1981 OMJHA Playoffs

Steel Division

1st Waterloo Maroons vs 4th Kitchener Legionnaires

Last season the Maroons beat the Legionnaires in six games. This season the Maroons are hoping for a sweep like they did in their season series, which they did, but game one, two, and three ended in overtime. In game four, Larry Arsenal scored 2 goals to help the Maroons win in regulation and move on to the next round 2-0. 

2nd Orangeville O’s vs. 3rd Peterborough Braves

Most games of the series were close ones, but the O’s rookie Dave Fortier scored back-to-back hat-tricks in both games five and six to give them those two wins to finish off the Braves in six games and ready for the Maroons in the Steel Division finals.

Hero Division

1st Barrie Admirals vs. 4th Oakville Oaks

The Oakville Oaks made it to the playoffs in hopes of giving the Admirals a hard time, but Barrie was the one that gave Oaks a hard time, mainly keeping them from scoring more than just one goal throughout the series, including the Admirals with a game four overtime win to complete the sweep.

2nd Oshawa Diamonds vs. 3rd Burlington Metros

Both Diamonds and Metros went back and forth all the way to game seven as the Diamonds' Adam Howell scored a hat-trick to tie the game at 3 after trailing behind 3-1 before the start of the 3rd period, in overtime Derek Kelly scored the OT winner to help the Diamonds win the series and keep the momentum going into the 2nd round to face the Barrie Admirals.

Steel Division Finals

1st Waterloo Maroons vs. 2nd Orangeville O’s

The Orangeville O’s top player is all over Maroons goalie Pat Hudson, but he held his ground as his teammates were scoring for the O’s they had to start four different goalies due to their top goalie Jack Glenn getting injured after the game six of the first round, game four the O’s kept it close but the Maroons was too much as once again they win the series in four games and headed to the Smyth Cup Finals for the first time since 1974.

Hero Division Finals

1st Barrie Admirals vs. 2nd Oshawa Diamonds

Both teams tied 1st in the Hero division but the Admirals took 1st place as they won the head-to-head series over the Diamonds, the battle was crazy and both teams was really push themselves to the next level, things got more interesting as that the Waterloo Maroons the host of the 1981 Valor Cup tournament has just swept the Orangeville O’s with that news means that who ever win this series win not only face the Maroons for the Smyth Cup championship but also automatically advance to the Valor Cup tournament, the news gave both teams the fire they need to go all the way to game seven as the Admirals had 2-0 lead going into the third period when out of nowhere the Diamonds scored two straight short-handed goals both made by Derek Kelly, then Adam Howell score a goal that questioned of how it happened, the Admirals was firing shots trying to tie the game up but the game ended with 3-2 Diamonds wins game seven and going to both the Smyth Cup finals to face the Maroons and hopes to be ready for the Valor Cup tournament.

Smyth Cup Finals

Waterloo Maroons vs. Oshawa Diamonds

In game one, the Diamonds played very well to keep it a 2-2 tie at the end of the third period. In overtime, the Diamonds made a mistake by taking a penalty that created a chance that the Maroons took, and Nick Ross scored the overtime winner. After game one, the Diamonds ran out of gas as the Maroons destroyed them 9-0 in game two. The Diamonds may score two goals, but the Maroons scored two more with a 4-2 game three win. In game four, the Maroons poured on with 7 goals; the Oshawa Diamonds came back but only scored 4 goals as the third period came to an end. The Waterloo Maroons are the OMJHA Smyth Cup Champions for the first time since 1972, a season before the CIHA was established and will be ready for the 1981 Valor Cup tournament.