Kings Prospect Jared Woolley Begins Round 3 of OHL Playoffs + George to LA, Lombardi to ONT, Cihar to Memorial Cup

LA Kings prospect Jared Woolley advanced to Round 3 of the OHL Playoffs, beginning toinght, as he pursues his third consecutive OHL Championship and his second straight Memorial Cup.

Woolley and the Kitchener Rangers have steamrolled through the first two rounds of the OHL Playoffs, losing just one game collectively in series wins over Saginaw and Sault Ste. Marie, including a 4-1 series win over fellow Kings prospect Carter George in Round 2.

In the decisive Game 5 in Round 1, Woolley scored the series-clinching goal, which came in the first period, as Kitchener won 5-1. Woolley had two points in the game and was selected as the third star of the evening in the victory. Woolley also had a multi-point night in Game 2 and collected an assist in Game 1, as he finished the second-round series at a point-per-game with five points (1-4-5) in five games played.

Woolley has been a massive addition for Kitchener, after he spent the past two seasons with the OHL’s London Knights. Woolley was a part of consecutive OHL-winning teams in London and skated to a Memorial Cup championship last season with the Knights. With London rebuilding, Woolley was traded midseason to the OHL-leading Rangers and has fit right in on the top defensive pairing. He’ll face off against a familiar foe in Round 3, with former Kings prospect Liam Greentree on the other side of the ice with the Windsor Spitfires. Woolley will be expected to continue to play a big role for his team heading into Round 3 and hopefully beyond. This is likely to be Woolley’s final season of junior hockey, with an entry-level contract already signed and AHL eligibility awaiting him next season.

Jared Woolley Round 3 Schedule – Kitchener vs. Windsor
Game 1 – Friday, April 24 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 2 – Sunday, April 26 @ 3:00 PM Pacific
Game 3 – Monday, April 27 @ 4:05 PM Pacific
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 29 @ 4:05 PM Pacific
Game 5* – Friday, May 1 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 6* – Sunday, May 3 @ 4:05 PM Pacific
Game 7* – Monday, May 4 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
*if necessary

Around the junior ranks, two Kings players saw their OHL seasons end in Round 2.

Goaltender Carter George was on the other side of Woolley’s Kitchener Rangers in Round 2 and came up short in five games. George, who also has a signed, entry-level contract, has been recalled by the Kings and will stay with the team as the third goaltender for the time being. George was on the ice yesterday for morning skate in Los Angeles and although the team was off today, George was on the ice with goaltending coach Mike Buckley, working 1-on-1, which is invaluable for the young goaltender, especially at this time of the year. George, like Woolley, will likely begin his professional career on a full-time basis in the fall. George made his professional debut last spring with the AHL’s Ontario Reign and was terrific in two games played, posting a .984 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average. Should the Kings’ season end before the Reign do, George could potentially hit the ice with Ontario as long as the AHL season lasts.

Meanwhile, forward Jimmy Lombardi also saw his breakout 2025-26 season end in the second round, as his Flint Firebirds were eliminated by the Windsor Spitfires in Round 2. Lombardi had an excellent playoffs, as he collected 10 points (4-6-10) in eight games played. It came off a huge breakout season for the 2025 Kings draft pick, as he led his team with 36 goals, tied for the ninth-most in the OHL, as he finished his season with 72 points in 65 games played. Lombardi will now join the AHL’s Ontario Reign for their Calder Cup Playoff run. Lombardi signed an entry-level contract with the Kings back in December, which means he will either play professionally or in the OHL again next season. More likely than not, expect to see Lombardi back in the OHL for one last run, before potentially beginning his first full professional season in 2027.

Out West, forward Vojtech Cihar also saw his WHL Playoffs come to an end, though his season rolls on.

Cihar joined the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets midseason, moving to North America from his native Czechia, where he had played professionally in the first half of the season. Coming off an MVP-winning performance at the World Junior Championships and a silver medal, Cihar moved to the WHL and had a big second half. Cihar was a point-per-game player in the regular season, with 31 points (12-19-31) in 31 games played. He added 13 points (6-7-13) in two rounds of playoff action, which led his team in scoring. Kelowna is hosting the 2026 Memorial Cup, so even though they were eliminated in Round 2, they still have games left to play. It’ll be an extremely long layoff for the Rockets, but in approximately one months’ time, Cihar and his teammates will hit the ice at home to host the final tournament of the CHL season. Hopefully there are two Kings prospects participating, with Woolley still alive to join Cihar in that event.

Woolley and the Rangers get things underway today with Game 1. OHL Hockey games are broadcast on FLO Hockey. If you’ve already got a subscription to watch Ontario Reign games, you can use that same account to watch the OHL Playoffs. Later in the playoffs, should Woolley advance, games will likely be picked up on NHL Network, with the Memorial Cup certain to air on NHL Network next month.