Colts outlast 67’s, take 2-0 series lead to Ottawa

Cole Beaudoin (centre), Colts co-captain, celebrates a goal in Game 2 against the Ottawa 67's at Sadlon Arena in Barrie, Ont., on Sat., April 11, 2026. (Source: OHL/FloHockey)

The Barrie Colts defeated the Ottawa 67’s 5-3 in Game 2 of their second round OHL playoff matchup Saturday evening at Sadlon Arena and took a 2-0 lead in the series.

Colts strike first

Cole Beaudoin, Colts co-captain, opened the scoring with his fifth of the postseason just before the halfway point of the first period.

Kashawn Aitcheson, fellow co-captain, missed a big hit on Nic Whitehead, 67’s forward, and it was enough to turn the play the other way.

Beaudoin sprung himself loose on a breakaway before beating Ryder Fetterolf, 67’s goaltender, on a backhander between the legs.

67’s respond

The 67’s answered one minute later.

Filip Ekberg fed Spencer Bowes on a 2-on-1, and Bowes slid it in off Ben Hrebik, Colts goaltender, to tie it at 1-1.

Ottawa would pull ahead early in the second frame.

Bowes received a pass from Kohyn Eshkawkogan before taking a shot-pass that was deflected in by Cooper Foster, giving the 67’s a 2-1 lead.

4 Barrie goals in a row

The Colts started opening things up as the second period continued.

Mason Zebeski drove to the net and was denied by Fetterolf, but Calvin Crombie was there for the rebound to tie the game at 2-2.

With less than four minutes left in the frame, Carter Lowe deflected Parker von Richter’s shot-pass for a power play goal to put Barrie ahead 3-2.

Less than two minutes into the third, Emil Hemming slid a shot from the right-wing boards under Fetterolf for his sixth of the postseason, doubling the Colts lead to 4-2.

With the Colts on the power play minutes later, another von Richter shot was deflected in, this time by Ben Wilmott, for his team-leading seventh of the playoffs. That increased the Colts lead to 5-2.

Colts take 2-0 series lead

The 67’s would score a third, as Frankie Marrelli was left all alone in the slot and he ripped his shot past Hrebik. But the Colts closed it out for the 5-3 win.

Beaudoin’s goal and three points led the Colts offensively, and they were backstopped by Hrebik’s 32 saves on 35 shots.

The series shifts to Ottawa for Game 3 on Tuesday and Game 4 on Thursday.

Both puck drops are just after 7 p.m. at TD Place Arena.

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