When the Guelph Storm selected Declan McNally seventh overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, Jaakko Wycisk did not hesitate to reach out.
Just over a year after hearing his own name called second overall by the Storm, Wycisk watched as another Windsor-area product joined Guelph’s young core. With both players having developed in the Sun County Panthers program, the connection made the moment even more meaningful.
“I was really pumped when I saw his name get called,” Wycisk said. “It’s pretty cool that we’re both from the same area and get to share that experience.”
With help from the Storm’s media staff, Wycisk connected with McNally through FaceTime shortly after the pick was announced.
“I just congratulated him, told him to enjoy the night with his friends and family, and take it all in,” he said. “We got to play together a bit growing up, and he AP’d with our team, so it was really exciting to see him get drafted by Guelph.”
Selected second overall in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, Wycisk understands the significance of arriving in the league as a highly touted young player. The 6-foot-1 centre recorded 43 points (17-26–43) in 60 games during an impressive rookie season with the Storm, and along the way, he learned how important patience and support can be while adjusting to a new league, city and lifestyle.
“It’s a big jump from minor hockey,” Wycisk said. “You’re playing with different players and adjusting to life away from home, so it definitely takes some time. My biggest advice would be to take it slow and lean on the people around you.
“There are a lot of players going through the same experience, so don’t be afraid to reach out, ask questions and keep in touch with your parents. He can always talk to me too. I think he’ll adjust just fine.”
Wycisk had a similar source of familiarity when he arrived in Guelph, sharing the dressing room with fellow Windsor-area natives Charlie Paquette and Zach Jovanovski. And now, he has the chance to provide that same comfort and guidance for McNally as he begins his own OHL journey.
For Wycisk, his rookie season was defined by learning what it takes to compete at the next level while also finding confidence in himself.
“My first year was really about feeling out the league and learning how things work,” he said. “Guelph gave me the opportunity to play the way I like to play and fill the role that suited me. My coaches did a great job helping me adjust, and my billets have been great too. The whole experience has been unbelievable.”
After recording three points (2-1–3) in five games while helping Canada White capture silver at the 2025 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Wycisk was recently invited to Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp ahead of the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton.
That experience will serve as another important step as he prepares for his sophomore OHL season and an especially significant period in Guelph.
The Storm are building toward hosting the 2027 Memorial Cup, giving Wycisk, McNally and the rest of the club’s young core an opportunity to grow together with a clear long-term goal in mind.
“It’s unbelievable,” Wycisk said. “It’s an honour for the city of Guelph, and I’m really excited to be a part of it. It’s a huge opportunity for me, especially with my draft year coming up, so I’ve been training hard to make sure I’m ready for the season. I’m really looking forward to what’s ahead.”
The past three Memorial Cup championships have been won by OHL clubs, adding even more motivation for a Storm team hoping to extend that run when the tournament comes to Guelph in 2027.
Before then, Wycisk is focused on taking another step individually and helping the Storm establish momentum during the upcoming season.
“Personally, I want to have a really strong season from start to finish, keep getting better every day and continue growing as a player,” he said. “I want to learn as much as I can from my coaches and everyone around me.
“As a team, I think we’re going to be really good. Hopefully we can make a deep playoff run, build toward the Memorial Cup and put ourselves in a position to compete for a championship.”
After spending his rookie season learning from those around him, Wycisk now enters Year 2 ready to take on a larger role – both as a key piece of Guelph’s future and as a familiar face helping McNally begin his own journey with the Storm.
