NEWS

Pickering Panthers celebrate with the Buckland Cup after defeating the Toronto Jr. Canadiens 4-3 for the OJHL championship in Toronto Sunday. (Photo by Paul Mauceri / OJHL Images)

The Pickering Panthers are the 2021-22 Ontario Junior Hockey League Nutrafarms Championship Series champions. It's the first OJHL championship for the Pickering franchise.

The Panthers defeated the Toronto Jr Canadiens 4-3 at Scotiabank Pond in Toronto Sunday night to win the best-of-seven league final four games to three.

Ryan Johnstone scored the game winner with 37.7 seconds remaining in regulation.

Pickering will represent the OJHL at the 2022 Centennial Cup presented by Tim Hortons in Estevan, Sask, from May 19-29.  All nine CJHL member league champions and the host team will participate in the national championship event. Regional championships will not be held this season.

Pickering Captain Brendan Tomilson was named the recipient of the Brent Ladds Trophy as the Nutrafarms Championship Series Most Valuable Player.

The Nutrafarms Championship Series:

May 2, Toronto Jr. Canadiens 6, Pickering Panthers 4

May 4, Toronto Jr. Canadiens 4, Pickering Panthers 1

May 6, Pickering Panthers 5, Toronto Jr. Canadiens 4

May 8, 3 p.m., Pickering Panthers 4, Toronto Jr. Canadiens 0

May 10, Pickering Panthers 2, Toronto Jr. Canadiens 1, 2OT

May 13, Toronto Jr. Canadiens 5, Pickering Panthers 4, 2OT

May 15, Pickering Panthers 4, Toronto Jr. Canadiens 3.

Pickering wins series 4-3