The Niagara IceDogs (29–31–4–4) enter 2025–26 looking to bounce back after a turbulent season that saw them bow out early in the playoffs. With Ryan Roobroeck – a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NHL Draft – headlining the offence, the IceDogs will lean on his size, scoring touch, and playmaking to drive the attack. He’ll be supported by fellow draft-eligible forward Braidy Wassilyn and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Ethan Czata down the middle, giving Niagara one of the most dynamic forward groups in the conference. Captain Kevin He brings leadership and a reliable scoring touch, while first-round pick Ryerson Edgar adds even more offensive firepower.
On the blue line, overage defender Grayson Tiller and import addition Ben Reisnecker provide much-needed stability to a unit that needed strengthening. The biggest question, however, remains in goal, where the IceDogs must replace longtime starter Owen Flores. With a busy offseason that bolstered their depth and a fresh culture under new GM Frank Evola and head coach Krys Barch, Niagara has the pieces to contend, but their success will ultimately hinge on steady goaltending and how quickly their new-look roster can come together.
Recent Transactions
*- denotes conditional draft pick
| DATE | TEAM | TRANSF. | TO | TEAM | TRANSF. |
| Sept. 4 | LDN | Liam Spencer | NIAG | GUE 6 2026 | |
| Aug. 27 | BAR | Riley Patterson | NIAG | BAR 2 2026
WSR 3 2027 NIAG 6 2027 NIAG 3 2029 NIAG 4 2029 |
|
| Aug. 13 | NIAG | Jack Brauti | KGN | KGN 10 2029
OSH 5 2027* KGN 5 2029* |
|
| Aug. 7 | PBO | Alex Hage | NIAG | BAR 3 2028
NIAG 5 2029* |
|
| Jun. 30 | NIAG | Blake Arrowsmith
NIAG 7 2028* |
SOO | Sebastian Dell’Elce | |
| Jun. 19 | NIAG | Max Crete | LDN | Jacob Monks
LDN 9 2028 |
|
| Jun. 13 | NB | Reyth Smith | NIAG | GUE 3 2026
NIAG 8 2028 |
|
| Jun. 10 | BAR | Grayson Tiller | NIAG | Alex Assadourian
SAR 5 2027 |
Futures Watch – a list of some of the new faces fans should be keeping an eye on as the team prepares for the upcoming campaign.
Five Questions Heading Into 2025-26:
After a season that ended with an early playoff exit, the Niagara IceDogs enter 2025–26 with a mix of returning stars, promising draft-eligible forwards, and several new additions to bolster the roster. To get a sense of what’s ahead, we asked four media members who cover the team closely to share their perspectives on the biggest storylines for the upcoming season.
1. Who is your breakout candidate?
Brandon Caputo (The Dog Pound Podcast): Ivan Galiyanov – Many new additions, including Ryerson Edgar, Jacob Monks, Alex Hage, Sebastian Dell’Elce, Ben Reisnecker, just to name a few of Frank Evola’s important acquisitions, but I will say a returnee in forward Ivan Galiyanov. Galiyanov is sometimes unfairly overlooked, being from the same draft class as Ryan Roobroeck and Ethan Czata, but he made the team right away as a 4th-round rookie and is now in his third season, as well as his NHL Draft season. #92 could be a guy who may fly under the radar at times and battle with gaining consistent offensive production, but may turn some heads in a very important Top-9 role this season in Niagara as a versatile 200-foot winger/centre who is an energetic and passionate player for this motivated core chomping at the bit to make noise this OHL season. Everyone loves “Galiy” on and off the ice as one of the most colourful and endearing characters on this IceDogs squad in recent memory.
Steve Clark (Play-by-play, YourTV): Ryerson Edgar – The IceDogs breakout candidate this year for me is Ryerson Edgar, their 1st-round pick. The IceDogs have had breakout rookies the last three years in Kevin He, Ryan Roobroek and Braidy Wassilyn. Largely, those players were able to break out as the IceDogs’ depth was not as good, and those players were able to play a featured role. While Edgar might have to work harder to get the same opportunities as the other three, he will likely see power play time and could be featured in the top six. The offensive skill set is too enticing for Edgar to be buried low in the lineup. He will benefit from the deep pool of talent the IceDogs will have at forward.
Bill Potrecz (Reporter, BP Sports Niagara): Braidy Wassilyn
Ted Lehman: Braidy Wassilyn – After Braidy set the IceDogs rookie assist record last season, year number two should be exciting. Add in his draft year, and Braidy will be focused in 2025-2026.
2. What’s the IceDogs’ biggest question mark entering 2025-26?
Caputo: Goaltending – Who will replace bell cow goaltender Owen Flores? May be by committee with a couple veterans (Charlie Robertson, Hayden Jeffery), an import option (Vladislav Ermolenko) and a young option (Matthew Humphries) but will be tough to replace the overage graduate who has signed with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League after three solid seasons (132 games) as the starter in Niagara; including 34 starts in a 36 game stretch and 12 in a row before going down with an injury in the final month of the season, returning for playoffs. Can Jeffery, Ermolenko or Humphries pick up where Flores left off? Time will tell. Flores has stayed in touch immensely with Humphries as a mentor over the summer, helping the promising young 2024 3rd-round pick get up to OHL-ready speed and prepare for a long season ahead.
