https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/tag/jace-luchanko/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:04 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.3 https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-acquire-rights-to-bruins-prospect-cullen-mccrate Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:04 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-acquire-rights-to-bruins-prospect-cullen-mccrate BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Spencer Hyman today announced the acquisition of the playing rights of Boston Bruins prospect defenseman Cullen McCrate & BFD 15^th ‘28 from the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for defenseman Cameron Merrick and three draft selections; SOO 2^nd ’27, SAR 3^rd ’28 & BFD 4^th ’30. The SOO 2^nd ’27 & BFD 15^th ’28 are conditional selections involved in the June 2^nd deal between the clubs that will now be returned.   McCrate, of Adrian, MI, was selected in the 7^th round, 143^rd overall by the Owen Sound Attack in 2025 while holding a commitment to Michigan State University. After starring in the Detroit Little Caesars program, including posting 16 goals & 40 assists for 56 points in 57 games in his 16U season in 2023-24, posting another 4 points in 5 games at the US Tier 1 Nationals, McCrate earned his way to the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, signing and skating in 3 games in the 23-24 season before becoming a fixture the following year. After opening the 2024-25 season representing Team USA at the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky, recording 2 assists in 4 games, and skating in 13 games for the Fighting Saints, McCrate was traded to the Fargo Force finishing the season appearing 34 times for the Force, chipping in 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points.   The 2025-26 season was the big leap forward for the 6’2”/205 right-shot rearguard as McCrate was a leader on the Force blueline, striking 10 times and adding 20 assists for 30 points in 61 games while skating to a plus-19 rating on the season, compiling another 4 points across 9 playoff games. His handiwork caught the eye of NHL scouts and McCrate heard his name called in the 7^th round, 216^th overall by the Boston Bruins. McCrate adds another big, physical defenseman with strong offensive instincts to the rebuilt Bulldogs blueline.   “Cullen McCrate is a tremendous addition to our organization.” said Hyman. “He brings size, strength, and a physical presence that every team covets, while also being a dependable two-way defenceman who can impact the game in all situations. He competes hard, defends with authority, moves the puck well, and plays the game with an edge. Just as importantly, Cullen is a high-character young man who fits the identity and culture we’ve built in Brantford. We’re thrilled to welcome Cullen and his family to the Bulldogs and look forward to seeing him make an immediate impact on our club. Welcome to Brantford, Cullen!”.   Merrick, originally from Boston, MA, signed with the Bulldogs on January 2^nd, 2026 and has already been well travelled in his hockey journey, playing for the Little Caesars & Honeybaked programs as well as Saline High School in Michigan before moving to play in the elite Minnesota High School loop. The 6’2”, 180lbs left shot rearguard has played the last two seasons for the Minnetonka High School Skippers as well as skating in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League with The Base.   “We always want to do right by our players.” said Hyman. Owen Sound provides Cam with a great opportunity to continue his development, and we’re excited for him and wish him great success.”.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-acquire-draft-selection-from-battalion-for-rossetto Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:30:17 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-acquire-draft-selection-from-battalion-for-rossetto BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Spencer Hyman today announced the acquisition of PBO 6^th ’27 from the North Bay Battalion in exchange for forward Nikolas Rossetto.   Rossetto, the Sault Ste. Marie, ON product, was originally selected in the 3^rd round, 53^rd overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection Draft out of the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15U program. Rossetto arrived in Brantford in the fall of 2024 having already built quite the resume, NOHL Championships with the Soo Greyhounds U14 & U15’s, where he led both teams in scoring and was named NOHL U15 MVP, led to the offensively gifted right-winger moving to Pennsylvania where he again dominated with 54 goals in 58 games for the Penguins Elite 15U. In his OHL rookie season, 2024-25, Rossetto quickly showed his offensive flare, posting 9 goals & 10 assists for 19 points in 57 games, adding another 4 points in 11 playoff games. Rossetto got a late start to his sophomore season after recovering from an injury and went onto score 6 goals and 3 assists for 9 points in 49 skates while skating in 4 playoff games.   “We want to thank Nik Rossetto for all his hard work as a Bulldog.” said Hyman. “Nik has been a professional and a great teammate throughout his time with us. We wish him great success and the very best as he begins this next chapter with the North Bay Battalion.”.  ]]> https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-acquire-2025-1st-overall-pick-kaden-mcgregor Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:00:43 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-acquire-2025-1st-overall-pick-kaden-mcgregor BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Spencer Hyman today announced the acquisition of the 1^st overall selection in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection Draft, forward Kaden McGregor from the Peterborough Petes in exchange for forward Cooper Dennis.   McGregor, of Braeside, ON, won the Jack Ferguson Award as the #1 overall selection in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection off of an incredible season with the Ottawa Valley Titans 16U AAA program. Named captain of the Titans, McGregor led the entire HEO with an incredible 38 goals & 44 assists for 82 points in just 29 league games, following that with another monster performance in the playoffs striking for 11 goals & 13 assists for 24 points in just 9 games, leading the Titans to an HEO U16 Championship while being named HEO Player of the Year. With time in between winning the HEO Championship & the OHL Cup, McGregor laced up his skates for the St. Joseph’s High Jaguars to play at OFSAA where McGregor led the Jaguars to a silver medal, recording 21 goals & 6 assists for 27 points in 6 games. Back with the Titans for the OHL Cup, McGregor dominated again, scoring 3 times and adding 8 assits for 11 points in 5 games while skating to a plus-7 rating, leading the OHL Cup in points-per-game. Joining the Petes for the 2025-26 season, McGregor showed the star potential he arrived with as the 6’0”/181 right-shot centerman scored 7 goals & added 13 assists for 20 points in 39 games before an injury halted his rookie year.   On the international stage, McGregor debuted for Team Canada at the World U17 Hockey Challenge, posting 5 points in 5 games to help Team Canada White to a Silver Medal.   “Kaden McGregor is an incredible addition to our organization.” said Hyman. “He is an elite talent in every sense of the word. Elite skill, elite hockey IQ, elite competitiveness and, most importantly, elite character and leadership. Kaden is the kind of player you build around, and we’re incredibly excited to welcome him and his family to Brantford. We believe he will be a foundational piece of our program for years to come, and we’re looking forward to watching him grow and succeed as a Bulldog!”.   Dennis, of Ithica, NY, was originally selected in the 6^th round, 109^th overall by the Bulldogs in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft after two dominant seasons with the Bishop Kearny Selects 14U & 15U that saw the offensively gifted winger post 128 goals & 136 assists for 264 points across 151 games. Making stops with the Long Island Gulls, where he won a US Tier 1 16U Championship and the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, Dennis made his way to the OHL for the 2025-26 season.   Immediately becoming a key part of the Bulldogs forward group both offensively and on the penalty kill, and developing tremendous chemistry with fellow newcomer Caleb Malhotra, Dennis set a new mark for first year Bulldogs, posting 34 goals while adding 40 assists for 74 points, skating in all 68 games. The Michigan Wolverines commit added another 7 points across 15 playoff games.   “Cooper was an important part of a special season in Brantford, and we’re grateful for everything he brought to our organization.” said Hyman. “His professionalism, work ethic, and commitment helped our team every day. We thank Cooper for all of his contributions and wish him nothing but success as he begins this next chapter with Peterborough. Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.”.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-acquire-draft-selection-from-colts-for-tsherna Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:20:39 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-acquire-draft-selection-from-colts-for-tsherna BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Spencer Hyman today announced the acquisition of BAR 6^th ’28 in exchange for forward Dylan Tsherna.   Tsherna, of Maple, ON, was originally selected in the 2^nd round, 34^th overall, by the Bulldogs in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection Draft from the Don Mills Flyers U16 AAA program where he led his team with 18 goals & 16 assists for 34 points in 31 GTHL league games. Making the team out of camp as a rookie in the 2023-24 season, Tsherna has gone on to play 112 games across three seasons in Brantford posting 9 goals & 14 assists for 23 points. Tsherna has brought his fast and physical style to the playoffs in all three of his OHL seasons, collecting 6 points across 22 post-season contests, including 2 goals & 2 assists across 10 games in the 2025 playoffs as part of the fan favourite “TNC” line alongside Noah Nelson & Calvin Crombie.   “We want to thank Dylan Tsherna for everything he gave to the Brantford Bulldogs organization. said Hyman. “Dylan represented our team with professionalism, worked hard every day, and was a valued part of our program. While it’s never easy to see good people move on, this trade provides Dylan with a great opportunity to earn a larger role and continue his development. We wish him nothing but success in Barrie and thank him for everything he did while wearing the Bulldogs jersey.”]]> https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-sign-goaltender-chase-petrova Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:00:21 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-sign-goaltender-chase-petrova BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Spencer Hyman today announced the signing of recently acquired goaltender Chase Petrova.   Petrova, of King City, ON, was acquired on June 23^rd from the Ottawa 67’s has continued to stack standout seasons between the pipes. Originally Ottawa’s 7^th round selection, 133^rd overall, in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection Draft. Selected from the Oshawa Generals U16 AAA program where he posted a 2.14/.906 stat line with 7 shutouts across 44 games while going 3-1 with a 1.26/.936 line at the OHL Cup. Petrova spent the 2024-25 season with the Ajax/Pickering Raiders U18 AAA posting a 1.22 GAA with 5 shutouts and an 18-1-1 record in 20 OMHA league games, with a 1.05 GAA & 4-1 record in 5 playoff contests. Taking another massive step forward, Petrova spent the 2025-26 season with St. Andrews College where he dominated in Prep School competition over 9 appearances with a 2.21/.921 stat line and a 6-1-1 record combined with a 2.41/.910 line across 30 U18 AAA appearances compiling a 20-8-2 record with a shutout, leading St. Andrews College in minutes played between the pipes. Petrova capped his 2025-26 season with three appearances with the Newmarket Hurricanes of the OJHL where he again looked the part of a top netminder. Going 2-1 in the three games with a 2.59 GAA and a sterling .923 SV% and garnerning his first junior shutout, Petrova continued to prove his quality.   “Chase is an exceptional young goaltender with elite footwork, outstanding crease movement, and the athleticism to make an impact.” said Hyman. “His work ethic and compete level give him a tremendous foundation, and we’re excited to be part of his development. We’re excited to welcome Chase and his family to the Bulldogs!”.  ]]> https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-name-bryce-ohagan-goalie-coach Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:00:51 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-name-bryce-ohagan-goalie-coach BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations Spencer Hyman today announced the hiring of Bryce O’Hagan as the club’s Goalie Coach.   O’Hagan, of Burlington, ON, has a long history in both the Ontario Hockey League and Internationally, having been originally drafted 55^th overall in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection Draft by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Going on to play 107 games between the Greyhounds & Petes, where he formed batteries with the likes of NHLers Robin Lehner & Matt Murray, O’Hagan additionally represented Canada at the U17 World Hockey Challenge, Hlinka-Gretzky Cup & World U18 Hockey Championship, winning a gold medal at the 2007 U17’s.   After his time in the OHL, O’Hagan starred for the Brantford Eagles in the GOJHL. O’Hagan posted a 2.43/.920 line across 43 games with a 34-7-2 record to put the Eagles at the top of the Midwestern Conference, eventually winning it with a 2.72/.906 across 18 playoff games sending the Eagles to the Sutherland Cup where O’Hagan again starred. A 2.18/.924 followed across 9 games competing for the Junior B Championship as the Eagles finished runner up to the St. Catharines Falcons.   O’Hagan followed his playing career as the goalie coach for the Burlington Eagles U16 AAA program from the 2018-19 season through 2025-26. O’Hagan additionally founded and runs O’Hagan Goaltending in Burlington, where he’s gone on to train a bevy of Golden Horseshoe area standouts, including Bulldogs goaltenders Maksim Corovic & Marko Mesich.   “Bryce brings an incredible level of passion, enthusiasm, and energy to our organization. said Hyman. “His commitment to developing goaltenders, building meaningful relationships, and helping our players reach their full potential makes him a tremendous addition to our staff. We’re excited to welcome Bryce to Brantford and know he’ll play an important role in the continued growth and success of our program.”