as heavy favourites against the seven-seed Ice Dogs, who Barrie beat in the first round of the playoffs last year.
Barrie won that series in five.
Game 2 goes Saturday, also at Sadlon Arena.
The series shifts to St. Catharines for games three and four.
The best-of-seven series will return to Barrie next Saturday for game five if it goes that far.
