[{"id":41723,"date":"2026-06-27T16:32:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T20:32:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/?p=41723"},"modified":"2026-06-27T19:50:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T23:50:22","slug":"release-otters-defenseman-lucas-ambrosio-selected-223-overall-by-los-angeles-kings-in-2026-nhl-entry-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/article\/release-otters-defenseman-lucas-ambrosio-selected-223-overall-by-los-angeles-kings-in-2026-nhl-entry-draft","title":{"rendered":"RELEASE: Otters Defenseman Lucas Ambrosio Selected #223 Overall by Los Angeles Kings in 2026 NHL Entry Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0<\/strong>It’s the biggest day in the lives of many young hockey players and today, another member of the Erie Otters organization heard his named called at the NHL Entry Draft.<\/p>\n

Erie Otters defenseman\u00a0Lucas Ambrosio\u00a0<\/strong>was selected 223rd overall by the Los Angeles Kings.<\/p>\n

Last season with the Otters, Ambrosio was solid defensively for Erie while contributing 20 points (1G+19A) in 64 games for the navy and gold.<\/p>\n

The Oakville, ON native projects as a strong defensive blueliner who will be a key part of an exciting season on the horizon for the Otters, now with NHL prospect status as he joins a strong prospect pool in Southern California.<\/p>\n

Otters’ General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0<\/strong>spoke on the selection of Ambrosio and the continued tradition of developmental excellence the Otters are known for.<\/p>\n

“The entire Erie Otters organization would like to congratulate Lucas on being selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft,” Brown\u00a0<\/strong>said. “Lucas has earned this opportunity through countless hours of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to improving every day. From the moment he arrived in Erie, he embraced what it means to be an Otter. His size, skating ability, competitiveness and team-first mentality made him a trusted presence on our blue line and we’re thrilled to see those qualities recognized at the next level.”<\/p>\n

Ambrosio continues a long tradition of Otters being selected in the NHL Draft as he is the 48th different Otter to hear his named called. Erie has now seen a player selected in seven straight drafts dating back to 2020 and have had at least one player called in 25 total drafts from 1997 to 2026.<\/p>\n

Ambrosio becomes the second current Otter to be under the umbrella of an NHL organization alongside\u00a0Ty Henry\u00a0<\/strong>(Chicago #163 ’24).<\/p>\n

He becomes the second ever Otter to be drafted by the Kings after\u00a0Josh Kidd\u00a0<\/strong>was selected 184th overall in 2007.<\/p>\n

Ambrosio also becomes the second-latest pick the Otters have ever had, with\u00a0Chris Campoli\u00a0<\/strong>being selected #227 in 2004 and going onto skate in 440 NHL games.<\/p>\n

Coming into the draft, Ambrosio was ranked #91 among North American skaters.<\/p>\n

His selection represents a continued tradition of excellence that has seen numerous Otters players go onto play in NHL games and even hoist the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n

The entire Otters organization congratulates Lucas on all of his accomplishments and recognition and look forward to his continued development on the road to his professional hockey career.<\/p>\n

