After capturing the Bobby Orr Trophy as the Eastern Conference champions and advancing all the way to the OHL Final, the Barrie Colts enjoyed one of the franchise’s most successful seasons in recent memory, with several veteran players playing key roles throughout the club’s playoff run and regular-season success.
The Colts now prepare to say goodbye to members of their graduating class as Brad Gardiner, Mason Zebeski and Calvin Crombie move on from the OHL.
Brad Gardiner (Barrie Colts, Ottawa 67’s – 2021-2026)
Acquired from the Ottawa 67’s in an offseason deal ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, Brad Gardiner arrived in Barrie following a career-best 49-point season. Since joining the Barrie Colts, the Dallas Stars prospect surpassed that total with 65 points (31-34–65) in 67 regular-season games, finishing fourth on the team in scoring. His 31 goals ranked second on the club, just two behind team leader Cole Beaudoin. Gardiner also delivered one of Barrie’s biggest playoff moments, scoring the overtime winner in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final.
The 21-year-old Aurora, Ont. native wrapped up his OHL career with 198 points (87-111–198) across 321 regular-season games. Originally selected by Ottawa in the third round (40th overall) of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Gardiner was later drafted by the Dallas Stars in the third round (79th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. He also earned the Roger Neilson Memorial Award this season, presented annually to the OHL’s Top Academic Post-Secondary Student, after posting a 90 percent average.
Mason Zebeski (Barrie Colts, Mississauga/Brampton Steelheads – 2022-2026)
Acquired from the Brampton Steelheads at the January trade deadline, Mason Zebeski joined Barrie after serving as captain of the Steelheads. Originally selected in the 11th round (208th overall) of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the Oakville, Ont. native appeared in 217 regular-season games over four seasons with Mississauga/Brampton, recording 106 points (56-50–106).
With the Colts, Zebeski contributed 18 points (6-12–18) in 29 regular-season games before elevating his play during Barrie’s Eastern Conference Championship run. He registered 17 playoff points (3-14–17), highlighted by the dramatic Game 6 overtime winner against the Brantford Bulldogs in the Eastern Conference Final. The 6-foot-2 winger is committed to the University of New Hampshire for next season.
Calvin Crombie (Barrie Colts, Brantford Bulldogs – 2023-2026)
Acquired from the Brantford Bulldogs in an offseason trade, Calvin Crombie joined the Colts ahead of the 2025-26 season. The Hamilton, Ont. product originally signed with Brantford as a free agent prior to the 2023-24 campaign.
Over 175 career regular-season games, Crombie recorded 92 points (31-61–92). This season, he nearly doubled his previous career goal total by scoring 11 times, while also adding 10 playoff points (3-7–10) during Barrie’s postseason run. Crombie is committed to Robert Morris University for next season.
2006-born players:
* denotes players who are committed to the NCAA for next season
Currently, the Barrie Colts feature nine 2006-born players in co-captains Cole Beaudoin (Utah Mammoth) and Kashawn Aitcheson (New York Islanders), along with Emil Hemming (Dallas Stars), Gabriel Eliasson (Ottawa Senators), Evan Passmore (New York Rangers), Ben Wilmott*, Carter Lowe, Parker von Richter* and Ben Hrebik.
