The Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) Pollock Division playoffs are set to begin on Friday.
The top-seeded Hanover Barons (36-3-2-1) will face the eighth-seeded Goderich Flyers (6-31-1-3). The Barons, fresh off a nine-game winning streak, are hoping to continue their successful playoff runs after claiming the Pollock Division title and North Conference crown last season. Hanover enters the playoffs with the league's third-best record, boasting 75 points, and will open their series at home in Game 1 on Friday at 8 p.m.
The Mount Forest Patriots (32-7-3-0) will square off against the Walkerton Capitals (11-29-2-0). Mount Forest, a solid contender in the division, will aim to advance past a Walkerton team that struggled during the regular season but will look to pull off an upset. Game 1 goes Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Walkerton, after the original lid-lifter on Wednesday was rescheduled.
The Fergus Whalers (27-10-3-2) will take on the Mitchell Hawks (13-25-2-2). Despite a significant points gap between the teams, Mitchell's forechecking has proven effective against the Whalers in the past, going 2-3-1 against Fergus in the regular season. Game 1 is set for Saturday in Mitchell at 7:15 p.m., with Game 2 the following day in Fergus at 3 p.m.
The final quarter-final sees the fourth-seeded Kincardine Bulldogs (22-16-3-0) face the fifth-seeded Wingham Ironmen (20-19-3-0). Kincardine, bolstered by the addition of former Owen Sound Attack defenseman Madden Steen, is hoping to strengthen its playoff run. Steen, who joined the Bulldogs late in the season, brings Ontario Hockey League experience that the team expects to make an impact on both ends of the ice. This series kicks off on Friday night, with Game 1 in Kincardine at 7:30 p.m.
Pollock Division coverage on OHA Hockey on AM 920 CKNX is expected to begin on Friday, February 28, 2025.