Your weekly run-down of what’s happening across the Ontario Hockey League!
Steelheads take on IceDogs in this week’s Friday Night Faceoff
It’s a battle of Central Division foes in this week’s Friday Night Faceoff as the Brampton Steelheads visit the Niagara IceDogs. See the game for free across FloHockey’s social media platforms and on their YouTube account. Read more
92 OHL players included on NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch list
A total of 92 OHL players are included on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2026 NHL Draft. The list includes a total of 233 players from across the Canadian Hockey League. The OHL features nine different players who received an A rating, indicating a potential first round NHL Draft candidate. Read more
Seventeen OHL players to represent Canada at 2025 U17 World Challenge
The OHL is proud to congratulate 17 OHL players on being selected to represent Canada at the 2025 U17 World Challenge set to take place in Truro, Nova Scotia from November 2-8. A total of 44 players from across the Canadian Hockey League were included. Read more
Bulldogs’ Adam Benak named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Minnesota Wild prospect Adam Benak of the Brantford Bulldogs is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording six points over a pair of wins against the Brampton Steelheads while also becoming the OHL’s leading scorer. Read more
Sting’s Patrick Quinlan named Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week
Sarnia Sting netminder Patrick Quinlan is the OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 1-0-1-0 with a 2.93 goals-against average and .920 save percentage as the Sting collected three of a possible four points against the first place Windsor Spitfires. Read more
Battalion’s Ryder Cali named OHL Rookie of the Week
North Bay Battalion forward Ryder Cali is the OHL Rookie of the Week, scoring three times while adding an assist over three contests. Read more
Generals prospect Reed Straus named GOHL Prospect of the Week
Oshawa Generals prospect Reed Straus of the Elmira Sugar Kings is the GOHL Prospect of the Week, going 2-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .962 save percentage. Read more
Cast your vote on the OHL Player of the Week presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario
This week’s OHL Play of the Week candidates include Peterborough’s Adam Novotny, Erie’s Brett Hammond, Windsor’s Cole Davis and an excellent scoring sequence put together by the Sudbury Wolves. Watch & Vote
Revisit the OHL Saves of the Week:
We’re winding back the tape on robberies from Sudbury’s Finn Marshall, Peterborough Petes defenceman Carson Cameron, Ottawa’s Ryder Fetterolf, Saginaw’s Stepan Shurygin and Sault Ste. Marie’s Noah Tegelaar! Watch
League News:
OHL Appoints James Boyd as Vice President of Hockey Operations: The OHL announced Wednesday that long-time Ottawa 67’s General Manager James Boyd has been hired as the League’s new Vice President of Hockey Operations. Boyd brings more than two decades of experience in OHL coaching and management to his new role. He will be responsible for the oversight and execution of all core functions within the League’s Hockey Operations department, ensuring competitive excellence, rule and policy compliance, player and official development, and operational integrity across the League. Read more
Firebirds’ Aspinall signs with Rangers: The New York Rangers have signed Flint Firebirds captain Nathan Aspinall to a three-year entry-level NHL contract. The 6-foot-7 forward has skated in six games this season, producing 10 points (6-4–10). Last season, Aspinall posted a career-high 30 assists and 47 points over 62 games. Read more
Aitcheson becomes Colts’ franchise goal-scoring leader among defencemen: New York Islanders prospect Kashawn Aitcheson is the new Barrie Colts all-time leader in goals by a defenceman with 41 in his OHL career. Aitcheson lit the lamp in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the North Bay Battalion, scoring his sixth goal of the season. The 19-year-old from Toronto has 11 points (6-5–11) through his first 11 games of 2025-26, and 112 points (41-71–112) over parts of four seasons in Barrie. Watch
67’s Strength and Conditioning Coach Sean Young joins Pittsburgh Penguins organization: Ottawa 67’s Director of Conditioning Sean Young has joined the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Young worked his first game with the Penguins on Tuesday night, a 5–1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. A respected member of the 67’s staff since the 2018-19 season, Young was promoted to Director of Conditioning ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. Over his seven seasons in Ottawa, he played a key role in player development and team performance, working closely with athletes both on and off the ice. Read more
Referee Dave Lewis retires after 16-year career: This past Sunday, referee Dave Lewis took to the ice for the final time in his Ontario Hockey League career, officiating the second game of the rivalry series between the Oshawa Generals and the Peterborough Petes. The matchup marked his 554th OHL game. Read more
Knights name Sam O’Reilly captain: The London Knights have named Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly the 54th captain in franchise history as voted by his teammates. O’Reilly recorded 28 goals and 71 points in 62 games last season enroute to the team’s third Memorial Cup. Teammates Henry Brzustewicz and Jared Woolley will serve as alternates. Read more
Transactions:
IceDogs sign forward Cole Cooksey: The Niagara IceDogs have signed overage forward Cole Cooksey to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. The 20-year-old spent last season with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Read more
Colts sign forward Luc Gauvreau: The Barrie Colts have signed forward Luc Gauvreau to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Before joining the Colts, Gauvreau spent the 2024–25 season in the GOHL with the Caledonia Corvairs, where he tallied four goals and three assists for seven points across 29 games. Read more
Around the Rink:
Eventful week in Windsor: The Spitfires have plenty planned for their fans this week as they host the Ottawa 67’s for a night celebrating “The Great Outdoors” on Thursday, with fans arriving early receiving a free Adam Henrique wall poster. Friday is Jurassic Night at the WFCU Centre against the Owen Sound Attack as kids will receive a free dinosaur mask while supplies last. Sunday is a Halloween Party against the Saginaw Spirit as kids arriving early will receive a free trick or treat bag! Visit windsorspitfires.com for more information.
