The 2026 GMHL Divisional Semifinal round opens in Wasaga Beach.

The top-seeded Wasaga River Dragons host the fourth-seeded Ville-Marie Pirates in Game 1 of a best-of-five North Division semifinal — the first puck drop of this round league-wide.

Wasaga won the regular-season series 5 games to 3 and outscored Ville-Marie 46-32 across eight meetings. That’s sustained offensive control over the course of the year.

However, the Pirates captured the final two matchups — including an overtime thriller in Wasaga — showing late-season growth in this matchup.

Regular Season Series

• Wasaga: 5-3 advantage
• Goals: 46-32 Wasaga
• Pirates won the final two meetings
• Most recent meeting: OT win for Ville-Marie in Wasaga

The Dragons controlled the broader sample. The Pirates proved they can win when games tighten.

Award-Winning Core

Wasaga’s first-place finish came with hardware.

• Brody Pritchard – North Division Best Goalie (Winner)
• Victor Freedeke – Best Defensive Forward (Winner), MVP Runner-Up
• Elliot Stahmann – Most Sportsmanlike (Winner)
• Alexi Paradis – Best Defenseman (1st Runner-Up)
• Artur Kharisov – Best Defenseman (2nd Runner-Up)

That’s recognition across every layer: scoring, defense, and goaltending.

Ville-Marie carries recognition as well:

• Mathis Laverdure – North Division MVP (2nd Runner-Up)
• Marc Andre Caron – Best Coach (2nd Runner-Up)
• Maxim Audet – Best Goalie (1st Runner-Up)

The Pirates may not match the quantity of award winners, but they have proven contributors in key categories.

Offensive Firepower

Wasaga

• Elliot Stahmann – 83 points
• Graham Rooney – 45 points
• Max Lindholm – 44 points
• Hugo Olsson – 43 points
• Victor Freedeke – 37 points

Wasaga attacks in waves. Their depth forces opponents to defend every shift.

Ville-Marie

• Mathis Bernard – 52 points (28 goals)
• Mathis Laverdure – 39 points
• William Arsenault – 36 points in 16 games
• Dylan Riviere – 35 points

In Round 1, Ville-Marie showed timely scoring and composure under pressure, including a hat trick from Jacob Robert and a four-point outing from Arsenault.

Goaltending Matchup

Wasaga

• Brody Pritchard – Award-winning starter
• Nooa Kokko – .931 save percentage in limited appearances

Pritchard earned the season-long recognition, but Kokko has looked sharp in recent outings. Either could start Game 1 as Wasaga balances experience with form.

Ville-Marie

• Benjamin Nadeau – .919 save percentage
• Maxim Audet – Best Goalie runner-up

Ville-Marie has depth in the crease and will rely on structured defensive play to limit Wasaga’s scoring bursts.

Keys to the Series

Tempo Control
The 46-32 regular-season margin suggests high-event hockey favors Wasaga.

Depth vs Structure
Wasaga rolls four lines comfortably. Ville-Marie must manage matchups carefully.

Game 1 Tone
With this series opening the Divisional Semifinal round across the GMHL, early momentum matters. A Pirates win on the road would immediately shift the narrative.