The Windsor Spitfires came into the Memorial Cup with six weeks off. Six weeks to rest their team, heal their injuries, and practice, practice, practice. In the first round of the OHL playoffs the Spitfires battled the defending champion London Knights. Seven hard fought games that saw two go to overtime, and two more be decided by a single goal. In the end, the Knights - especially goalie Tyler Parsons - were too much for the Spitfires.
While Windsor was battling London, the Erie Otters were having a leisurely first round, winning four straight games over the Sarnia Sting, with an average gap of more than 3 goals per game, the Otters twice won games with a score of 9-3.