February 18, 2026: PLAYOFFS START OUT EAST
LAKEHEAD THUNDERWOLVES 5
BROCK BADGERS 8
(Brock leads series 1-0)
Lakehead was on the road here, but get games 2 and 3 at home. In the OUA they have a 1-2 split instead of a 1-1-1 split when the teams are a certain distance apart. I am pulling for the Thundermutts because they have come to Winnipeg the last three years in pre-season.
GUELPH GRYPHONS 2
LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS 1
(Guelph leads series 1-0)
Guelph outshot Laurier 47-13, so it is quite something that it was just a 2-1 game. I rated this one as a toss-up.
QUEEN’S GOLDEN GAELS 6
MCGILL REDBIRDS 2
(Queen’s leads series 1-0)
This lop-sided score ranks as a surprise. The stats were not so one-sided, though. UQTR and Concordia have the first round byes, so McGill needs to win to make it a predominantly Quebec playoff division, which the OUA East is normally.
OTTAWA GEEGEES 2
ONTARIO TECH RIDGEBACKS 1
(in double overtime)
(Ottawa leads series 1-0)
Ottawa won the U-Cup last year, but they are in tough in this series. They are at home in games two and three.
Next Up:
Fri Feb 20 Ontario Tech at Ottawa 7:00 EST/6:00 CST
Fri Feb 20 Brock at Lakehead 7:00 EST/6:00 CST
Fri Feb 20 McGill at Queen’s 7:30 EST/6:30 CST
Sat Feb 21 Ontario Tech at Ottawa 3:00 EST/2:00 CST *if necessary
Sat Feb 21 Brock at Lakehead 7:00 EST/6:00 CST *if necessary
Sat Feb 21 Laurier at Guelph 7:30 EST/6:30 CST
Sun Feb 22 Queen’s at McGill 3:00 EST/2:00 CST *if necessary
Sun Feb 22 Guelph at Laurier 6:30 EST/7:30 CST *if necessary
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER X-MEN 4
ACADIA AXEMEN 1
(St. FX leads series 1-0)
This is the 3rd v 6th match-up, however Acadia had 39 points and the Jeremies had 31 points in the regular season.
U.P.E.I. PANTHERS 5
SAINT MARY’S HUSKIES 2
(UPEI leads series 1-0)
This result means that the lower seeds both won on the road and have home games on Friday, where they could win the series. New Brunswick and Moncton have byes through this quarter-final round.
Next Up
Fri Feb 20 Saint Mary’s at UPEI 7:00 AST/5:00 CST
Fri Feb 20 Acadia at St. FX 7:00 AST/5:00 CST
Sun Feb 22 UPEI at Saint Mary’s 7:00 AST/5:00 CST *if necessary
Sun Feb 22 St. FX at Acadia 7:00 AST/5:00 CST *if necessary