Hounds host Dash’s Monster Mash on Friday: The Hounds host their Halloween haunt on Friday when they play host to the Peterborough Petes at 6:07pm. Wear your Halloween best to GFL Memorial Gardens as the Hounds hunt down two points!
Storm raise support for CBN Gives Wishes on Friday: The Guelph Storm will raise money for a good cause on Friday as Maverick, a brave 12-year-old who is battling thyroid cancer and Rowan, a four-year old living with a rare genetic form of epilepsy will drop the puck on the ceremonial faceoff. Both children are part of the Guelph Wish Fund for Children, a local charity that has serves children in Guelph and Wellington. Guelph Wish Fund for Children is Friday’s 50/50 group. Read more
Spirit honour local health care workers, salute veterans: The Saginaw Spirit host back-to-back home games this weekend, honouring local health care workers with their 989 Connect Night at home to the Erie Otters before the Owen Sound Attack visit on Spirit Warriors Veteran Night on Saturday. Visit saginawspirit.com for more info.
IceDogs host Country Night on Saturday: It’s a special 6:00pm puck drop for Country Night in Niagara on Saturday as the IceDogs play host to the Kingston Frontenacs. Read more
Rangers host Star Wars Night on Sunday: Get ready to feel the force at The Aud on Sunday when the Rangers play host to the North Bay Battalion. With special Star Wars-themed entertainment, photo ops with characters, and more, it’s the perfect blend of sports and sci-fi.
Halloween at the Hive on Sunday: The Sarnia Sting welcome the 402 rival London Knights for Halloween at the Hive on Sunday. Dress up in your best Halloween constume and trick-or-treat with Buzz and Honey in the intermission costume parade!
Alumni News:
Lardis named AHL Player of the Week: Brantford Bulldogs graduate Nick Lardis hasn’t wasted any time making an impression at the pro level. The former 71-goal scorer is the AHL Player of the Week with the Rockford IceHogs, recording seven points (2-5–7) over three games. Lardis played a four-year OHL career between Peterborough, Hamilton and Brantford, finishing his career with 117 points (71-46–117) over 65 games in 2024-25, graduating as a first team all-star. Lardis was Chicago’s third round pick in 2023.
Schaefer off to historic start: First overall NHL Draft pick Matthew Schaefer is off to a tremendous start with the New York Islanders. The 18-year-old defenceman is setting records, with seven points (2-5–7) over his first six games, averaging over 22 minutes of ice per game. The Erie Otters standout recorded 22 points (7-15–22) during an injury shortened 17-game 2024-25 season, while also representing Canada at the World Juniors. Schaefer became the youngest defenceman in NHL history to score a game-winning goal on Tuesday when the Islanders defeated Michael Misa and the San Jose Sharks by a score of 4-3.
Misa becomes fifth-youngest NHL player to record a point: Saginaw Spirit star Michael Misa became the fifth-youngest player in NHL history to record his first point on Tuesday, recording an assist as his San Jose Sharks fell 4-3 to the New York Islanders. It was Misa’s third game of the season as the Oakville native was chosen by the Sharks second overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. The former Memorial Cup champion, Red Tilson Trophy winner and OHL Rookie of the Year comes off a 134-point season with the Spirit in 2024-25.
OHL Post-Secondary Weekly Round-Up: Kitchener Rangers graduate continues to backstop the Laurier Golden Hawks to a perfect start as they are now 6-0 in U SPORTS men’s hockey. Another Rangers alumnus in Mitchell Martin of the University of Ottawa GeeGees is among OUA scoring leaders, while former Mississauga Steelheads goaltender Kai Edmonds has been excellent for Toronto Metropolitan University. Those notes and more in the weekly round-up. Read more
OHL mourns the loss of John C. Hopper: The OHL is mourning the loss of former North Bay Centennials owner John C. Hopper, who passed away on Monday in Picton, Ont. at the age of 88. A prominent figure in North Bay, Hopper owned the Centennials from 1986 to 1998, through their glory years that culminated in an OHL Championship in 1994. Read more
Upcoming Schedule:
Thursday, October 23
Peterborough at North Bay, 7:00pm
Ottawa at Windsor, 7:05pm
Friday, October 24
Barrie at Sudbury, 6:00pm
Peterborough at Sault Ste. Marie, 6:07pm
Flint at Kitchener, 7:00pm
Ottawa at London, 7:00pm
Brampton at Niagara, 7:00pm (Friday Night Faceoff on FloHockey)
Owen Sound at Windsor, 7:05pm
Erie at Saginaw, 7:05pm
Brantford at Sarnia, 7:05pm
Kingston at Guelph, 7:07pm
Saturday, October 25
North Bay at Brampton, 4:00pm
Oshawa at Brantford, 5:00pm
Kingston at Niagara, 6:00pm
Erie at Flint, 7:00pm
Owen Sound at Saginaw, 7:05pm
Kitchener at Barrie, 7:30pm
Sunday, October 26
Niagara at Brampton, 2:00pm
London at Sarnia, 2:05pm
Peterborough at Sudbury, 2:05pm
Ottawa at Guelph, 2:07pm
Owen Sound at Flint, 4:00pm
Saginaw at Windsor, 4:05pm
North Bay at Kitchener, 6:00pm
Brantford at Oshawa, 6:05pm
