The Barrie Colts pulled off a stunning overtime victory against the Brantford Bulldogs on May 3, 2026, at Sadlon Arena. This win tied the series at 3-3, forcing a decisive Game 7 in the OHL Eastern Conference final.
In a game where they faced an uphill battle, the Colts managed to score four goals while being heavily outshot—Brantford fired a staggering 57 shots compared to Barrie’s 28. Mason Zebeski became the hero of the night, netting the winning goal at 9:38 into overtime.
Ben Hrebik, the Colts’ goaltender, earned accolades as he was named the game’s first star after making an impressive 54 saves. His performance was crucial in keeping his team in contention despite being outplayed for much of the match.
Meanwhile, Cole Beaudoin, who leads the OHL playoffs in scoring with ten goals and nineteen assists, did not play in Game 6 due to a recent poor performance. Coach Dylan Smoskowitz explained his decision: “I didn’t like his game much tonight, so I just didn’t want to put him on the ice that much.”
Caleb Malhotra shone brightly for Barrie as well, contributing significantly with thirteen goals and thirteen assists during these playoffs. His goal tally ranks as one of the highest by a rookie aged 16 or 17 since 1980.
Key statistics from Game 6:
- Barrie Colts scored: 4 goals
- Brantford Bulldogs scored: 3 goals
- Total shots against Barrie: 57
- Total shots by Barrie: 28
The stakes are high as both teams prepare for Game 7 on Monday at the TD Civic Centre. The winner will advance to face off against the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL championship series.
Jay McKee, head coach of Barrie, expressed his excitement about reaching this critical point in the playoffs. “This is what these players play for, opportunities like this. I’m excited about it,” he said.