ALL-TIME ERIE OTTERS NHL\u00a0DRAFT\u00a0SELECTIONS<\/b><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
Year<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Player<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
NHL Team<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Pick (Overall)<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
1997<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Jason Ward<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Montreal Canadiens<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
11th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Patrick Dovigi<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Edmonton Oilers<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
41st<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Adam Nittel<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
San Jose Sharks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
107th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
1998<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Michael Rupp<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York Islanders<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
9th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
1999<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Tim Connolly<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York Islanders<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
5th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Sean Dixon<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Montreal Canadiens<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
167th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2000<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Nikita Alexeev<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Tampa Bay Lightning<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
8th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Brad Boyes<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Toronto Maple Leafs<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
24th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Michael Rupp<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New Jersey Devils<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
76th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2001<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Carlo Colaiacovo<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Toronto Maple Leafs<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
17th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Adam Munro<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Chicago Blackhawks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
29th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2002<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Brian Lee<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
71st<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Scott Dobben<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Ottawa Senators<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
113th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2004<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Josh Disher<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New Jersey Devils<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
185th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Chris Campoli<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York Islanders<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
227th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2005<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Ryan O\u2019Marra<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York Islanders<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
15th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Michael Blunden<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Chicago Blackhawks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
43rd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2007<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Nick Palmieri<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New Jersey Devils<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
79th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Anthony Peluso<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
St. Louis Blues<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
160th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Luke Gazdic<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Dallas Stars<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
172nd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Zack Torquato<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Detroit Red Wings<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
178th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Josh Kidd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Los Angeles Kings<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
184th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2008<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Mitch Gaulton<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York Rangers<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
171st<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2009<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Ryan O\u2019Reilly<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Colorado Avalanche<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
33rd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Jaroslav Janus<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Tampa Bay Lightning<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
162nd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
David Shields<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
St. Louis Blues<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
168th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2010<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Greg McKegg<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Toronto Maple Leafs<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
62nd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Andrew Yogan<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York Rangers<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
100th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2012<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Adam Pelech<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York Islanders<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
65th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Connor Brown<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Toronto Maple Leafs<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
156th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2013<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Connor Crisp<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Montreal Canadiens<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
71st<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2014<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Kyle Pettit<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Vancouver Canucks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
156th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2015<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Connor McDavid<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Edmonton Oilers<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
1st<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Dylan Strome<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Arizona Coyotes<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
3rd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Travis Dermott<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Toronto Maple Leafs<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
34th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2016<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Alex DeBrincat<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Chicago Blackhawks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
39th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Taylor Raddysh<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Tampa Bay Lightning<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
58th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Jordan Sambrook<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Detroit Red Wings<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
137th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2017<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Ivan Lodnia<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Minnesota Wild<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
85th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2020<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Jamie Drysdale<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Anaheim Ducks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
6th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Chad Yetman<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Chicago Blackhawks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
172nd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2021<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Connor Lockhart<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Vancouver Canucks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
178th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2022<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Christian Kyrou<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Dallas Stars<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
50th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2023<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Carey Terrance<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Anaheim Ducks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
59th<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2024<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Ty\u00a0Henry<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Chicago Blackhawks<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
163rd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2025<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Matthew Schaefer<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York Islanders<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
1st<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Malcolm Spence<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
New York Rangers<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
43rd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
2026<\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Lucas Ambrosio<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Los Angeles Kings<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
\n
223rd<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
NHL\u00a0DRAFT\u00a0TRACKER:\u00a0NHL.com<\/a><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Player Eligibility:\u00a0<\/i><\/b>All North American players who are\u00a018 years old by September 15 of the year of their\u00a0draft, and under 20 years old by Dec. 15 of that same year\u00a0are eligible. Non-North Americans begin eligibility at the same time but maintain eligibility until 21 years old.<\/i><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
Keep up with both of the Otters picks and results on\u00a0OttersHockey.com<\/a>\u00a0or across the Otters\u2019 social media. For all results of the 2025 NHL Entry\u00a0Draft, please head to\u00a0NHL.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
For the latest Otters news, visit\u00a0OttersHockey.com<\/a>, or follow the team on Facebook (Facebook.com\/erieottershockey<\/a>), Twitter (@ErieOtters), and Instagram (@ErieOtters).\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For further information on the Erie Otters and for media inquiries, please contact Trevor Kubeja at\u00a0trevorkubeja@ottershockey.com<\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0It’s the biggest day in the lives of many young hockey players and today, another member of the Erie Otters organization heard his named called at the NHL Entry Draft. Erie Otters defenseman\u00a0Lucas Ambrosio\u00a0was selected 223rd overall by the Los Angeles Kings. Last season with the Otters, Ambrosio was solid defensively for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":569,"featured_media":41729,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[367],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-41723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-367","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2026\/06\/27163206\/AMBRO-HORIZONTAL.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/569"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":41722,"date":"2026-06-25T14:00:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T18:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/?p=41722"},"modified":"2026-06-25T13:55:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T17:55:01","slug":"release-erie-otters-sign-2025-draftee-broden-mcarthur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/article\/release-erie-otters-sign-2025-draftee-broden-mcarthur","title":{"rendered":"RELEASE: Erie Otters Sign 2025 Draftee Broden McArthur"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0<\/strong>It has been a very busy offseason already in the Flagship City and the Otters have made another move to solidify their blue line.<\/p>\n

