The Colts are coming off back-to-back victories against Sudbury and Oshawa earlier this week, which improved their record to 3-2 on the season, good for fifth place in the eastern conference.

After falling a goal short of the Memorial Cup last year, the Knights have gotten off to an uncharacteristically slow start with only one win through four games. However, their roster is set to receive some much-needed firepower ahead of Friday’s matchup, as the Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Tuesday they were sending first-round draft pick Easton Cowan back to London.

Cowan had 34 goals and 96 points in only 54 games for the Knights last year.

Barrie will rely on star forwards Cole Beaudoin (a first-round pick of Utah) and Emil Hemming (a first-round pick of Dallas) to continue their strong play, as both have already notched five points this season, co-leading the team.

Hemming, in particular, has been impressive, given it’s the 18-year-old’s first season in North America, having played last year in Finland’s top professional league.

Meanwhile, Beaudoin was just returned to the OHL last week after appearing in two preseason games for Utah, where he failed to record a point.

London swept the season series against the Colts last year, winning both times the teams squared off.

Friday’s game is the first half of a back-to-back, as the Colts will return home to host the Brampton Steelheads on Saturday for the second time this season. The Steelheads, in the franchise’s first year since relocating from Mississauga, beat the Colts 4-1 last week.

Starting goalies for the game have not yet been announced, though there’s a chance both of Barrie’s netminders will see action during the back-to-back.

Florida-native Sam Hillebrandt has returned as the Colts’ starting goalie this year, having started four games already, in which he’s gone 2-2 and posted a .915 save percentage. Ben Hrebik, who’s likely to see more playing time after only playing two games last year, has won his only start this season, where he stopped 36 of the 37 shots he faced.

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First, the Simcoe Country Rovers played in the team’s first-ever Canadian Championship, putting up a valiant effort in an opening round loss to the MLS’s Toronto FC. The Rovers nabbed a spot in the prestigious tournament — that features Canada’s top club teams — by winning the 2023 League1 Ontario championship.

Then, earlier this month, the Barrie Baycats won the Intercounty Baseball League, sweeping the Guelph Royals in the final series. It was the team’s eight ever IBL title.

Can the OHL’s Barrie Colts keep the championship drive alive?

The Colts kick off the 2024-25 season on Sept. 27 on the road against Sudbury.

Last season, the Colts made the playoffs as the eighth — and final — seed — but fell in the first round to the top seed Oshawa Generals.

Can the Colts return to the postseason this year, and make a deep run?

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The Colts’ OHL campaign began in northeastern Ontario, starting off with a 3-1 win on Friday night against the Sudbury Wolves. Kashawn Aitcheson, Carter Lowe and Evan Passmore scored for the Colts, while Chase Coughlan had the lone tally for the home team.

From there, the Colts headed back to Barrie for a Saturday night tilt against the North Bay Battalion, losing in a 4-1 decision. Aitcheson had the lone goal for the Colts. Lirim Amidovski had two goals for North Bay, and Ethan Procyszyn and Anthony Romani rounded out the scoring for the Battalion.

Looking ahead, Barrie hosts the Brampton Steelheads Thursday night at Sadlon Arena. The Colts stay at home on Saturday to face the Wolves before venturing south to Oshawa to take on the Generals on Sunday night.

Tickets for all upcoming Colts’ home games can be found here.

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