OJHL GRADS PLAYING IN FROZEN FOUR
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is represented at the NCAA Frozen Four in Pittsburgh this week.
After a crazy weekend of regionals, all top seeds were eliminated.
Both semifinal games will be played on Thursday, April 8 in at PPG Paints Arena, home of the NHL Penguins:
St. Cloud State vs. Minnesota State at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2
UMass vs. Minnesota Duluth at 9 p.m. on ESPN2
The National Championship game is slated for April 10 at 7 p.m. ET.
In Canada, TSN is broadcasting/streaming every game of the men’s hockey tournament this spring: Click here for the schedule
The OJHL alumni on the Frozen Four rosters:
UMass Minutemen
Senior centre Philip Lagunov played for the Milton Icehawks and Burlington Cougars from 2015-17 after APing with the Mississauga Chargers during his U18 year
The Hamilton native had 88 points (43 goals/45 assists) during 101 career regular season games in the OJ on 43 goals and 45 assists
Lagunov was named the Ontario Hockey Association’s Top Prospect in 2017
Defenceman Gianfranco Cassaro played two-plus seasons for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens from 2014-17
The 22-year-old from Nobelton was named to the OJHL’s 1st team All-Prospect squad in 2017
Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
Senior defenceman Matthew Cairns, 22, Mississauga played two seasons in the OJHL, winning the league championship with the 2014-15 Toronto Patriots.
With the Georgetown Raiders the next year, Cairns won the OJHL’s Top Prospect award and was named to the league’s 1st team All-Prospect squad
Cairns transferred to Duluth in northern Minnesota last summer following three years at Cornell.
Minnesota State Mavericks
Freshman forward Connor Gregga played for the OJHL’s Pickering Panthers in 2016-17 as an affiliate from the Markham Waxers U18 team. The 20-year-old Markham resident also played his U16 season in the Waxers organization.
