Ottawa 67's Revive Bleached-Blond Look for OHL Playoff Campaign
The Ottawa 67's are turning heads with a bold new look as they gear up for the Ontario Hockey League playoffs, with every player and some staff members sporting bleached-blond hair. This team-wide transformation was inspired by the franchise's 1999 Memorial Cup-winning team, whose members adopted the same style before their championship run. The 67's begin their postseason journey on Friday night at TD Place, hosting the Kingston Frontenacs in Game 1 of a best-of-seven opening-round series.
A Unifying Team Tradition
According to 20-year-old veteran defenceman Frankie Marrelli, the decision to go blond was made through a team vote. "We've seen previous Ottawa teams do it, including the one that won the Memorial Cup, and it was just something fun to do," Marrelli explained. "I think we're all excited for the playoffs. We usually do hats, and they didn't work my first two years, so we wanted to switch it up."
Marrelli emphasized the bonding experience, noting, "It was just a fun experience seeing all the guys go through it and all being together. I think that's one of the great things about our team. Our bond is so close. Off the ice, guys are just always hanging. This was something fun. Everyone just bought in this year, and you love to see it."
The Decision Process
Forward Nic Sima, also 20, revealed that other options were considered before settling on the bleached look. "We wanted to do something for the playoffs, every team does, and we kind of just put some options out there," Sima said. "I think it was like a mullet, a buzz cut, bleach and something else. It was a team vote and I think it came down to the last two guys, and it was between mullets and bleach."
Sima described the decisive moment: "(The vote) came down to the last guy, it was either (Connor Bewick) or Frankie. There was a long pause, and then he just got up and said, 'We're bleaching our hair!' There were mixed emotions about it, but I think it turned out really well. At the end of the day, it's just hair, and I think it shows that we've all bought in."
Complete Team Participation
What makes this tradition particularly significant is the full participation from the entire roster. Sima highlighted this unity, stating, "Every single guy on the team did it. There are teams where some guys only half the group (take part in the playoff theme), but every guy went in on the same day and did it. It shows a lot about this team, about this group, and the character of our guys. It's awesome."
Playoff Matchup Against Kingston Frontenacs
The 67's begin their playoff run on Friday night at 7 p.m. against the Kingston Frontenacs at TD Place. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., also at the Ottawa arena. This series marks a historic occasion as it represents the first playoff meeting between these two OHL franchises since 1981. Despite being separated by just 196 kilometers, the teams haven't faced each other in postseason play for 45 years.
Season Performance and Expectations
On paper, the Ottawa 67's appear to have advantages heading into this series. During the regular season, Ottawa goaltenders Ryder Fetterolf and Jaeden Nelson ranked first and third respectively among all OHL netminders, providing strong defensive foundation. The team hopes to rebound from last season's OHL disappointment and embark on a lengthy playoff run.
The bleached-blond tradition serves as both a nod to franchise history and a statement of current team unity as the 67's prepare for their postseason challenge against their long-time rivals from Kingston.
