North Division Semifinal Playoff Preview: #2 Wasaga River Dragons vs. #3 Ville-Marie Pirates

The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) North Division Semifinals are set, with the #2 Wasaga River Dragons taking on the #3 Ville-Marie Pirates. Wasaga enters the series after a first-round bye, while Ville-Marie dominated their opening round, sweeping Le Becard De Senneterre in convincing fashion. With both teams looking to continue their strong seasons, this best-of-five series promises to be a battle between high-powered offense and strong goaltending.

Regular Season Recap & Head-to-Head

The River Dragons finished the regular season with a 31-9-0-2 record, earning 64 points and securing second place in the North Division. Their balanced attack and strong goaltending allowed them to score 256 goals while conceding just 139.

Ville-Marie, meanwhile, put together a solid campaign, finishing third in the division with a 27-14-0-1 record and 55 points. Their offensive depth helped them find success, but defensive inconsistency was a concern, as they allowed 157 goals while scoring 199.

The teams split their four regular-season meetings, each winning twice. However, Wasaga outscored Ville-Marie 19-11 across those matchups, indicating that their offensive firepower could be a deciding factor in the series.

Key Players to Watch

Wasaga River Dragons

• Emil Mouantri (F) – The team’s leading scorer with 105 points (46G, 59A), Mouantri is a game-changer who can create chances every shift.
• Tay Kurpius (F) – A power-play specialist (15 PPG) with 80 points, Kurpius plays with an edge and can take over a game offensively.
• Joel Texmo (F) – Another key forward with 69 points, Texmo brings a strong finishing ability and experience.
• Brody Pritchard (G) – Wasaga’s starting goalie posted a 20-8 record with a 2.79 GAA and .919 save percentage. He’ll be a crucial factor in shutting down Ville-Marie’s top scorers.

Ville-Marie Pirates

• Mathis Bernard (F) – Led the Pirates with 72 points (31G, 41A) and had a strong first-round performance.
• Danick Latour (F) – With 66 points (24G, 42A), Latour’s playmaking ability will be key in breaking through Wasaga’s defense.
• Maxim Audet (G) – The Pirates’ top goaltender went 12-4 with a .907 save percentage and will need to be at his best against Wasaga’s potent offense.

Goaltending Battle

Wasaga has the apparent edge in net with Brody Pritchard, who put up excellent numbers in the regular season. Ville-Marie’s Maxim Audet , who beat out Pritchard for North Division Goalie of the year, has been excellent, but he’ll need to elevate his play against a deep River Dragons attack. If Audet can steal a game or two, Ville-Marie has a shot at the upset.

Series Outlook & Implications

Wasaga enters as the favorite, thanks to their first-round bye and a stronger overall season. However, Ville-Marie is coming in hot after their dominant first-round sweep, and their ability to put up goals quickly could make things interesting. The key for Wasaga will be using their offensive depth and defensive structure to wear down Ville-Marie, while the Pirates will need to capitalize on special teams and limit turnovers.

The winner of this series will advance to the North Division Final, facing the winner of the Bradford Rattlers and Knights of Meaford series

Series Schedule

• Game 1: Feb 27 – Wasaga Beach, ON
• Game 2: Mar 1 – Ville-Marie, QC
• Game 3: Mar 2 – Wasaga Beach, ON
• Game 4: Mar 4 – Ville-Marie, QC (if necessary)
• Game 5: Mar 6 – Wasaga Beach, ON (if necessary)

With both teams eager to make a deep playoff push, expect a hard-fought series filled with intense battles, big moments, and standout performances.