.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-name-evan-mathias-assistant-coach-director-of-analytics Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:30:16 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-name-evan-mathias-assistant-coach-director-of-analytics BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations Spencer Hyman today announced the hiring of Evan Mathias as the club’s Director of Analytics and an Assistant Coach, coming to the Bulldogs directly from the Vancouver Canucks.   Mathias, of Windsor, ON, arrives to the Bulldogs off six-plus seasons in the National Hockey League. A Memorial Cup champion with the Windsor Spitfires in 2017, Mathias began his major junior career that season as an analyst with the Spitfires. Spending two seasons in the analyst role before being promoting to Director of Analytics in 2018 and continuing in that role until his call to the professional level.   The Ottawa Senators brough Mathias on board in 2020 as an analyst and mirroring his growth in the OHL, Mathias was promoted to Assistant Video Coach as well as Data Analyst in 2022 and remained in the role until 2024. Mathias most recently joined the Vancouver Canucks as an Assistant Video Coach for the 2025-26 season and now returns closer to home in joining Michael Babcock’s staff.   “We’re thrilled to welcome Evan Mathias to the Brantford Bulldogs as our Assistant Coach and Director of Analytics.” said Hyman. “Evan brings outstanding NHL experience, a sharp analytical mind, and a relentless commitment to preparation and player development. His ability to leverage analytics to drive better decision-making and provide valuable insights throughout our organization will be a tremendous asset. We’re excited to welcome Evan and his family to the Bulldogs!”.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-name-luke-joseph-as-video-coach Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:30:36 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-name-luke-joseph-as-video-coach BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations Spencer Hyman today announced the hiring of Luke Joseph as the club’s video coach.   Joseph, of Keswick, ON, is the son of 19-year NHL veteran Curtis Joseph and takes his first role at the major junior level as the Bulldogs video coach. As a player, Joseph came through he York-Simcoe Express Program with OJHL stops with both the Aurora Tigers & Newmarket Hurricanes. After an extremely productive season with the Napanee Raiders of the PJHL winning the Clarence Schmaltz Cup, Joseph continued to find success at the prep level with the Hill Academy, being named the top defenseman of the CSSHL.   Now stepping into a staff guided by Micheal Babcock, Joseph arrives in Brantford keen to learn his way forward on the staff side of the game and the Brantford Bulldogs are very excited to welcome him to the staff.   “Luke has earned this opportunity through his relentless work ethic, passion for the game, and commitment to continuous improvement.” said Hyman. “He has a tremendous eye for detail and understands how impactful video can be in today’s game, both from a development and preparation standpoint. As our Video Coach, Luke will play a key role in breaking down our game, preparing our players, and helping our coaching staff make informed decisions. We are very excited to see the impact he’ll have as we continue building!”.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-name-nojhl-coach-of-the-year-peter-goulet-as-assistant Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:00:17 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-name-nojhl-coach-of-the-year-peter-goulet-as-assistant BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations Spencer Hyman & Head Coach Michael Babcock today announced the hiring of Bulldogs’ head scout Peter Goulet as Assistant Coach.   Goulet, of Sydenham, ON, brings over two decades of bench experience to Brantford with a career beginning in 2004 as head coach Rideau St. Lawrence Kings of the HEO before moving to the Junior A level with the Kingston Voyageurs for three seasons as both assistant coach & assistant general manager, winning an OJHL Championship in 2009. Goulet moved to Nepean of the CCHL where he served as head coach & general manager of the Raiders from the 2009-2010 season through 2014-15, while spending the final two seasons in Nepean as a scout for the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL and was named CCHL Coach of the Year in the 2011-12 season. Goulet next spent a pair of seasons at the professional level as an assistant coach with the Brampton Beast of the ECHL from 2015-16 to 2016-17 while also serving as general manager of the Kingston Voyageurs. Returning to Kingston full time in 2017, Goulet spent the next two seasons as head coach & general manager of the Voyageurs and was named assistant coach for Team Canada East at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge. Goulet moved onto the Trenton Golden Hawks as head coach & general manager for the 2019-20 season, staying for the next three seasons and being named OJHL Executive of the Year in 2020. Spending the last four years as the head coach of the NOJHL’s Powassan Voodoos, Goulet continued to earn accolades, winning a World Junior A Challenge Silver Medal as an assistant coach for Team Canada East in 2023 and being named NOJHL Coach of the Year for both the 2022-23 & 2025-26 seasons.   “Pete is a familiar face in the organization with world of experience that will only help our staff and players.” said Brantford Bulldogs Head Coach Michael Babcock. “His articulation of clear and concise messaging was beyond impressive. Paired with his scouting ability, he is going to be crucial to our success.”.   Goulet will continue to serve as the head scout for the Bulldogs in addition to his coaching duties, a dual role that Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations Spencer Hyman had tremendous faith for Goulet in.   “This is a move we believe gives our organization a real competitive advantage." said Hyman. “Peter is an outstanding human and coach who will build strong relationships with our players every day while continuing to be our lead scout. We believe the connection between scouting and coaching is invaluable—having someone who understands exactly what it takes to succeed in our program creates a seamless link between recruiting and development. Using a college hockey model, Peter will assist coaching our team while continuing to evaluate top talent across the Alliance, GTA, and OMHA whenever the Bulldogs aren’t playing. We’re confident this structure will make us stronger today and for years to come.”.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-sign-sweden-international-vilmer-salen-forsberg Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:00:23 +0000 Reed Duthie https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-sign-sweden-international-vilmer-salen-forsberg BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Spencer Hyman today announced the signing of the team’s 62^nd overall selection in the 2026 CHL Import Draft Vilmer Salén Forsberg to an OHL Scholarship & Development Agreement.   Salén Forsberg, of Södertälje, Sweden, strikes an imposing presence between the pipes, standing 6’6”/235 and becomes the Bulldogs first ever Swedish international and first ever import goaltender. The product of his hometown Södertälje SK program, Salén Forsberg has played at the J18 level since his 14-year old season, when he debuted with a 4 game stint posting a 2.64 GAA as a triple underage player in the J18 Region competition, stepping to the J18 Nationell level with a 3.70 GAA over 5 games there.   Following up his debut, Salén Forsberg’s 2024-25 season was outstanding, again playing well above his age in his 15-year old season, the towering netminder known as “The Viking” posted a J18 Regional East, best 1.55 GAA along with a .920 save percentage, going 8-1 in his 9 games at that level, Salén Forsberg followed his effort up at the Nationell level with a 2.84/.892 line in 7 games, posting a 4-2 record and earning his first call up to the J20 level for Södertälje, appearing in 5 games with a 2.48/.890 stat line. In the playoffs for the J18 squad Salén Forsberg continued his high end play, posting a 2.60/.903 line with a 4-2 record over 6 post-season appearances.   Salén Forsberg earned his first call to international competition in the 2024-25 season as well, dawning the Tre Kronor for 4 games compiling a 2.51/.921 line for his country at the U16 level.   The 2025-26 season began for Salén Forsberg at the U18 level for Södertälje, still competing as an underager, posting a brilliant 2.28/.920 line with a 7-4 record in 11 appearances, the Nationell U18 was tougher on Södertälje but Salén Forsberg kept them in the fight in 18 appearances with an .898 save percentage over 18 appearances, earning another callup to the U20 level as a 16-year old with a 2.34/.939 in his appearance. Salén Forsberg worked his way to the U17 international level, taking the crease for a pair of games at the U17 World Hockey Challenge and posting a 3.34/.900 line in 7 games overall for the Tre Kronor.   Salén Forsberg will now join fellow Bulldogs signee Adam Němec playing at the 2026 Hlinka-Gretzky tournament.   “We are extremely excited to welcome Vilmer Salén Forsberg to the Brantford family.” said Brantford Bulldogs Director of Goaltending Franky Palazzese. “Vilmer is an elite goaltender with a massive frame at 6’6. He has elite level footwork, and is extremely sound positionally which makes him very tough to beat with his size in the net. His hockey IQ is far beyond his age, and most importantly we are getting an incredible human being off the ice. Vilmer’s character and work ethic are world class. He will be a very coveted prospect for the 2027 NHL Entry Draft with all of the attributes he possesses and we can’t wait to watch Vilmer suit up for the Brantford Bulldogs!”.]]>