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2026 Barrie Colts vs Kitchener Rangers

Kitchener Rangers Open OHL Finals With 5-2 Victory Over Barrie Colts

Kitchener Rangers Open OHL Finals With 5-2 Victory Over Barrie Colts

Here's everything you need to know about Barrie Colts vs Kitchener Rangers in game one of the Ontario Hockey League finals. Read the game recap and score.

May 7, 2026 by Andy Schamma
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The underdogs out of the East, Barrie Colts, headed to Kitchener Memorial Auditorium to take on the Western Conference champion Kitchener Rangers on their own ice to start the series for all of the marbles in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Overtime wins in game 5 and 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals extended the Barrie Colts' life just long enough to earn game seven which they left victorious over the Brantford Bulldogs.

They had to brush off a $15,000 fine after head coach Dylan Smoskowitz and captain Kashawn Aitcheson rebuffed questions from the media with their "no one cares, work harder" mantra in the post-game press conference.

The answers came after a 5-0 victory over the Bulldogs in game seven after the Colts came back to win the series from a two game deficit.

The Kitchener Rangers sliced their way through the first two rounds, sweeping the Saginaw Spirit before defeating the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, falling just once. Then, in the conference finals, the Rangers toppled a familiar rival in the Spitfires, who also dominated in the West all season. 

After it was all said and done, the Rangers came out with the first win, extending to a 5-2 lead in the third. The first four goals of the game went back and forth, leaving it at 2-2 before the teams took the ice for the final period.

Ben Wilmott was the lone goal-scorer for Barrie Colts. Andrew MacNiel's two goals led the way for the home team.

Read the game recap for Barrie Colts vs Kitchener Rangers in game one of the Ontario Hockey League finals.

Hlacar Gets Misconduct, Barrie Power Play - End of Game

BAR 2, KIT 5

Hlacar crosschecked Newtown into the back of the numbers before getting sent down the tunnel with a misconduct penalty.

On the final penalty kill, Kirsch made two great stops despite some great puck movement by the Colts.

Multiple groups came together in a scrum at the final whistle which was dispersed quickly to send the squads into their locker rooms.

Humphreys Hits Empty Net - 1:19 3rd

BAR 2, KIT 5

On the very next face-off, O'Reilly sped the puck into the neutral zone and dropped it to Humphreys who received the puck to score on the empty net and all but seal the win.

Colts Pull Goalie, Call Timeout - 1:42 3rd

BAR 2, KIT 4

Coach Smoskowitz goes to the timeout hoping a short break can give Barrie Colts the surge they need to bring the game back into reach in the final moments.

Rangers Circling As Time Winds Down - 5:00 3rd

BAR 2, KIT 4

It's looking harder and harder for Colts to keep up with the home squad as the second half of the period falls of the clock.

Rangers look like they smell blood in the water.

Arquette Scores From The Doorstep - 12:10 3rd

BAR 2, KIT 4

The Rangers are running away after a 4th goal, this time from Arquette after Romano tipped a pass out front of the crease. Referees came together briefly but dispersed before restarting play.

MacNiel Pots Second Of The Night - 15:41 3rd

BAR 2, KIT 3

MacNiel gets one by Hrebik from the point after a turnover by the Barrie defenseman trying to clear the puck.

Arquette and Bilecki on the assist.

Hrebik had no chance with a great screen by Chiarot to give the home team the lead. He has now matched his regular season contribution of two goals.

Shots on goal:

  • BAR: 20
  • KIT: 27

Rangers Miss Multiple Chances On Open Net - 16:57 3rd

BAR 2, KIT 2

O'Reilly overshot the net when Hrebik went sprawling to the ice after trying to make a save on a puck that hit the post.

Kitchener had a few chances at the net but couldn't secure the goal for the lead as the crowd expressed their dismay.

Third Period Underway - 19:00 3rd

BAR 2, KIT 2

And we're off to the last twenty minutes of regulation time in this opening game of the OHL Championship Series.

Shots on goal:

  • BAR: 19
  • KIT: 22

Final Minute Of Second Period - End of 2nd, pt. 2

BAR 2, KIT 2

The teams returned to the ice for the last 51 seconds of the second period before they reset, flip the ice, and start the third.

Edwards tossed the puck into the Barrie zone at the horn and Zebeski gave him an earful before the referee let him know he was only going to send one guy to the box on the next scuffle.

Whistle Blown After Salandra Goes Down - End of 2nd

BAR 2, KIT 2

Salandra got twisted up with Reid in the neutral zone which sent the Colts player to the ice. After a few moments with the trainers, the stretcher came out to help him off the ice.

The Colts left the bench to take a knee at center ice and support their teammate.

After a delay, the referees decided to send the teams in for an intermission. They will play the remaining 51 seconds of the second period right before the start of the third period.

Wilmott Strikes Again, Barrie Ties It Up - 4:16 2nd

BAR 2, KIT 2

Right off the face-off, Wilmott nailed the one-timer once again in the left circle to beat Kirsch.

Aitcheson and Zebeski with assists.

It was looking a bit rough for the Colts for a few minutes as the Rangers unleashed an offensive zone push. Wilmott just needed an offensive zone face-off to turn the tide and bring momentum back to even.

Rangers Retake Lead As Edwards Buries It - 8:27 2nd

BAR 1, KIT 2

It was a beauty for Edwards to give the Kitchener Rangers the lead once again. He was in the right place at the right time after Luca Romano sent a puck flying at Kirsch. 

