‘Got better as the series went on’: Colts hope to carry playoff momentum into series against 67’s

The Barrie Colts were back on the ice preparing for their second round matchup against the Ottawa 67’s after eliminating the Niagara IceDogs on the weekend.

The Barrie Colts were back on the ice Monday preparing for their second round matchup against the Ottawa 67’s after eliminating the Niagara IceDogs Saturday evening.

The Colts took care of business in the first round against the IceDogs for the second straight year, ending the series in five games with Saturday’s 5-0 victory.

“We got better as the series went on,” said Dylan Smoskowitz, Colts Head Coach. “There were bits and pieces from each game that we liked. But we didn’t really love our full 60-minute effort until that last game.”

The Colts won all three games since Kashawn Aitcheson, star defenceman and co-captain, returned in Game 3 from his suspension.

Up next: the Ottawa 67’s, the OHL’s third best team by the overall standings, and a team the Colts took two of four against.

“I think it should be a good series,” said Cole Beaudoin, the team’s other co-captain. “They’re a really good team and you could see that throughout the regular season.”

As an Ottawa native, Beaudoin will be facing off against his hometown OHL team. He confirmed that he will have family driving in for the first two games in Barrie and familiar faces in the crowd when the series shifts to the nation’s capital.

“Both games will kind of be home games for me which will be nice,” said Beaudoin. “I’ll have a lot of people cheering for me in Ottawa, and then I know (Sadlon Arena) will be rocking.”

Beaudoin’s 11 points have led the Colts offence so far this postseason, followed by ten for both Brad Gardiner and Ben Wilmott.

Wilmott, 19, has been a point-per-game player since he was traded to Barrie from the London Knights in January.

“All the individual stuff is a byproduct of team success, and I think we’re in a really good spot,” said Wilmott. “Mentally, everyone’s just really bought into the systems and just working hard with that team goal (of winning the Memorial Cup).”

In goal, Smoskowitz reiterated his confidence in both Ben Hrebik and Arvin Jaswal.

Hrebik will get the nod in the series opener for his fourth straight start after celebrating the win and his 20th birthday on Saturday, a celebration he says he already moved past.

“Surreal feeling, but on to the next day and just keep working,” said Hrebik.

The 67’s ended their first round series this past Thursday after sweeping the Kingston Frontenacs.

Game 1 for the Barrie-Ottawa series is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Sadlon Arena.

Follow your Barrie Colts on CTV News as we provide extended coverage in our special series: “The road to the Memorial Cup” brought to you by the Boots and Hearts Barn Burner Charity Hockey Game.