Meet Ottawa 67’s First Rounder Andrew Laurin

The 2026 OHL Priority Selection on Friday night proved to be a special night, returning to an in-person setting for the first time since 2000. For Belleville-born, Kingston-raised Andrew Laurin, the night was even more special, getting the call by the Ottawa 67’s as their 18th overall selection.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Laurin. “Especially to be done in my hometown, it means a lot to my family and I.”

Laurin was joined by several family members, including his brother, his grandmother, and her friends. 

“I have to thank all my family, coaches, trainers, advisors; I wouldn’t be here without all of them,” said Laurin. “I want to shout out my parents, but especially my younger brother Blake,” he said. 

Blake is following his older brother’s path, as he’s a goaltender within the Quinte Red Devils U13 AAA squad. “He’s pushed me every day to get better.”

“I just want to thank them for all their sacrifices and help along the way.”

Throughout the draft process, it seemed like fate that the Ottawa 67’s were going to land Andrew Laurin.

“Certain players jump out at you a bit earlier with their playing style and the DNA of what we look for; he was on our radar at the Toronto Titans Tournament sometime in September,” said General Manager Jan Egert. “At that point, you have no idea what the draft looks like or where you’re going to select, but Andrew became a player of priority for us very early.”

“I had an interview with Ottawa earlier in the year, and I thought it went really well, but it was my first one, so I didn’t really know how to gauge it,” he said. “My progression this season was one of the big things I talked with Mr. Egert about; that’s what gave me that feeling.”

The right winger registered 51 points across 34 games with the Quinte Red Devils U16 AAA in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association U16 AAA.

Laurin familiarized himself with the 67’s over the course of the season.

“I followed a lot of 67’s games this season,” he said. “I came to the Slush Puppie Place for the playoffs this past year, watching those games and how they handled business.”

“I heard of this,” said Egert with a smile. “I didn’t ask which team he rooted for at that point, though I might put him on the spot later on.”

This was Egert’s first year running the draft as the team’s general manager, and while you’d want to make the right pick every year, there’s no doubt a bit more at stake in getting this one right. “As we worked through the process, we quite often came back to the name Andrew Laurin.”

Laurin would pick up the pace late-season, with five points in four games at the OHL Cup and 12 points over eight games in the OMHA U16 playoffs. Yet it was after meeting his family that he shifted from being a player of priority for the 67’s to the team’s target.

“I spent an hour with them, and I got a sense that the human values are aligned with us as well,” said Egert. “The ambition, the passion, and the mentality of the young athlete made him a fit.”

However, while there was a fit between the player and the personality, an underlying connection was discovered during the process.

“My parents used to live in Ottawa before they moved to Kingston, so I’ve heard stories about the city,” said Laurin, who grew up in Kingston. That connection would prove to be two-fold, as long before Egert was with the 67’s, Egert spent some time growing up in Westport, Ontario, a small town around 45 minutes away from Kingston.

Laurin describes himself as a ‘smart, physical player who can be relied upon in big moments’.

“I thrive under pressure,” he added. “Once you get to know me, I hope you’ll know I have character and play with passion.”

What Laurin thinks his x-factor is his physicality, “that’s what brings my game to life.”

Thus, it is no surprise that Laurin says he models his game after physical power forwards Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson.

“It’s their leadership on the ice, the way they carry themself each and every shift,” he said. “Two guys who bring energy to the game by their physicality and size, and they also score in the big moments and live up to the hype and higher-pressure situations.”

As for playing in Ottawa, Laurin can’t wait to get started. 

“The work starts now,” he said. “It’s super exciting to see what the team was last year, and what it’s only going to become.”

“I know it’s a first-class organization and an amazing city to be in,” he said. “I’ve heard nothing but great things, and I am super excited to get there.”

“I’m super honoured to be under (Dave Cameron)’s wing,” he said. “I expect him to hold me accountable… whatever he thinks I need to work on, I’ll do it.”

“I think my skating could always use improvement,” he said of the one area he thinks he could develop the most. “I think specifically, my first three steps and stride could get quicker, and if they get quicker, I’ll be able to use my skillset to create more opportunities in the offensive zone for my teammates and I.”

For now, he’s keeping his plan for the next step on his OHL journey simple and straightforward.

“Just looking to put the puck in the back of the net, be reliable, and hopefully bring a couple of trophies home in the coming years.”