OHL announces last-minute scheduling changes due to solar eclipse

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Tyler Ball
April 3, 2024 (3:50 PM)

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Today the Ontario Hockey League has announced that they have changed their playoff schedule. The change will come due to a major event the solar eclipse. The change will now move one game from a competitive playoff series.

The Erie Otters and Kitchener Rangers are locked into an intense playoff series with the Rangers leading 2-1. Today the OHL announced that this series will be unexpectedly changing its schedule due to the upcoming solar eclipse. The games will now be moved back a day each and will now take place on April 9th and 10th.

"The Ontario Hockey League today announced two scheduling changes affecting potential sixth and seventh games between the Kitchener Rangers and Erie Otters should their ongoing first round playoff series require them as necessary.

In an effort to avoid logistical challenges affecting travel presented by the upcoming total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th, the League has announced that potential Games 6 and 7 of the series will be re-assigned from their originally scheduled dates of Monday, April 8th and Tuesday, April 9th to the following dates:

Game 6, if necessary, is rescheduled for Tuesday, April 9th at 7:00pm in Erie
Game 7, if necessary, is rescheduled for Wednesday, April 10th at 8:00pm in Kitchener" The OHL said.

The Erie Otters and Kitchener Rangers both have multiple NHL prospects on their roster. The most notable likely are Montreal Canadiens first round pick Filip Mesar playing for Kitchener and upcoming 2025 top prospect Malcolm Spence for the Erie Otters.

The eclipse itself normally would not warrant the moving of these games however travel logistics have come into play. The best place to view the eclipse will be in Niagara Falls which has led to a flood of people coming into town. As such travel from Kitchener to Erie will be made much more difficult.

The Kitchener Rangers came into the series as the favorite to win. The Kitchener Rangers currently hold a 2-1 lead in the series. They will have a chance to put the stranglehold on the series in their upcoming games.

Source: Blade of Steel - League announces scheduling changes due to Solar Eclipse