The Milton Menace hockey team advanced to the second round of the playoffs after a 3-1 win over the Burlington Cougars on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Milton, Ontario. The victory in the seventh and final game of the series completed a major comeback for the home team at the Milton Memorial Arena.
The Menace trailed the best-of-seven series three games to one before winning three straight matches to move on. Forward Ashtyn Pacheco opened the scoring just 2:20 into the first period to give Milton an early lead in the deciding game.
Goaltender Austin McKillop helped hold the lead as the team secured the win in front of the local crowd. This series marked the third consecutive year that Milton and Burlington have played each other to start the post-season.
According to the Ontario Junior Hockey League, the Menace will now move on to the next round of the league playoffs. The team previously won the conference championship during the 2024-2025 season and is looking to continue that success this year.
