Six Kings Prospects Prepare for CHL Playoffs, Beginning This Week

While the NHL regular season still has a few weeks remaining, hockey at the junior and collegiate levels has reached the postseason.

The Kings have several prospects who will be involved in either the quest for a Memorial Cup or the NCAA Tournament, with vastly different approaches between the two tournaments. The CHL Playoffs are very similar to the NHL. 16 teams across each of the three leagues – OHL, WHL, QMJHL – with a Best-of-7 series in each round. The winner from each grueling tournament qualifies for the Memorial Cup, a four-team tournament to determine the ultimate champion. The NCAA couldn’t be more different. 16 teams, single-elimination tournament, all games at a neutral site.

In total, the Kings have 10 players participating in postseason play between the CHL and the NCAA. More to come on the college front later this week, as the participating Kings players don’t get underway until Friday, but a look today at the upcoming playoff paths for six Kings prospects at the junior level below –

Ontario Hockey League
Jared Woolley, Kitchener
Woolley is one of the most accomplished players in the OHL. He is a two-time OHL champion and helped lead the London Knights to the 2025 Memorial Cup championship. After London graduated some players from that championship team, Woolley was involved in a midseason trade to Kitchener, where he will compete in what is likely his final postseason at this level. Woolley is signed to an entry-level contract with the Kings which can begin next season, with Woolley eligible to play in the AHL starting in the fall.

Lots to play for between now and then. Woolley played in 29 games with Kitchener and collected 11 points (2-9-11), along with a +20 rating. The Rangers are one of the top teams in the OHL, as they finished with 101 points, securing the number-one seed in the Western Conference. Kitchener will play against the Saginaw Spirit in Round 1, with their eyes set on a Memorial Cup championship.

Jared Woolley Round 1 Schedule – Kitchener vs. Guelph
Game 1 – Friday, March 27 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 2 – Sunday, March 29 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 31 @ 4:05 PM Pacific
Game 4 – Thursday, April 2 @ 4:05 PM Pacific
Game 5* – Friday, April 3 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 6* – Monday, April 6 @ 4:05 PM Pacific
Game 7* – Tuesday, April 7 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
*if necessary

Jimmy Lombardi, Flint
It was a breakout season for both Lombardi and the Flint Firebirds. In the 2024-25 season, Flint was five games below .500 and snuck into the postseason. Lombardi had 13 goals and 45 points in 63 games. Fast forward 12 months and man, what a difference a year makes. Lombardi led his team with 36 goals, tied for ninth in the OHL, as finished his season with 72 points in 65 games played, as he developed into one of the better scoring forwards in the league. His team had a similar turnaround, as they secured the third seed in the Eastern Conference with 95 points, a 32-point improvement from the season prior. Lombardi was certainly a major factor in that improvement.

Lombardi signed his entry-level contract with the Kings during the season after he was a fourth-round selection by the Kings at the 2025 NHL Draft. Lombardi has a longer development curve and is eligible to play in the OHL again next season, which he most likely will do. Thanks to a strong season, he and Flint will open Round 1 at home, in a matchup against the sixth-seeded Owen Sound Attack.

Jimmy Lombardi Round 1 Schedule – Flint vs. Owen Sound
Game 1 – Thursday, March 26 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 2 – Saturday, March 28 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 3 – Monday, March 30 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 1 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 5* – Saturday, April 4 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 6* – Monday, April 6 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 7* – Tuesday, April 7 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
*if necessary

Henry Brzustewicz, London
Coming off a Memorial Cup campaign in 2025, London began the season with both Brzustewicz and Woolley on the roster. With Woolley moved in a midseason trade, Brzustewicz was thrust into a larger role on a younger team that continued to find success, despite moving a couple of veteran players. Few OHL defensemen produced at a higher clip that Brzustewicz did, as he established himself as one of the league’s best goalscorers from the blueline. Brzustewicz led his team in scoring, as he collected 54 points (19-35-54) from 59 games played, as he finished at just shy of a point-per-game pace for the season. His 19 goals were tied for the third most among defensemen in the OHL, as the Kings first-round selection in 2025 put together a strong campaign.

While perhaps seeded lower than they are accustomed to, the London Knights still secured home-ice advantage in an opening-round series against goaltender Carter George and the Soo Grayhounds. London is in pursuit of its third consecutive OHL crown, with Brzustewicz set to play a massive role should they find success towards that goal.

