Your 2017-2018 Champions
Greyhounds Capture Championship
It was a storybook ending to a hard fought season. A bloodbath of scoring that culminated in one of the most exciting finishes in OHL history. Neither of the top seeds from the regular season proved worthy of an appearance in the finals. That honor belonged to the Eastern champions from Mississauga, and the eventual champions out of the West, Sault Ste Marie.
It was the first time since 1992 that the Greyhounds touched the J. Ross Robertson Cup, even though they've been flirting with the grand prize for many seasons now. Something a dynasty in the OHL, the Greyhounds rose to prominence under now Toronto Maple Leafs GM, Kyle Dubas, leading way to Kyle Raftis, and now Antonio Borrelli who put on a master class of management this season.
It wasn't a conventional path to the OHL championship, as Borrelli started the campaign by dealing arguably their best player to Barrie for Aaron Luchuk, and Lucas Chiodo. A backwards step on paper, however overager Luchuk proved to be a dynamo in the post-season down the road. Months later they added the youngest of the Strome brothers, Matthew, who makes up with grit what he lacks in the families skill department. It set a strong top six unit who could compete with anyone in the league.
It was the first time since 1992 that the Greyhounds touched the J. Ross Robertson Cup, even though they've been flirting with the grand prize for many seasons now. Something a dynasty in the OHL, the Greyhounds rose to prominence under now Toronto Maple Leafs GM, Kyle Dubas, leading way to Kyle Raftis, and now Antonio Borrelli who put on a master class of management this season.
It wasn't a conventional path to the OHL championship, as Borrelli started the campaign by dealing arguably their best player to Barrie for Aaron Luchuk, and Lucas Chiodo. A backwards step on paper, however overager Luchuk proved to be a dynamo in the post-season down the road. Months later they added the youngest of the Strome brothers, Matthew, who makes up with grit what he lacks in the families skill department. It set a strong top six unit who could compete with anyone in the league.
When the trade deadline rolled around, it was the Greyhounds who not only hit the biggest home run, it was a double grand slam. Cam Dineen, Drake Rymsha and Will Bitten were all acquired and joined the second seeded team in the West.
The post-season wasn't a cake walk for the Soo. They matched up against the Michael DiPietro lead Saginaw Spirit, a team that analysts predicted have a high upset possibility. The underdogs lived up to the expectations, taking two games against the eventual champions, but fell in the first round in six games. Up next was the unlikely Erie Otters, the team who toppled the regular season leaders from Kitchener. It seems the Otters used up what little magic they had in the first round, as the Greyhounds dispatched them in five games before advancing to the Western Finals. That matchup could best be described as a battle of titans, as the London Knights were just as favored to win the J. Ross Robertson as any team left standing, but Sault Ste Marie prevailed in a tightly contested six game series.
That brings them to the OHL Championship Finals.
That brings them to the OHL Championship Finals.
If the Greyhounds were the favorites, the Steelheads were the feel-good story.
Game One: Sault Ste Marie 7 - Mississauga 4
Game Two: Sault Ste Marie 6 - Mississauga 5
Game Three: Mississauga 5 - Sault Ste Marie 6
Game Four: Mississauga 5 - Sault Ste Marie 3
Game Five: Sault Ste Marie 5 - Mississauga 7
Game Six: Mississauga 8 - Sault Ste Marie 2
Game Seven: Sault Ste Marie 4 - Mississauga 3
A true nail-biter of a series, that ultimately came down to a Morgan Frost wrist shot that sealed the deal for the Greyhounds, and won their first OHL Championship in nearly three decades. The path that Antonio Borrelli took to the finals wasn't conventional, but it was entertaining and the FOHL has a lot to learn from the Greyhounds success and his approach as a GM.
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