The Sarnia Sting have acquired defenceman Cole Emerton from the Barrie Colts in exchange for a package of draft picks.
Barrie receives Sarnia’s seventh-round pick in 2027, Sarnia’s second-round pick in 2028, Brantford’s third-round pick in 2028, Windsor’s fourth-round pick in 2028, along with conditional second and third-round selections in 2029.
One of the OHL’s top rookie blueliners in 2025-26, Emerton appeared in all 66 regular season games for the Colts, recording four goals and 27 assists for 31 points. His standout debut campaign earned him a place on the OHL First All-Rookie Team.
The right-shot defenceman continued to play a major role during Barrie’s run to the OHL Championship Series, contributing eight assists in 20 playoff games while logging significant minutes in all situations.
“Adding a player of Cole’s calibre is a significant move for our organization,” said Sting General Manager Dylan Seca. “He was a critical piece of a very strong Barrie team last season and consistently played big minutes in every situation. We believe he is going to be a major part of our backend moving forward.”
Originally selected by Barrie in the third round, 50th overall, of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, Emerton quickly exceeded expectations after signing with the Colts in March 2025. Prior to arriving in the OHL, the Oro-Medonte, Ont., native developed with the Vaughan Kings and Toronto Patriots of the OJHL, where he emerged as one of the top young defencemen in his age group.
A strong-skating puck mover known for his offensive instincts, Emerton drew praise throughout his draft year for his ability to lead the rush and generate offence from the back end.
“He’s a right-shot defenceman who can drive offence, quarterback a power play and make plays that put the puck in our forwards’ hands,” Seca added. “His ability to move the puck, create offence and impact the game at both ends of the ice makes him a player we’re extremely excited to add.”
The acquisition represents a significant addition for the Sting as they continue to build their young core heading into the 2026-27 season, while Barrie adds a substantial collection of future draft assets.
With the OHL trade window reopening on June 15, clubs once again have the opportunity to make roster moves ahead of the summer. The trade window remains open until June 26 at 3:00 p.m., providing teams with additional flexibility following the completion of the OHL Priority Selection and CHL Import Draft.
All confirmed trades can be found on our OHL Trade Window Tracker.
