Faces New and Old Battle for Spots at 67’s Training Camp
After months of squeaky courts, cacophonous instruments, and laughter, familiar sounds have recently begun to echo off the walls of TD Place once again: the sounds of hockey.
The Ottawa 67’s recently hosted their 43-man training camp as the club looks to create both new memories and new history for the 2026-27 season.
To no one’s surprise, one of training camp’s standout players was returner Spencer Bowes.
“It’s going well; it’s always a fun time,” said Bowes. “I think everybody’s enjoying it, so I’m having a good time too.”
Bowes, a former 15th-round pick by the 67’s, is fresh off a fourth-round selection by the New York Rangers this summer.
“It was unreal,” he said of the experience. “You don’t feel anything like that in your life; it felt amazing, honestly.”
The Carleton Place, ON native attended Rangers camp this summer, which seems to have informed his decision to stay in Ottawa for the 2026-27 season.
“They had a bunch of sweat testing, which I thought was really cool, and they gave me really good feedback on what to work on and take in,” he said.
He’s looking to keep adding strength and flesh out his game while surrounded by both his peers and a support staff he believes in.
Last season he developed an undeniable offensive touch, becoming one of the league’s strongest players five-on-five. He credits his confidence.
“It’s just trusting myself,” he said. “Just having a move ready to go and executing it.”
This year’s training camp featured long hours and gruelling intensity, as players pushed themselves to give management and the coaching staff their best look.
Andrew Laurin, the team’s recent first-round selection, was a bit surprised by the intensity, but didn’t shy away from it either.
“I felt good out there; it’s intense, physical hockey,” said Laurin. “I just gotta get used to it, and it’ll come over time.”
Teddy Spitznagel, who returns as one of the team’s three overage players, has taken Laurin under his wing, giving the young power forward some guidance on how to handle the next level.
“He said as long as you’re physical and don’t get scared out there, you’ll be fine; just play with jam,” said Laurin.
He also credited his billet brothers, Kohyn Eshkawkogan and Nolan Jackson, for helping him adjust to the OHL, reassuring him that he’d get used to the move and that it would be more seamless than he might think.
As part of his pitch to the 67’s, Laurin was sold on the team’s facilities and focus on development, but as he finally touched down in Ottawa, he couldn’t help but smile when talking about the aura of playing at TD Place.
“The rink speaks for itself,” he said. “It’s a historic rink, and just seeing the black and red all around gets me excited for what’s to come.”
While Jaiden Newton may be more familiar with the atmosphere of TD Place, playing here a handful of times over the past three seasons with the Barrie Colts, the recent trade acquisition enjoyed the opportunity of settling in with the 67’s.
“I’m super excited for the fresh start,” he said. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about this organization and already gotten together with some of the guys.”
The physically imposing forward believes that Barrie and Ottawa playing a similar style of game should help ease the transition.
“They played a similar game to us, a hard-nosed game,” he said. “That’s the game I like to play, and I think that’s the reason they brought me in, and I’m looking forward to having a really good season with them.”
Despite his trademark grinding playstyle, Newton flexed some cerebral passing flashes in the three-on-three tournament, an element he’s trying to add to his game.
“I’m looking to produce a lot more offence,” said Newton. “At the end of the season, there in the playoffs, I showed some sprouts of it.”
“I worked really hard over the summer on my offensive game, and that’s where I’m looking to take the next step.”
Among those who had the opportunity to get into some action last season, Cade Campbell is looking to finally make his mark full-time on the blueline.
“I feel great, fitness testing went well, and on-ice has been great,” he said.
“Definitely feel sore after,” he said with a smile. “You are on the ice a bunch of times a day, so you get a little sore, a little heavy.”
A mobile defenseman who thrived against the rush in his OHL draft year, he believes his season in the CCHL has allowed him to develop more confidence and faster processing with and without the puck.
“I am definitely getting on pucks quicker,” he said. “When people are approaching, I feel like I am taking a step closer to being confident and getting pucks where they need to be.”
The 2025 third-round pick believes his four games with the 67’s last year have lit a fire under him to really push him to give it his all.
“It gives you a taste of what you are fighting for,” he said. “Just what it could be like to be a player here and be part of this organization.”
Of the five goalies at camp, only two have had the opportunity to dress for the 67’s: longtime 67’s netminder Jaedon Nelson and Noah La Gambina.
While La Gambina has yet to ice in action with the 67’s, he’s hoping that a good camp could be enough to earn him that chance.
“Yeah, it’s been unbelievable; the organization has been good; the players on the ice are good,” he said. “You can really feel the brotherhood here; it’s a great experience.”
La Gambina said he has made massive strides in his game since he attended last training camp.
“It’s a huge jump,” he said. “Getting more comfortable in the play, feeling more comfortable overall, the game’s coming to me a lot more easily.”
La Gambina suited up with St. Andrew’s College last season, posting a 17-7-0 record at the U18 AAA level while maintaining an impressive .908 save percentage. His play earned him a taste of what it’s like to be a member of the 67’s, joining the team as a backup for a game late last season.
“It was a surreal feeling,” said the 2025 fifth-round pick. “Putting on that jersey was an honour, and just to be with the guys; the experience there was unbelievable… I can’t put it into words.”
La Gambina hopes he’s proven enough to get into pre-season action and prove his worth as an option for the team between the pipes.
“I am excited for the experience and to show what I’ve got,” he said.
While the team’s camp boasts a bunch of returners from last season, there was another familiar face who attended as well.
Chase Yanni, who played with the Ottawa 67’s between 2023 and 2025, also attended camp, looking for a second chance to make his mark with the Barber Poles.
“I’m very excited to be back,” he said. “I missed a lot of the boys and staff, and it feels great to be back on the ice at TD Place.”
The team’s former 2023 third-round pick spent last season with the Newmarket Hurricanes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he netted 54 points in 44 games.
“Last year, I spent the year with the Newmarket Hurricanes in Junior A, and I really grew as a person and a player, built up a lot of confidence, and my game is feeling the best it’s ever felt.”
Yanni was part of Team Black for the 3v3 tournament Thursday morning, which won thanks to big performances from Yanni, goaltender Aidan Hill (2023 12th-round pick), and forwards Isaac Charbonneau (2026 13th-round pick) and Reid Hayes (2025 3rd-round pick).
“We had a great team,” said Yanni. “Had a lot of good guys, scored when we needed to, our goalie ‘Hillsy’ was pretty good, so yeah, it was great to get the win.”
