Battalion and Bulldogs conference final schedule released

For the first time since they met the Oshawa Generals in 2015, the North Bay Battalion is back in the Eastern Conference Championship Series. 

The 2022 OHL Eastern Conference Championship Series for the Bobby Orr Trophy between the Hamilton Bulldogs and North Bay Battalion begins Friday, May 20 in Hamilton.

The third round series features the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference as the Bulldogs, who won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy with the OHL's best regular season record, come off consecutive series sweeps of the Peterborough Petes and Mississauga Steelheads to reach the Conference Final. They'll face the Central Division champion North Bay Battalion, who eliminated the Ottawa 67's and Kingston Frontenacs to reach the Eastern Conference Championship Series for the first time since 2015.

It will be the battle of the two most dominant playoff teams as the Battalion sport an 8-1 record in the playoffs while the Bulldogs sport a perfect 8-0 record. 

The Bulldogs and Battalion faced each other four times during the regular season, with North Bay winning the first two meetings before Hamilton responded with victories in the final two encounters.

The Troops are led offensively in the playoffs by overage stars Mitchell Russell and Brandon Coe. Russell sits in second in OHL playoff scoring with 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points - just one behind the leader and Dallas Stars prospect Wyatt Johnston of the Windsor Spitfires (23). Coe is fourth in league playoff scoring after the second round with five goals and 13 assists good for 18 points. 

As for the Bulldogs, they are led by Logan Morrison who has nine goals and seven assists good for 16 points. Meantime trade deadline acquisition and Anaheim Ducks prospect Mason McTavish is 10th in playoff scoring with nine goals and five assists totalling 14 points. 

The Eastern Conference Champion receives the Bobby Orr Trophy named in honour of the Hockey Hall of Fame member who played four OHL seasons with the Oshawa Generals from 1962-66.  The Bulldogs last hoisted the Bobby Orr Trophy in the same year they were eventually crowned OHL champions in 2018. The Battalion last won an Eastern Conference title in 2014.

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE:

(1) HAMILTON BULLDOGS (51-12-3-2) vs. (2) NORTH BAY BATTALION (43-18-3-4) - #HAMvsNB

Game 1, Fri., May 20 at Hamilton, 7 p.m
Game 2, Sun., May 22 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Game 3, Wed., May 25 at North Bay, 7 p.m.
Game 4, Fri., May 27 at North Bay, 7 p.m.
Game 5, Sun., May 29 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.*
Game 6, Tues., May 31 at North Bay, 7 p.m.*
Game 7, Wed., June 1 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.*
*if necessary