General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0<\/strong>and Director of Hockey Operations\u00a0Scott Grieve\u00a0<\/strong>announced today that defenseman\u00a0Broden McArthur\u00a0<\/strong>has been signed to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.<\/p>\n

McArthur, a native of San Antonio, was selected by the Otters in the fifth round of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, 99th overall.<\/p>\n

“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining one of the premier organizations in the Canadian Hockey League,”\u00a0McArthur\u00a0<\/strong>said. “From the moment the opportunity to become part of the Erie Otters organization presented itself, I knew it was the right fit for my development.”<\/p>\n

The 6’0, 2009-born defenseman spent last season with the United States National Team Development Program, where with his U17 team in league play he posted 13 (3G+10A) points in 55 games. In 37 USHL games with the USNTDP, he collected seven points (2G+7A).<\/p>\n

McArthur is committed to the University of Minnesota where he hopes to make an impact following his time in the OHL.<\/p>\n

He is noted as a dynamic defenseman with the ability to make plays offensively and can really shine on the power play. An excellent skater who is quick to turn defense into attack, McArthur is an exciting player who will look to make a big impact for the Otters.<\/p>\n

Otters’ General Manager Dave Brown<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>spoke with excitement about the addition of McArthur and what he will bring to the organization.<\/p>\n

“We at the Otters organization are excited to secure Broden, a multifaceted defender excelling across the board and fitting exactly into our strategic vision,”\u00a0Brown\u00a0<\/strong>said. “Broden commands opponents’ respect and launches counter-attacks powered by his hockey IQ , skating ability and skill set. Broden fits the organization perfectly, and we are thrilled by his unwavering commitment. Otters fans will unquestionably be captivated by his relentless play, backed by an elite skill set. The organization thrives on days like this and I am unequivocally pleased to add a player of Broden’s caliber.”<\/p>\n

Otters Director of Hockey Operations\u00a0Scott Grieve\u00a0<\/strong>spoke on McArthur joining the club and what he brings to the Flagship City.<\/p>\n

“We are extremely excited to be welcoming Broden and the McArthur family to the Otters,”\u00a0Grieve\u00a0<\/strong>said. “Broden is a very highly regarded defenseman in his age group, and is a player we have had significant interest in dating back to his OHL draft season. Broden is a two-way puck-moving defenseman who can contribute offensively. We are thrilled he and his family have chosen to continue his development both on and off the ice in Erie. We cannot wait to see Broden in an Otters uniform for the 2026\/27 season.”<\/p>\n

The Erie Otters are thrilled to welcome Broden McArthur to the Flagship City and look forward to seeing what he will bring the organization in the fall.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
About the Erie Otters:<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
The Erie Otters are an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, the Otters have a rich history of excellence both on and off the ice. The team is committed to creating memorable experiences for its fans and contributing to the growth and well-being of the Erie community.<\/i><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For further information on the Erie Otters and for media inquiries, please contact Trevor Kubeja at\u00a0<\/i>trevorkubeja@ottershockey.com<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Stay Informed:<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
Keep up-to-date with the latest Erie Otters news by visiting OttersHockey.com, or follow along on social media with the Otters\u00a0<\/i>Facebook<\/i><\/a>,\u00a0<\/i>Twitter<\/i><\/a>, or\u00a0<\/i>Instagram<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
###<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0It has been a very busy offseason already in the Flagship City and the Otters have made another move to solidify their blue line. General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0and Director of Hockey Operations\u00a0Scott Grieve\u00a0announced today that defenseman\u00a0Broden McArthur\u00a0has been signed to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. McArthur, a native of San Antonio, was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":569,"featured_media":41721,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[367],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-41722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-367","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2026\/06\/23093505\/26_Signing_McArthur.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/569"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41722"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41722\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":41726,"date":"2026-06-25T13:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T17:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/?p=41726"},"modified":"2026-06-25T11:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T15:58:11","slug":"otters-in-the-show-a-look-back-at-the-year-that-was-for-erie-alumni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/article\/otters-in-the-show-a-look-back-at-the-year-that-was-for-erie-alumni","title":{"rendered":"Otters in the Show: A Look Back at the Year that was for Erie Alumni"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]With the NHL Entry Draft taking place this weekend in Buffalo and the next crop of elite talent ready to hear their names called as they embark on the next step in their hockey journey, it’s a fitting time to take a look back at what was an incredibly successful season for Otters’ alumni in the National Hockey League.<\/p>\n

