Final seeding confirmed on wild final day of regular season
BURLINGTON, Ont. – The playoffs are set. After the final five games of the regular season took place on Saturday afternoon, what was a field of eight teams fighting for positioning turned into a final collection of six playoff seeds that will continue their march to the Yates Cup.
The Western Mustangs (8-0), who had already clinched the province's top seed, maintained their undefeated season with a 63-10 over the Ottawa Gee-Gees. The loss leaves the Gee-Gees record at 5-3 on the season, which after tiebreakers, puts the team in the fourth position.
In the battle of the top three seeds, it was the defending Yates Cup champion Laurier Golden Hawks who toppled the McMaster Marauders 40-15. The win bumped the Hawks ahead of the Marauders in the standings, allowing Laurier (6-2) to finish second and earn the quarterfinal bye and moving McMaster (6-2) down to the third spot after tiebreakers.
A win from the Guelph Gryphons (5-3) not only put an end to the Carleton Ravens' playoff hopes, but it also secured their position as the No. 5 seed in the playoff picture, setting up a quarterfinal match with the aforementioned Gee-Gees in Ottawa.
Fighting for the sixth and final spot, the Queen's Gaels (4-4) pushed their win streak to four straight with a victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues (59-38). That win, coupled with the Ravens' loss, allowed the Gaels to move up into the sixth and final playoff spot, where they will face the Marauders in Hamilton.
Waterloo (4-4), who was the only OUA squad on the sidelines this week, finish the season as the No. 7 seed, while the Ravens (3-5) come in at No. 8. Rounding out the standings, each with a record of 1-7, are the Windsor Lancers (No. 9), York Lions (No. 10), and Varsity Blues (No. 11), respectively.
Quarterfinal Matchups
Byes: No. 1 Western Mustangs, No. 2 Laurier Golden Hawks
No. 6 Queen's Gaels @ No. 3 McMaster Marauders
No. 5 Guelph Gryphons @ No. 4 Ottawa Gee-Gees
Final Standings
- Western Mustangs (8-0)
- Laurier Golden Hawks (6-2)
- McMaster Marauders (6-2)
- Ottawa Gee-Gees (5-3)
- Guelph Gryphons (5-3)
- Queen's Gaels (4-4)
- Waterloo Warriors (4-4)
- Carleton Ravens (3-5)
- Windsor Lancers (1-7)
- York Lions (1-7)
- Toronto Varsity Blues (1-7)