Henry Brzustewicz Round 1 Schedule – London vs. Soo
Game 1 – Friday, March 27 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 2 – Sunday, March 29 @ 3:00 PM Pacific
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 31 @ 5:07 PM Pacific
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 1 @ 4:07 PM Pacific
Game 5* – Friday, April 3 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 6* – Sunday, April 5 @ 4:07 PM Pacific
Game 7* – Tuesday, April 7 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
*if necessary

Carter George, Soo
Brzustewicz will square off against a familiar opponent in fellow Kings prospect Carter George. Similar to Woolley, George was involved in a midseason trade as he moved to the Grayhounds from the Owen Sound Attack. George is widely regarded as one of the top goaltenders in the OHL and he turned in a very strong conclusion to the season, as he posted a 13-8-3 record in 24 appearances with the Soo, alongside a 2.40 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. After spending time with an Owen Sound team that was not all that competitive, George should have his best chance yet to make some noise in the playoffs, in what is likely to be his final season at this level, with an entry-level contract in hand that could begin next season.

George and Brzustewicz will square off in the 4/5 matchup, meaning that one Kings prospect is guaranteed to advance to the second round. The other could join the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the stretch and playoff run, with the Reign in a strong position to qualify for a high seed in the AHL’s postseason.

Carter George Round 1 Schedule – Soo vs. London
Game 1 – Friday, March 27 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 2 – Sunday, March 29 @ 3:00 PM Pacific
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 31 @ 5:07 PM Pacific
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 1 @ 4:07 PM Pacific
Game 5* – Friday, April 3 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 6* – Sunday, April 5 @ 4:07 PM Pacific
Game 7* – Tuesday, April 7 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
*if necessary

Jan Chovan, Sudbury
Rounding out the OHL Playoff field with another member of the 2026 Draft Class is Jan Chovan. Chovan has had quite the eventful season, as he moved to North America for the first time to play in the OHL, on top of another appearance at the World Juniors with Slovakia, as he helped his team advance to the quarterfinals. It took Chovan some time to adapt to a number of new things, but he turned in a very good season, with 28 goals and 55 points in 60 games played with Sudbury, leading his team in both categories. Driven by Chovan’s strong finish to the year, Sudbury qualified for the postseason in the final spot in the Eastern Conference, setting the stage for Chovan to excel at a higher level.

Sudbury faces a very tough task in Round 1, as they will take on the OHL’s best team in the regular season, the Brantford Bulldogs, in a seven-game series. It will mark the first taste of playoff hockey for Chovan at this level, in his first year playing in North America. A good test, for the final Kings prospect playing in Round 1.

Jan Chovan Round 1 Schedule – Sudbury vs. Brantford
Game 1 – Friday, March 27 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 2 – Sunday, March 29 @ 1:00 PM Pacific
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 31 @ 4:05 PM Pacific
Game 4 – Thursday, April 2 @ 4:05 PM Pacific
Game 5* – Saturday, April 4 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 6* – Monday, April 6 @ 4:05 PM Pacific
Game 7* – Tuesday, April 7 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
*if necessary

Western Hockey League
Vojtech Cihar, Kelowna
Cihar will look to continue his strong season with a playoff run in the WHL, though he is the only Kings prospect guaranteed to play in the Memorial Cup, with Kelowna qualifying as the host team. The guaranteed participation was a big reason Cihar chose to sign with the Rockets as a midseason acquisition, after he spent the first half playing professionally in Czechia. After he was named as the MVP of the World Juniors in January, Cihar joined Kelowna and scored at a point-per-game pace, as he collected 31 points (12-19-31) and a +18 rating from 31 games played. Cihar played a prominent role in the WHL and adapted well to the junior level.

Kelowna is in an interesting spot. The Rockets are guaranteed to play in the 2026 Memorial Cup, but there are four rounds of playoffs between now and then. They’re in the 4/5 matchup in the WHL’s Western Conference and would naturally like to avoid a two-month layoff before that tournament begins in May, with the goal of qualifying via two methods. A Round 1 matchup with the Kamloops Blazers awaits.

Vojtech Cihar Round 1 Schedule – Kelowna vs. Kamloops
Game 1 – Friday, March 27 @ 7:05 PM Pacific
Game 2 – Saturday, March 28 @ 6:05 PM Pacific
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 31 @ TBD
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 1 @ TBD
Game 5* – Friday, April 3 @ TBD
Game 6* – Yet To Be Announced
Game 7* – Yet To Be Announced