Ottawa 67's Lose Key Blueliner to Suspension at Worst Possible Time
Ottawa's 67's are heading into a crucial second-round playoff matchup short-handed on the blue line after defenceman David Bedkowski was handed a two-game suspension by OHL officials. The infraction — a spearing penalty against a Barrie Colts player in the opener of the series — earned the big defenceman an early exit from playoff action at a moment when the 67's need everyone firing on all cylinders.
Spearing is one of those penalties the league takes seriously, and rightfully so. It's a dangerous play, and in the heat of a playoff series, tensions can boil over quickly. Bedkowski, known as a physical presence on Ottawa's blue line, will now watch from the press box for the next two games while his teammates try to hold the fort without him.
Who Is David Bedkowski?
Bedkowski has been one of Ottawa's more imposing defenders this season — the kind of big-bodied blueliner who makes forwards think twice before driving to the net. His physical game is a core part of what he brings to the 67's, but that same edge can sometimes cross a line, as it did in Game 1 against Barrie.
His suspension doesn't just hurt the 67's physically — it affects the team's defensive depth and power play options at exactly the wrong time. Playoff hockey is already a chess match, and Ottawa's coaching staff will need to shuffle the defensive pairs and make adjustments on the fly.
Barrie Series Now Even More Interesting
The Ottawa 67's vs. Barrie Colts second-round series was already shaping up to be a competitive battle. With Bedkowski out for two games, Barrie gets a significant advantage in terms of personnel — and you can bet their coaching staff will try to exploit it.
For Ottawa fans, the hope is that the 67's can weather the storm and come out of those two games with the series still in hand. History shows that teams can overcome suspensions, but it demands more from everyone else on the roster — especially the other defencemen stepping into bigger roles.
What's Next for the 67's
Ottawa's coaching staff will likely lean on their remaining defenders to eat more minutes and be more assertive in their own zone. It's a test of depth and character — two things playoff runs are built on.
Bedkowski will be eligible to return once his two-game ban is served. If the 67's can stay competitive in the meantime, his return could give them a meaningful boost when it matters most.
For now, Ottawa fans will be keeping a close eye on how the team responds. Playoff adversity has a way of defining teams — and how the 67's handle this bump in the road could say a lot about their chances of making a deep run this spring.
Source: Ottawa Citizen. Story reported by Ottawa Citizen sports staff.
