South Division First Round Playoff Preview: #3 St. George Ravens vs. #6 Niagara Predators

The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) South Division playoffs kick off with a first-round battle between the #3 seed St. George Ravens and the #6 seed Niagara Predators. St. George finished the regular season with a 20-18-4 record, while Niagara posted a 15-24-3 mark. The two teams faced off eight times during the regular season, with the Ravens winning five of those matchups, but only outscoring Niagara by a slim 22-20 margin, indicating how close the competition has been between these squads.

Season Recap

St. George had an up-and-down season, finishing just above .500 but securing home-ice advantage for the first round. Led by the dynamic Arthurs brothers, the Ravens found offensive success but also had defensive lapses, finishing with a negative goal differential. Meanwhile, Niagara battled through a tough campaign but showed flashes of brilliance, thanks in part to strong goaltending from Daniel Rose and a solid defensive core anchored by Logan Baillie.

Key Players to Watch

St. George Ravens:

• Tyler Arthurs (F) – The team’s leading scorer, he posted 61 points (25G, 36A) in 41 games.

• Anthony Arthurs (F) – A key playmaker with 52 points (21G, 31A), including four game-winning goals.

• Carter Dwornikiewicz (F) – Another offensive weapon with 39 points (20G, 19A) on the season.

• Gleb Rakov (G) – The Ravens’ top goaltender with a .906 save percentage and two shutouts.

Niagara Predators:

• Georgii Kholmovskii (F) – The Predators’ top goal scorer with 26 tallies in 37 games.

• Ethan Ingram (F) – Led the team in points with 44 (16G, 28A), providing a balanced offensive presence.

• Logan Baillie (D) – A finalist for Best Defenseman in the South Division, a crucial two-way player.

• Daniel Rose (G) – A runner-up for Goaltender of the Year, boasting a .914 save percentage in 21 appearances.

Goaltending Battle

St. George’s Gleb Rakov has been solid between the pipes, posting a .906 save percentage, but Niagara has an edge in net with Daniel Rose, who had a stellar .914 save percentage. If Rose gets hot, he could be the difference-maker in this series.

Series Outlook

While St. George enters as the higher seed, the season series indicates this matchup will be tightly contested. With five wins to Niagara’s three and only a slight 22-20 goal differential in favor of the Ravens, this series could easily go the distance.

Schedule

• Game 1: February 20 – St. George (8:00 PM)

• Game 2: February 21 – Niagara

• Game 3 (if necessary): February 23 – St. George

Both teams will look to capitalize on their strengths in this best-of-three showdown. The Ravens will rely on their offensive firepower, while the Predators hope their strong goaltending can steal them a series victory.