67’s welcome the Greyhounds for home opener

There’s nothing quite like the first home game back to complete a weekend in the Capital. The wait is finally over; today, the Ottawa 67’s (2-0-0-0) will take on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (3-1-0-0) at the Arena at TD Place. The puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Fans can join us in person by purchasing tickets here, or they can stream the game live on Flo Hockey & Rogers TV (Station 22), or listen to Kenny Walls’ online-only broadcast.

Following a two-game winning streak, the Barber Poles are eager to secure a third consecutive victory. The 67s have won both of their opening games in regulation: first with a 6-2 win on September 19 against their division rivals, the Kingston Frontenacs, followed by a 3-1 victory on September 26 over the North Bay Battalion. Meanwhile, the Greyhounds have played four games so far this season. They started with a 5-3 loss to the Saginaw Spirit but quickly found their rhythm, winning their next three games against the Sarnia Sting, the Peterborough Petes, and the Kingston Frontenacs this past Friday.

This year’s Barber Poles team includes a significant number of younger and new players, such as Brock Chitaroni, the third overall pick in the 2025 OHL Draft, who scored his first OHL goal during the season opener in Kingston. The rookies on the 67’s have played a crucial role in the team’s last two wins. Many players recorded their first OHL goals, points, and assists, with notable highlights including a hat-trick debut by former USHL player Thomas Vandenberg. The returning players on the Barber Poles remain key contributors, particularly on the blue line. Defenceman Kohyn Eshkawkogan is currently tied with rookie Connor Bewick in assists, along with Nic Whitehead, Cooper Foster, and Frankie Marrelli, all of whom have been in the starting lineup for the last two games.

The SOO Greyhounds are on a winning streak and are eager to continue their success today. Their roster features several notable NHL draftees who have recently returned from NHL camps, such as center Brady Martin, who has just returned from Nashville. After being eliminated in last season’s best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals by the Spitfires, the Greyhounds are determined to start strong this year. The 67s need to be the ones setting the pace and controlling the flow of the game to take over the Greyhounds today.

By the numbers