Game one of the 2026 Boggart Cup Playoffs lived up to the hype, delivering a tense game that ended in double overtime. The Renfrew Wolves came away with the victory despite being outshot 33-24 during the contest.
“There wasn’t much ice out there, both teams were playing for keeps, and that’s how we expect things to go,” said OJS GM Pat McCallen.
The sluggish pace of the first period was the result of both teams feeling their way into the game. The nervous attitude displayed by the players was matched by a tense environment in the crowd.
While the first period wasn’t the Jr. Senators’ best, they outshot the Wolves 9-5 in the opening 20 minutes. While things looked good on the shot clock, there was a definite lack of scoring opportunities.
The two best players on the ice during the entire game were the two goaltenders.
“It was a goalie’s duel all night,” said McCallen. “We had our looks, but it didn’t fall in for us last night.”
Wolves goaltender Ayo Ogini looked calm and collected in the crease, making save after save and allowing no rebounds. At the other end of the ice, Nicolas Morvan matched Ogini save for save.
As the periods passed, the tension in the building mounted. While Ottawa’s game improved, they never managed to solve Ogini. At the end of regulation, Renfrew had just 14 shots on goal, which the Jr Senators more than doubled with 29.
“It probably took us a bit more time than we would have liked to get our legs under us and start to play our game,” said McCallen. “Once we established our forecheck and played as a five-man unit, we started getting our looks.”
The roles reversed in the first overtime. Renfrew put up 1o shots compared to Ottawa’s five. Morvan’s performance in the first overtime was nothing short of sensational.
Ottawa’s best chance came from Ethan Lobe, who made the iron sing with a shot that slipped past Ogini from just outside the crease.
Early in the second overtime frame, an icing call trapped a tired group of Jr Senators players on the ice. After the resulting faceoff, Sebastian Dzieciol capitalized on Leo La Vecchia’s pass from the corner, sliding the puck under Morvan to give the Wolves game one.
Down 1-0 in the series, Ottawa will travel to The MyFM Centre Recreation Complex for game two. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 pm.
“I fully expect our guys to regroup and respond the way we have all year on Monday,” said McCallen.
You can tune in to Mason Detre’s call of game two on ojsradio.mixlr.com starting shortly before puck drop.