It bounced out to the side right onto Edwards' tape with an open net.

Ice Opens Up, Both Teams Find Another Gear - 12:40 2nd

BAR 1, KIT 1

Shots hit 15 for both teams around the halfway point of the second period. Barrie surged back with a string of three face-off wins by three different players. 

The small wins allowed Wilmott and Crombie to add a few more attempts on Kirsch, keeping momentum in their direction despite coming up short on the power play.

Schneid Takes High Stick, Kitchener Kills It Off - 12:40 2nd

BAR 1, KIT 1

Colts go on their second power play of the game after Schneid took a high stick by Ellis to get a man advantage.

Despite their best effort, Hemming wasn't able to beat the Kitchener penalty kill and Rangers netminder Kirsch.

Wilmott Ties It Up For Barrie - 16:39 2nd

BAR 1, KIT 1

Just a few minutes into the second, it's Ben Wilmott scoring his tenth of the playoffs. He was down low in the left circle where he received a clean pass from Zebeski with a wide open net. 

Rangers Put Flurry On Hrebik - 18:25 2nd

BAR 0, KIT 1

Edwards was flying at the puck into the Colts goaltenders' face right after a few chances by Pridham out front opened up the rebound opportunities.

Shots on goal:

  • KIT: 13
  • BAR: 10

Puck Down On Second Period - 19:45 2nd

BAR 0, KIT 1

And we're off into the second twenty minute frame of OHL Championship Series hockey between the Barrie Colts and Kitchener Rangers.

Kitchener Finds Rhythm, Physicality Delivers - End of 1st

BAR 0, KIT 1

Kitchener, with a one goal lead, has found themselves in a comfortable rhythm to end the first frame. Passes found tape and shots flew towards the Colts' net—O'Reilly and Humphreys added a third shot each before the end of the period.

Barrie struggled to get possession without a whistle as the final minutes of the period fell off the clock.

Calvin Crombie had three shots for the Colts, leading his team.

Shots on goal:

  • KIT: 10
  • BAR: 8

Faceoff Wins:

  • KIT: 11
  • BAR: 8

O'Reilly Sent To The Box, Kitchener Kills It - 6:34 1st

BAR 0, KIT 1

The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect puts the Colts on their first power play of the series just moments after taking the lead.

Kitchener is 90.2% on the penalty kill. Barrie is 37.3% on the power play.

The Colts added no shots on goal during the power play.

MacNiel Opens Scoring - 9:15 1st

BAR 0, KIT 1

It's the Kitchener Rangers who struck first in the opening game of the OHL Championship Series! MacNiel had plenty of traffic out front and was able to sling it past Hrebik for the lead.

Kitchener Sends First Puck On Hrebik - 13:30 1st

BAR 0, KIT 0

For the first five minutes, it was Barrie that looked to come out with warmer legs and heads on a swivel. As the clock passed the 15-minute mark, the Rangers started piecing together some shifts.

Wrist shots flew from Woolley, Humphreys, and Bilecki within the next thirty seconds.

Kirsch Makes First Saves - 17:09 1st

BAR 0, KIT 0

Barrie put the first shots on net, forcing Kirsch to show he is ready for game one. Crombie and Handsor sent along the first shots.

Puck Drop Is Next

Stay tuned for the opening game in the battle for the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

Hrebik and Kirsch (SJS) will battle it out between the pipes.

Hrebik is 12-4, 2.50 GAA, .925 SV%.

Kirsch is 12-2, 2.39 GAA, .894 SV%.

The Ice Is LOADED

Seventeen different players on the projected lines for tonight's game one have signed contracts with an NHL team.

Fans Are Packing In For A Great Game One

Barrie Colts Projected Lines vs Rangers

Forwards

  • Zebeski - Wilmott - Hemming (DAL)
  • Crombie - Gardiner - Salandra
  • Lowe - Newton - Schneid
  • Desiderio - Edgar - McCormick

Defense

  • Aitcheson (NYI) - Passmore (NYR)
  • Handsor - von Richter
  • Eliasson (OTT) - Emerton

Goalies

  • Ben Hrebik
  • Arvin Jaswal

Kitchener Rangers Projected Lines vs Colts

Forwards

  • Ellinas (OTT) - O'Reilly (TBL) - Humphreys (COL)
  • Edwards - Romano (NYI) - Pridham (CHI)
  • Arquette - Ellis - Chiarot (VAN)
  • Hlacar (TOR) - Vermeulen - Lam

Defense

  • Woolley (LAK) - Andonovski (OTT)
  • Reid (NSH) - Campbell
  • Bilecki - MacNeil (MTL)

Goalies

  • Christian Kirsch (SJS)
  • Jason Schaubel

Colts Head Coach Responds To Press Conference Incident

Hear what first-year head coach Dylan Smoskowitz had to say to TSN after the post-game seven press conference.

When Is Puck Drop For Barrie Colts vs Kitchener Rangers?

Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET for game one between the Colts and Rangers.

How To Watch Game One Of The 2026 OHL Finals: Barrie Colts vs Kitchener Rangers

The Kitchener Rangers and Barrie Colts are facing off at 7:00 p.m. ET at Kitchener Memorial Stadium in Kitchener, Ontario. The entire game and 2026 OHL playoffs are being streamed live exclusively on FloHockey.

Watch The Barrie Colts Press Conference After Game 7

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