Gens Hook Fish in Opener

BRAMPTON, ON – The Oshawa Generals went on the road and took down the Brampton Steelheads 3-2 in the season opener for each team.

After both teams lost their season opener last season, they were looking to get off on the right foot.

The Generals gave the nod in goal to Jaden Cholette while the Steelheads started Oskari Ahmajarvi.

The first overall pick in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, Kane Cloutier, started centring the second line for Oshawa today and was looking to make his mark.

First Period​

The Steelheads carried the play for the first period, but Generals goaltender Cholette was the best player on the ice.

Cholette made multiple big stops to keep the game scoreless, including a two-on-one stop off Steelheads left-winger Kieran Witkowski just 12 seconds into the game, another big blocker stop off Witkowski on an open shot in the slot, and a breakaway save just after the halfway mark.

Oshawa seemed like they were just a little bit off throughout the first. They had multiple chances off the rush but just couldn’t connect on the final pass.

The Generals’ best chance came when Hinde split the defence on a zone entry but lost a handle on the puck, so he couldn’t get a shot off. With the Steelheads killing the penalty off, we headed to the second period scoreless.

Second Period

The first half of the second period was much the same, with the Steelheads controlling the play.

Oshawa put together a great penalty kill at the start of the period but really struggled to break the puck out, which created opportunities off turnovers for the Steelheads.

The Generals held the fort with a few great blocked shots until Brampton broke through for the first goal of the game.

After a Generals defenceman pinched to make a hit, Brampton poked the puck into the neutral zone where Steelheads left-winger Nathan Amidovski pushed the puck forward to Keaton Ardagh, who made no mistake on the breakaway.

Oshawa’s power play that struggled in the preseason came through in the second period to tie the game. Onni Kalto took the puck and stepped into the faceoff dot before firing it over Steelheads goaltender Ahmajarvi’s blocker and into the back of the net.

The Generals took the momentum back and created a few more good chances before the period ended, but the second period ended tied, 1-1.

Third Period:

Brampton started the third period strong, getting good scoring opportunities on Cholette before scoring with 17:53 left in the period.

​A puck slid in front of the net after a puck battle in the corner right to the stick of Steelheads centre Lucas DeMiglio, who buried it to give Brampton a 2-1 lead.​

The third period was back and forth after the 2-1 goal, but the Generals would knot the game up on a play created by Kalto.

​Kalto took the puck off the rush and fired a shot on goal, which was stopped by Ahmajarvi. Kalto picked up the rebound and went for a wrap-around, which landed right on Brady Blaseg’s stick, who slapped it home.

​Unfortunately for Blaseg, his night would end shortly after due to a five-minute major for cross-checking. Blaseg caught a Steelhead up high with a cross-check, which set up a huge five-minute penalty kill with just 9:37 left in the third period.

​The Gennies put on a clinic, blocking countless shots and clearing the puck back down the ice, which found them back to even strength with just 4:37 left, still tied 2-2.

​Not long after the penalty was killed off, the first overall pick in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, Kane Cloutier, left his mark on the game. After a puck got thrown in front of the net, Cloutier banged it past Ahmajarvi to give the Generals a 3-2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

​Overall, it was a gutsy win from the Generals, who found themselves down in the game twice and staring down the barrel of a five-minute penalty kill late in the third period.

The breakout wasn’t sharp for Oshawa, which led to opportunities for Brampton, but special teams and Cholette carried them to the two points.

Next up is the North Bay Generals at home for the home opener on Sunday, Sep. 20th. Get your tickets here to come cheer the boys on!