Meaford Knights vs. Bradford Rattlers - North Division Semifinal Preview

The Meaford Knights are coming off a hard-fought first-round victory and now face their toughest test yet: the Bradford Rattlers. Bradford, the three-time defending North Division regular season champions, are beginning their playoff campaign after earning a first-round bye. The Rattlers dominated the regular-season series, winning six of the seven meetings, but Meaford did manage one key victory. With a spot in the North Division Final on the line, this best-of-five series promises to be an exciting showdown.

Regular Season Comparison

Bradford Rattlers (37-3-2, 1st in North Division)
Goals For: 269 (1st)
Goals Against: 128 (1st)

Meaford Knights (19-20-3, 5th in North Division)
Goals For: 193 (5th)
Goals Against: 158 (4th)

Bradford was dominant throughout the season, boasting the best offense and defense in the division. Meaford, meanwhile, finished middle of the pack but showed resilience in their first-round series win.

Season Series Recap

Bradford won six of the seven meetings between the teams, outscoring Meaford 41-24. The lone Knights victory came in a 7-4 win where Kyle Gilbert recorded a hat trick, and goaltender Daniil Agzamov helped hold the Rattlers’ high-powered offense in check.

Key Players to Watch

Bradford Rattlers

• Anrijs Bundzenieks (F) – The North Division Best Forward put up 101 points (40G, 61A) in 41 games and is a dynamic playmaker.
• Isac Karlsson (F) – The North Division MVP and Best Defensive Forward tallied 100 points (47G, 53A) in just 33 games, making him a lethal offensive threat.
• Aaron Stemper (F) – The Rattlers’ captain recorded 51 points (20G, 31A) and provides leadership and playoff experience.
• William Hoffman (D) – A runner-up for Best Defenseman, he anchors the Rattlers’ blue line and is a key puck-mover.
• Nikita Radchenko (G) – With a .930 save percentage and 2.16 GAA in limited action, Radchenko appears to be the Rattlers’ go-to netminder entering the playoffs.

Meaford Knights

• Etienne Gilbert (F) – One The Knights' leading scorers will be counted on to generate offense against Bradford’s tough defense.
• Karim Agzamov (G) – Stood tall in the first round and will need to be at his best to keep the high-powered Rattlers in check.
• Max Enge-Kristiansen (F) – A key offensive contributor who can create scoring chances against a tough Rattlers defense.
• Kevin Demueles (F) – The Knights leading goal scorer will need to solve a combination of Radchenko and Thomsson to deliver round 2 magic.

Goaltending Matchup

Bradford has two strong options in net with Nikita Radchenko (.930 SV%, 2.16 GAA) and Zack Thomsson (.904 SV%, 3.07 GAA), while Meaford will likely rely on Karim Agzamov, who was crucial in their first-round series win.

Series Schedule

• Game 1: Feb 26 – Meaford @ Bradford (8:00 PM)
• Game 2: Feb 27 – Bradford @ Meaford (7:30 PM)
• Game 3: Mar 2 – Meaford @ Bradford (7:30 PM)
• Game 4 (if necessary): Mar 5 – Bradford @ Meaford (7:30 PM)
• Game 5 (if necessary): Mar 6 – Meaford @ Bradford (1:30 PM)

Final Thoughts

Bradford enters as the heavy favorite, boasting the best record in the league and an experienced, high-scoring roster. However, Meaford has already shown they can pull off upsets and will look to build on their momentum from the first round. If the Knights can get standout performances from their key players and Agzamov delivers in net, they could make this a competitive series. The Rattlers, meanwhile, will aim to continue their dominant form and move one step closer to a third straight Russell Cup title.