‘Your one shot’: TSN Hockey analyst discusses impact of Colts-Rangers final for players and community

TSN's Frank Carrado talks about the significance of the Barrie Colts and Kitchener Rangers facing off in the OHL Final for their players and communities.

With the puck officially dropping on the OHL Championship series, a former NHL and OHL defenceman weighed in on the series between the Barrie Colts and Kitchener Rangers.

Frank Carrado, TSN Hockey analyst, played 76 career NHL games and four OHL seasons, including a 10-game playoff run with the Kitchener Rangers in 2013.

“This is your one shot,” said Carrado of the chance to play for a J. Ross Robertson Cup. “It’s a very memorable experience. These guys will be friends and brothers for life essentially, and they get a chance to really cap it off with a nice moment if they can find a way to win.”

Carrado recalled how his OHL experience shaped the rest of his hockey career and beyond.

“I still keep in contact with a lot of the guys that I played with,” he said. “No one wants it to end. Junior hockey could be the best four years of your life or five years of your life. You never want it to end, and (the Colts and Rangers) have a chance to extend it.”

He also discussed the impact of the Colts and Rangers playing in the Championship Series on the communities of Barrie and Kitchener.

“They’re there when it’s the dog days of the season. This means a lot to everyone,” he explained. “Fans will be very much involved and a part of things, and their unwavering support really gets rewarded when the teams are able to go this far and put together the types of years that they had.”

Sadlon Arena sells out

While the Colts were preparing to leave for Kitchener on Wednesday ahead of the Championship Series opener, Sadlon Arena saw a steady flow of fans buying every last ticket for the Barrie portion of the series.

The team confirmed that Game 3 and Game 4 are almost entirely sold out, as the Colts deep playoff run has been an additional boost to the $43 million economic impact they have on Barrie each year.

“With the jobs we provide, the tourists that come to town, go to restaurants buy swag, come to the game, it’s pretty significant for the community,” confirmed Jim Payetta, Colts Vice-President of Business Development and Marketing.

The Rangers defeated the Colts 5-2 in Wednesday’s Game 1.

Game 2 is set for Friday in Kitchener before the series shifts to Barrie for Game 3 on Sunday and Game 4 on Tuesday.

Colts tickets for a potential third home game next Saturday are not yet on sale, but the team says they will become available if a Game 6 becomes necessary.

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