Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League has announced the final schedule for the 2017 Rogers OHL Championship Series for the J. Ross Robertson Cup which begins this Thursday May 4, 2017.

The fourth round series features the Western Conference champion Erie Otters against the Eastern Conference champion Mississauga Steelheads. The Otters captured their third Wayne Gretzky Trophy on Sunday following a 4-2 series win over the Owen Sound Attack, with the Steelheads winning their first Bobby Orr Trophy on Wednesday with a 4-0 series win over the Peterborough Petes.

During the regular season, the first place Otters produced a record fourth straight 50-win season ending the campaign with a 50-15-2-1 mark for 103 points earning a second straight Hamilton Spectator Trophy and third straight Midwest Division crown. The Steelheads captured the Central Division title with 81 points powered by a 34-21-6-7 record. The Otters prevailed in all four regular season meetings against the Steelheads including road wins 7-4 (Nov 4) and 4-1 (Feb 17) and at home 9-2 (Nov 29) and 3-0 (Feb 18).

The Robertson Cup is emblematic of the Ontario Hockey League’s championship series. The Cup was presented by J. Ross Robertson, who was president of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1901 to 1905. Since its inception, the Robertson Cup has been won by 23 different teams with the Oshawa Generals leading the way with 13 championships including a record seven straight from 1938-44.

The Otters have celebrated one Robertson Cup win in 2002, while the Steelheads are in search of their first OHL Championship with Mississauga last competing for the prize in 2011 as the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors falling to the Owen Sound Attack in Game 7 overtime.

The winner of the Rogers OHL Championship Series will advance to the 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup in Windsor May 18-28 competing alongside the host Spitfires and the champions from the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the 99th edition of the Canadian Hockey League’s prestigious national championship.

ROGERS OHL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE:

SERIES “H”: ERIE OTTERS (1) VS. MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS (2):

Game 1, Thurs., May 4 Mississauga at Erie, 7:00 pm

Game 2, Sun., May 7 Mississauga at Erie, 4:00 pm

Game 3, Mon., May 8 Erie at Mississauga, 7:00 pm

Game 4, Wed., May 10 Erie at Mississauga, 7:00 pm

Game 5, Fri., May 12 Mississauga at Erie, 7:00 pm*

Game 6, Sat., May 13 Erie at Mississauga, 7:00 pm*

Game 7, Mon., May 15 Mississauga at Erie, 7:00 pm*

*if necessary

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