OHL Roundup: Michael Misa, Zayne Parekh, Saginaw Spirit eliminated in playoffs

All eyes are now on Michael Misa and Zayne Parekh.

The two Saginaw Spirit stars saw their OHL campaign end Saturday with a 6-3 loss to the visiting Erie Otters in Game 5 of their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series.

Misa, one of the top prospects for this year’s NHL Draft and the OHL’s leading scorer this season, did not play in Game 5. There was no immediate word on an injury.

Misa could play for Canada at the world under-18 championship in Texas later this month.

Meanwhile, Parekh, 19, could go up to the Calgary Flames to finish the season.

“The Flames are just waiting here patiently. I do believe there is a plan to bring him to Calgary,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on the Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada.

The defenceman was picked ninth overall by the Flames in last year’s NHL Draft. Parekh had 33 goals and 74 assists for 107 points in 61 games this season.

Chicago Blackhawks prospect Martin Misiak had a hat trick in Game 5 for the Otters, who scored four unanswered goals in the third period.

Parekh had a pair of assists for the Spirit, who won the Memorial Cup last season.

The Otters, still missing injured top NHL Draft prospect Matthew Schaefer, will face the league-leading London Knights in the second round.

BULLDOGS 5, BATTALION 1

(Bulldogs win best-of-seven series 4-1)

BRANTFORD, Ont. — Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis scored three goals, Calvin Crombie had a goal and assist, and the Brantford Bulldogs eliminated the North Bay Battalion from the Ontario Hockey League playoffs with a 5-1 victory on Saturday at Brantford Civic Centre.

Owen Protz also scored for the Bulldogs who won the first-round, best-of-seven series in five games. Cole Brown also chipped in with two assists.

Lirim Amidovski scored for the Battalion, who were outshot 34-24 and trailed 1-0 after the first period and 4-1 heading into the third.

The Bulldogs went 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Battalion went 0-for-2.

Brantford will face the winner of the Brampton Steelheads-Oshawa Generals series in the second round. Oshawa leads 3-2 with Game 6 on Sunday in Brampton, Ont.

COLTS 6, ICEDOGS 3

(Colts win best-of-seven series 4-1)

BARRIE, Ont. — Beau Jelsma, Dalyn Wakely and Tristan Bertucci each had a goal and assist as the Barrie Colts beat the visiting Niagara IceDogs 6-3.

Kashawn Aitcheson, Cole Beaudoin and Anthony Romani also scored for the Colts, who won the first-round, best-of-seven series in five games.

Ryan Roobroeck scored twice for the IceDogs, who were outshot 52-34. Braidy Wassilyn also scored. Matthew Virgilio chipped in with two assists.

The Colts will face the Kingston Frontenacs in the second round.