The Barrie Colts and Kitchener Rangers face off in Game 2 of the OHL Championship Series Friday evening in Kitchener. The Colts, searching for their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since their lone OHL title in 2000, fell to the Rangers 5-2 in Wednesday’s Game 1. The Rangers are going for their fifth title in franchise history and first since 2008. Injuries Mounting The Colts entered the series without the availability of Cole Beaudoin, one of their co-captains and leading playoff scorer, after he got injured in the Eastern Conference Final. Barrie lost another top forward in Game 1, after Joe Salandra got awkwardly checked by Cameron Reid, Rangers defenceman and captain. Salandra lay on the ice for several minutes as his Colts teammates knelt around him at centre ice. Salandra was eventually stretchered off. Smoskowitz confirmed to CTV News Friday afternoon that Salandra suffered a broken bone (fibula) in his leg and will be out for the series. Wilmott Steps Up Ben Wilmott, Colts forward, has been one of many Barrie forwards who have stepped up their offensive game this spring. The Colts acquired the 19-year-old in a trade with the London Knights back in January, and he has been a point-per-game player ever since. Wilmott scored both Barrie goals in Game 1 and his 11 playoff goals are second on the team behind Emil Hemming. OHL MVP vs Defenceman of the Year It was a relatively quiet series opener on the scoresheet for Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie’s other co-captain and Sam O’Reilly, Rangers star forward. With Barrie trailing 3-1 against the Brantford Bulldogs in the East Final, Aitcheson scored one goal and totalled 7 points in the three straight Colts wins as they came back and won the series. In Game 1 of the final, he had one assist and a rating of minus-1, while O’Reilly scored an empty net goal and was also minus-1. Aitcheson won the Max Kaminsky Trophy last week as the league’s 2025-26 defenceman of the year. O’Reilly won the Red Tilson Trophy earlier this week as the league’s Most Outstanding Player. He leads the OHL with 15 playoff goals and leads the Rangers with 23 playoff points. Game 2 Importance The Rangers are looking to take a 2-0 series lead and remain undefeated at home this postseason. The Colts are hoping to bring the final back to Barrie in a 1-1 tie. Puck drop is just after 7 p.m. at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
