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February 19, 2026

South Division Playoff Preview: #1 Northumberland Vs. #8 Richmond Hill

Stars open postseason with dominant momentum.

The South Division’s top seed opens its playoff run Thursday night as the Northumberland Stars (37-4-1, 75 PTS) host the eighth-seeded Richmond Hill Rampage (6-34-2, 14 PTS).

On paper, this is the widest gap in the bracket. Northumberland swept the regular season series 4-0, outscoring Richmond Hill by a staggering 39-2 margin. The Stars have been dominant all year, finishing with 290 goals for and just 94 against — a +196 differential that dwarfed the rest of the division.

For many observers, this series feels less like a question of if and more like a step toward a potential South Division Finals collision with Durham — a matchup that could ultimately decide who represents the South in the Russell Cup Final against the North champion.

But first, business must be handled.

Schedule

  • Game 1: Thursday – 8:30 PM in Colborne

  • Game 2: Saturday – 7:30 PM in Richmond Hill

  • Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday – 8:30 PM in Colborne

Northumberland holds home ice for Games 1 and 3.

Offensive Firepower

Northumberland’s offense has been historically explosive.

  • Tristan Miron (50G, 119 PTS) – South Division MVP and offensive catalyst.

  • Zennon Edwards (50G, 103 PTS) – Best Forward winner and elite finisher.

  • Dawson Hettiarachchi (95 PTS) – Playmaking engine.

  • Depth scoring throughout the lineup with multiple players above 50 points.

Richmond Hill’s offense, by comparison, struggled to generate consistent production.

  • Reily Wosik (36 PTS)

  • Yianni Tsatzalis (24 PTS in 23 GP)

  • Daniel Profyt (19 PTS)

The Rampage will need opportunistic scoring and disciplined structure to slow down the Stars’ pace.

Goaltending Edge

Northumberland’s crease has been one of the league’s strongest.

Nick Mayne has been the Stars’ workhorse all season, posting an 18-2 record with a .920 save percentage and 2.61 GAA.

However, Ivan Kremnev has been nothing short of stellar.

  • 8-1 record

  • .948 SV%

  • 1.77 GAA

With numbers like that, the Stars could very well lean on Kremnev as they move through the playoffs. Grant Banfield and others have also provided depth, giving Northumberland enviable stability in net.

For Richmond Hill, William Whited carried the majority of the workload and was the 2nd runner up for Goalie of the Year in the division, but the Rampage allowed 275 goals this season — the highest total in the division. Their goaltenders will face significant pressure against the league’s most potent attack.

The Bigger Picture

Northumberland finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak and enters the playoffs as the South Division’s most complete team. The expectation around the league is a collision course with Durham — a series many believe will determine who advances to the Russell Cup Final.

But playoff hockey punishes overconfidence.

If the Stars maintain their defensive structure and balanced scoring attack, this could be a short series. If Richmond Hill finds early momentum or receives standout goaltending, pressure could shift quickly in a best-of-three format.

For now, it begins Thursday night in Colborne — with the division’s top seed looking to take the first step toward something much bigger.