The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey team hosts Game 1 of an OUA best-of-three playoff series with the Windsor Lancers this Thursday, February 20 at Varsity Arena.

The two squads head to Windsor for Game 2 and 3 (if necessary), scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Toronto (15-11-2) finished their season with four wins in their last five games to catapult themselves into fifth place in the competitive OUA West division, which saw only two points differentiate third and sixth place.

The Lancers placed fourth with a 17-11-0 record and are 2-2 in their last four games.

The Blues and Lancers split the regular season series in 2013-14. Toronto defeated Windsor 4-3 at home on Jan. 12, before falling to the Lancers 5-1 on the road on Feb. 8. The series marks only the second time in history the two teams have met in the post season, with Windsor taking both games of a playoff round in 1987.

Fourth-year forward Michael Markovic led Toronto's offence with 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points this season, while fellow assistant captain Jeff Brown notched 13 goals in 28 games.

Rivers, Man., native Brett Willows started 19 games for the Blues this season and holds a .910 save percentage, while fourth-year veteran netminder Garrett Sheehan returned from injury in the Blues final regular season game and posted 36 saves in the victory.

Third-year forward Spencer Pommells leads the Lancers13 goals and 19 assists, while rookie Mac McDonnell has scored 11 goals and added 10 assists.

The Blues will have to solve Lancers netminder Parker Van Buskirk, who holds a .920 save percentage in 26 games this season.
 
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