Clark: Putting last season behind them – The biggest question mark involves the IceDogs turning the page on the off-ice issues from seasons past. Last year, the IceDogs were in 1st place, had been nationally ranked and had a winning streak going into the Christmas break. The 2nd half of the season was marred by controversy, and the IceDogs nosedived their way to 6th in the conference. A new GM and Coach in Frank Evola and Krys Barch, have promised to continue the positive culture change. If they do, the IceDogs will be in the upper half of the conference. If there are more, then the on-ice record will reflect it.
Potrecz: Goaltending
Lehman: You can’t graduate an OA goaltender like Owen Flores and make a quick transition. Flores was outstanding in the 2024-2025 season. Charlie Robertson is returning from injury, and two other goaltenders in camp got game experience last season. Plus, the team selected 2007-born import Vladislav Yermolenko.
3. Who will the IceDogs’ top NHL Draft prospect be by the end of the season?
Caputo: Ryan Roobroeck – Tough call with both exceptional talent forwards, Braidy Wassilyn and Ryan Roobroeck, both being in their draft year. Ryan Roobroeck has taken steps every season since he entered the league as the second overall pick, behind Matthew Schaefer. Roobroeck has the luxury of a late birth date, allowing him a third year in the league before being drafted, so expect a 100-point season after 41 goals and 87 points last season. The swift 6’4 winger is an absolute gamebreaker, who could have his name called in the top 3-5 overall of next June’s NHL Entry Draft.
Clark: Ryan Roobroeck – The IceDogs’ top draft prospect will be Ryan Roobroeck, and it is not close, even though Braidy Wassilyn could get drafted 1st round. Roobroeck is a prospect straight out of central casting. He’s 6’3 or 6’4, scored more than 40 last year, has a lethal shot, an underrated passing game and his 200-foot game is rounding into form. Plus, his birthdate meant he would have played three OHL seasons before his draft year.
Potrecz: Ryan Roobroeck
Lehman: Ryan Roobroeck – A late birth date has Roobroeck entering his draft year in season three. NHL scouts will be salivating all season long. Scoring 41 points a year ago, Roobroeck’s season featured a 15-game point streak, during which he tallied 15 goals and 15 assists. This season, it seems not if but when he will break the IceDogs single-season goal mark of 51.
4. Which new addition are you most excited to see?
Caputo: Grayson Tiller – Niagara native Grayson Tiller is coming home for his final junior hockey season as an overager, acquired from Barrie this off-season to add character and grit to the backend for a young IceDogs team. Expect Tiller to be a major factor in the team’s success and identity in more areas than just goals or assists, on and off the ice. A non-flashy game that gets the job done lugging those tough minutes, which is what this young team needs on the backend with all of the top-end skill up front and a graduating bruising defender, Noah Van Vlie, moving on to Sacred Heart in the NCAA.
Clark: Ben Reisnecker – The IceDogs have added a lot this off-season, and for the first time drafted and signed three import players. Their first-round pick was Ben Reisnecker, a big defenseman with Czech and German designations. He’s just 17 years old and has played for Slovakia at the U16, U17, and U18 levels. If he adjusts smoothly to the North American game, he could be a tremendous asset.
Potrecz: Ryerson Edgar
Lehman: Riley Patterson – Acquired by new GM Frank Evola from the Barrie Colts, Patterson brings 54 goals over his first two OHL seasons. Combined with the likes of Roobroeck, Ethan Czata, and Kevin He, Coach Krys Barch will have no shortage of offence this season.
5. Who will the IceDogs’ MVP be in 2025-26?
Caputo: Ethan Czata – Surprising with names like Kevin He, Ryan Roobroeck, Braidy Wassilyn on the tea, but Niagara will go as far as now third-year player Ethan Czata takes them. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2nd round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft for his solid two-way play, he has already impressed enough for Tampa to sign him to his Entry-Level Contract. Suppose the IceDogs are to become a contending team with all of the talent they have on the wing with Roobroeck, He, Wassilyn and Edgar. In that case, Czata will be vital down the middle of the ice after losing Andrei Loshko (NHL Seattle Kraken) and Alex Assadourian (Barrie) as other players down the middle. Expect another major jump from him in all areas, going from 17 to 55 points from his first to his second OHL season. #12 will be in plain sight every night, not missing a single game last season. His faceoffs and penalty killing abilities are going to be so important for Niagara’s overall success as a team under first-year head coach and former hardworking NHL two-way forward himself, Krys Barch.
Clark: Kevin He – I’m going to stick with the captain as the MVP. Kevin He has shouldered the load for the IceDogs through tumultuous times and has improved his goal total each of his three years in Niagara. Last year, he faltered at times during the second half of the season, but that can be said about many IceDogs. This year, he will have two NHL camps under his belt, a solid supporting cast, and a chance to not only qualify for the playoffs but also make a more than decent run. He’s the leader of a talented forward corps and will emerge as the MVP and a 40-plus goal scorer.
Potrecz: Ryan Roobroeck
Lehman: Kevin He – In year number four, Kevin He will most likely end the campaign top-5 all-time in IceDogs scoring. Working on both the power-play and the penalty-kill, the IceDogs captain will benefit from the strongest supporting cast he has ever played with in Niagara.
