182 days ago was when the 2023–24 season officially began. It’s time for the most thrilling moment for any club and fan after 68 games spread over more than six months… GO HOCKEY! The Kingston Frontenacs are ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference going into the playoffs. After finishing 33-31-4-0, the Fronts will face the North Bay Battalion (39-20-7-2) who are ranked number two.
The Frontenacs and Battalion will play Game 1 of their first-round best-of-seven series tonight. The puck is expected to drop at North Bay Memorial Gardens at 7:00 p.m.
Season Series
As the playoffs kick off tonight, let’s take a retrospective glance at the season series between the Kingston Frontenacs and North Bay Battalion. The two teams clashed four times, each hosting two home games. Both Kingston and North Bay split the season series evenly, with each squad securing one victory at home and one on the road. Notably, the Kingston Frontenacs clinched the last matchup on Sunday, March 17th, with an overtime game winner by Paul Ludwinski, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory for Kingston.
Momentum Coming In
The Kingston Frontenacs are riding a scorching hot streak as they enter the playoffs. The Black and Gold have triumphed in four consecutive regular season games, notably securing three thrilling overtime victories in a row to close out their regular season campaign. The win streak saw the Frontenacs beat three playoff teams in North Bay, Ottawa 67’s and Hamilton Bulldogs, proving the Frontenacs can be a threat in the 2024 OHL Playoffs.
Starting with Possession
Controlling play through faceoff wins will be crucial for the Kingston Frontenacs in this series, particularly in limiting North Bay’s attacking opportunities. Throughout the season series and a total of 233 faceoffs, the Kingston Frontenacs narrowly outpaced North Bay, winning 117 to North Bay’s 116. The team will heavily rely on the formidable trio of Jax Dubois (OHL Faceoff Wins Leader), Paul Ludwinski, and Nathan Poole, all boasting faceoff win percentages exceeding 50%, to secure possession and provide Kingston with a decisive edge in the series.
Player to Watch: North Bay
The North Bay Battalion boast a formidable and deep team, highlighted by their impressive offensive prowess spearheaded by none other than the OHL goal-scoring leader, Anthony Romani, who netted an outstanding 58 goals throughout the season. With Romani also accumulating 111 points, securing the second spot in the OHL standings, only trailing David Goyette of the Sudbury Wolves by a mere six points, it becomes paramount for the Kingston Frontenacs to contain his offensive threat as effectively as possible. Locking down Romani will be crucial, especially in stealing a game on the road to kick off the playoffs and gain momentum in the series.
Player to Watch: Kingston
Mason Vaccari has been the steadfast anchor in net for the Kingston Frontenacs throughout the entirety of the season, and this reliability will be paramount as the playoffs unfold. Having appeared in 59 games for the Frontenacs, Vaccari played an instrumental role in securing 27 of Kingston’s 33 wins. Now, tasked with shutting down a formidable and high-scoring North Bay attack, Vaccari will be instrumental in providing his team with the best opportunity to succeed night in and night out throughout this series.
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