The Wingham Ironmen will start the playoffs Friday night in Kincardine after finishing the regular season with a 5-3 loss Friday night against the Hanover Barons.
The Ironmen finished the season with a 16-14-6 record for 38 points, five back of the Bulldogs, with Walkerton finishing in first with 65 points to earn a bye in the first round while Hanover beat Mitchell for second place with 52 points.
Friday night, the Ironmen took a 2-0 lead early in the first on goals from Tyler Kellum and Wade Stephenson, but Hanover replied with three straight to take a 3-2 lead by the end of the second period.
Cory MacDonald tied it at three early in the third period, but a pair of goals late in the period put the game away for the Barons, as they outshot the Ironmen 36-22.
Game one of the Wingham Kincardine series will be Friday night at 8:30 before the series returns to Wingham Saturday at 8 p.m.
Game three of the series will be Monday in Kincardine at 8 p.m.