OHL, WHL playoffs set to begin

Winnipeg Ice

We're one step closer to finding out who will be joining the Saint John Sea Dogs at the Memorial Cup in June.

Both the Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League ended regular season play on Sunday. Both leagues will begin their playoffs - featuring the usual four rounds of best-of-seven series - later this week.

Here's a look at the first round matchups in the OHL:

Eastern Conference

(1) Hamilton vs (8) Peterborough

(2) North Bay vs (7) Ottawa

(3) Kingston vs (6) Oshawa

(4) Mississauga vs (5) Barrie

Western Conference

(1) Windsor vs (8) Sarnia

(2) London vs (7) Kitchener

(3) Flint vs (6) Owen Sound

(4) Sault Ste. Marie vs (5) Guelph

And here's a look at the WHL's opening round:

Eastern Conference

(1) Winnipeg vs (8) Prince Albert

(2) Edmonton vs (7) Lethbridge

(3) Red Deer vs (6) Brandon

(4) Moose Jaw vs (5) Saskatoon

Western Conference

(1) Everett vs (8) Vancouver

(2) Kamloops vs (7) Spokane

(3) Portland vs (6) Prince George

(4) Seattle vs (5) Kelowna

The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the OHL while the Winnipeg Ice finished atop the WHL standings.

Notably absent from the playoff picture are the Erie Otters, who the Sea Dogs faced at the 2017 Memorial Cup, and Connor Bedard's Regina Pats.

Former Sea Dogs head coach Josh Dixon is an associate coach with the Prince George Cougars, a team that will be making its first playoff appearance since 2017. The Cougars haven't made it out of the first round since 2007.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's regular season will continue for two more weeks. The league will begin playoff action - with the first three rounds being best-of-five series - the first week of May.