South Division First Round Playoff Preview: #2 North York Renegades vs. #7 Durham Roadrunners

The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League’s South Division playoffs continue with the second-seeded North York Renegades facing off against the seventh-seeded Durham Roadrunners in a best-of-three first-round series. North York dominated the season series, winning all four matchups by a combined score of 21-4. The Renegades enter the postseason with one of the most balanced rosters in the division, while Durham will look to pull off a major upset.

Regular Season Recap

North York finished the regular season with a record of 28-13-0-1, good for 57 points and second place in the South Division standings. The Renegades scored 179 goals while allowing 127, demonstrating a strong defensive core backed by elite goaltending.

Durham, on the other hand, wrapped up the campaign at 15-26-0-1, placing seventh with 31 points. The Roadrunners struggled defensively, surrendering 214 goals while scoring just 135, the lowest total among playoff teams in the division. Despite this, they closed out the season on a three-game winning streak, hoping to carry momentum into the postseason.

Key Players to Watch

North York Renegades

• Christopher Rende – The league’s top scorer in the 2023-24 season, Rende brings dynamic offensive skill and clutch scoring ability. He will be the focal point of North York’s attack.

• Eric Stephenson – As the team captain and top defenseman, Stephenson leads both on and off the ice. His ability to generate offense from the blue line and play tough in his own zone makes him crucial for the Renegades.

• Artemii Gaidukov – The South Division’s Best Goaltender award winner, Gaidukov provides elite stability in net. His ability to make key saves under pressure will be vital to North York’s success.

Durham Roadrunners

• Kosta Tsabiev – The team’s leading scorer with 38 points, Tsabiev will need to be at his best to break through North York’s strong defensive system.

• Robert Karoly – Despite playing just 18 games, Karoly was a point-per-game player with 34 points. If he can find the back of the net, Durham’s offense could have a chance.

• Evgenii Tkachenko – The Roadrunners’ top goaltender with a .900 save percentage, Tkachenko will have to stand tall against North York’s relentless attack.

Series Schedule

This article was prepared prior to Game 1, which took place on Monday, February 17, in Durham. North York won the opening game 5-4 in a shootout to take a 1-0 series lead. The series now shifts to North York for Game 2 on Thursday, February 22. If necessary, Game 3 will also be played in North York on Friday, February 23.

With North York having dominated the season series, Durham will need a strong performance to extend their season. The Renegades, meanwhile, look to close out the series on home ice and advance deeper into the South Division playoffs.