CHL Playoff update – Brampton Battalion march into the OHL finals

READING, PA – The Brampton Battalion earned a spot in the OHL finals for the first time in franchise history when they defeated the Belleville Bulls in six games and will now face the Windsor Spitfires who knocked off the London Knights in five games. Windsor will hold the home ice advantage in the series.

Matt Duchene scored three goals, including the game-winner midway through the third period, to lead the Battalion to a 7-4 win over the Belleville Bulls in Game 6 of the Rogers OHL Eastern Conference Championship Series. Duchene, who is expected to be one of the top three players in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, in second on goal scoring in the playoffs with 13. Belleville’s Nick Palmieri leads with 14. Brampton claimed the Bobby Orr Trophy for the first time in their 11-year history and will begin their Rogers OHL Championship Series starting on Wednesday in Windsor. The winner will move on to represent the OHL at the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Rimouski beginning on May 16 against the champions of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Below is the schedule between Windsor and Brampton. Game 1 – Wed Apr 29 7:05 PM Brampton at Windsor Game 2 – Fri May 1 7:30 PM Windsor at Brampton Game 3 – Mon May 4 7:05 PM Brampton at Windsor Game 4 – Wed May 6 7:00 PM Windsor at Brampton Game 5 – Fri May 8 7:05 PM * Brampton at Windsor Game 6 – Sat May 9 7:30 PM * Windsor at Brampton Game 7 – Mon May 11 7:05 PM * Brampton at Windsor Speaking of the Q, the Drummondville Voltigeurs remain undefeated in the playoffs by sweeping Rimouski in four games and will now face the Shawinigan Cataractes who won their most recent series over the Quebec Remparts in five games. Shawinigan is 12-2 in the playoffs and will not be an easy out for Drummondville. Both teams had the league’s best records. In the WHL, the Calgary Hitmen advanced to the WHL championship series with a four game sweep of the Brandon Wheat Kings and are waiting on the completion of the Vancouver Giants/Kelowna Rockets series to find out their opponent in the WHL Championship series. Kelowna won Games 4 and 5 and are now leading their series 3-2. Game 6 is on Monday in Kelowna. If Game 7 is needed it will be on Tuesday in Vancouver. Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com