PJHL Preview - Schmalz Cup Final

Friday, 1 May 2026 10:24

Photo Credit - Provincial Junior Hockey League Website

An Oxford County team is still in the mix to bring home the Schmalz Cup and be the PJHL Champions.

PJHL - From 61 teams, down to two, as the Provincial Junior Hockey League gears up for the Schmalz Cup finals.

One of the teams in the finals is from Oxford County, that being the Tavistock Braves. The Braves began the playoffs against the Paris Titans in the Doherty Division Quarter Final and took the series handily with a 4-0 sweep. Next, they moved on to play the Wellesley Applejacks in the Doherty Division Semi-Final, and once again made quick work of the series, putting up a four-game sweep. Moving on to the Doherty Division Final, the Braves battled the Woodstock Navy Vets, in what was the toughest series up to that point. It was a battle back and forth, with the Braves ultimately coming out on top in game 7 to take the series 4-3. The road continued in the South Conference Final, where the Braves took on the Dundas Blues. The Braves came out of that series in 5 games, beating the Blues 4 games to 1. The next obstacle in the way of the Braves was the powerhouse Lakeshore Canadiens, who have been a perennial favourite in the PJHL every season. That did not stop the Braves, as they eliminated the Canadiens in 6 games, getting them to the championship series.

The opponent in the Finals will be the Fergus Whalers. The Whalers had a first-round bye in the playoffs after finishing first in the North Pollock Division during the regular season. The Whalers began the post-season in the Pollock Division Semi-Final and took on the Kincardine Bulldogs. That series went the minimum amount of games, with the Whalers sweeping the Bulldogs 4-0. It was on the Pollock Division Final for the Whalers, where they ran into the Hanover Barons. The Whalers suffered one loss in the series and needed 5 games to dispatch the Barons and move on to the next round. Moving on to the North Conference Final, the Whalers would battle the Stayner Siskins. There were a few close games in the series, but the Whalers were able to complete the sweep and keep their dream of a Schmalz Cup alive. In their Schmalz Cup Semi-Final, the Whalers came across the Frankford Huskies. The Whalers got past the Huskies in 5 games, which punched their ticket to the Schmalz Cup Finals.

Heading into the Schmalz Cup Finals, the Braves have a playoff record of 20-6-0, while the Whalers are 16-2-0 so far in the post-season. The series gets underway tomorrow night in Fergus, with puck drop at 8:30 p.m. The entire schedule can be found below.

Sat. May 2, 2026 - 7:00 PM - FER @ TAV
Sun. May 3, 2026 - 4:00 PM - TAV @ FER

Wed. May 6, 2026 - 7:30 PM - FER @ TAV

Fri. May 8, 2026 - 8:30 PM - TAV @ FER
Sun. May 10, 2026 - 3:30 PM* - TAV @ FER

Tue. May 12, 2026 - 7:30 PM* - FER @ TAV

Thu. May 14, 2026 - 7:30 PM* - TAV @ FER

* IF NESCESSARY