From familiar faces in new places, to stellar award winning seasons, it was truly a fantastic season for players with a connection to the Flagship City. The Otters pride themselves on development and are one of the top organizations in the hockey world when it comes to producing top NHL talent and these names have become synonymous with success at the highest level.<\/p>\n

Matthew Schaefer – Calder Trophy Winner<\/h1>\n

What an unbelievable season it was for former Otters number one overall pick\u00a0Matthew Schaefer<\/strong>. From being selected number one overall by the New York Islanders in June to making the roster as an 18-year-old defenseman, to having one of the best seasons ever by a blueliner that young, the story of the Stoney Creek, ON native is truly a special one.<\/p>\n

Schaefer played in 73 total games in Erie, tallying 39 points (10G+29A) in a shortened OHL career, but his impact stretched far beyond his play on the ice. Number 48 was a pillar in the Erie community and was always at the forefront of the headlines.<\/p>\n

In the NHL, it’s been no different for the youngster, playing in all 82 games for the Islanders, picking up 59 points (23G+36A), leading the way for all defensemen with the club and playing nearly 25 minutes a night. One of the best seasons ever by an 18-year-old defenseman in the NHL.<\/p>\n

This dynamic season earned Schaefer the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year, the first Otters’ alumnus to win the award.<\/p>\n

Closer to home, Schaefer was the Otters’ guest of honor at the 2026 OHL Priority Selection in Kingston, where he took to the stage to announce\u00a0Colin Kennedy\u00a0<\/strong>as the second overall pick, sticking around the entire night meeting and greeting with fans and reminiscing on all of his good times in Erie.<\/p>\n

Schaefer is not the only former Otter playing pro on Long Island as he spent this season alongside another former Erie blueliner in\u00a0Adam Pelech<\/strong>, who has gone onto quite the NHL career for himself.<\/p>\n

A remarkable story of perseverance, the narrative of Matthew Schaefer is just beginning as he looks forward to a lengthy and successful career in the National Hockey League.<\/p>\n

Connor McDavid – Ted Lindsay Award Winner<\/h1>\n

Perhaps no former Otter has had the impact on the National Hockey League than\u00a0Connor McDavid<\/strong>. The former number one overall pick by both Erie at age 15 and the Edmonton Oilers has cemented himself as one of the top players in the NHL and is coming off of another season where he has added another piece of silverware to his trophy cabinet.<\/p>\n

The Newmarket, ON native is coming off of yet another other-worldly season where he posted 138 points (48G+90A), skating in all 82 games for the Oilers, leading the NHL in points. This outstanding campaign was enough to gain McDavid his fifth Ted Lindsay Award, given to the most outstanding player in the league as voted on by the NHL Players Association.<\/p>\n

McDavid is a dynamic talent who has transcended the sport and continues to dazzle with his amazing skating ability and skill night after night and the Erie Otters are thrilled to see what he has done year after year.<\/p>\n

Anthony Cirelli – Frank J. Selke Trophy Finalist<\/h1>\n

The hero of the 2017 OHL Championship, Tampa Bay Lightning forward\u00a0Anthony Cirelli<\/strong>, is coming off yet another strong season in western Florida.<\/p>\n

Cirelli posted 52 points (23G+29A) in 71 games for the Lightning, helping to lead his team to yet another postseason berth.<\/p>\n

The scoresheet is not always where the Etobicoke, ON native shines the brightest however as his nearly 50% faceoff percentage and career-high +38 was enough to earn him a spot as a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, given to the league’s best defensive forward. Though the award was given to OHL alumnus and Montreal Canadiens captain\u00a0Nick Suzuki<\/strong>, Cirelli’s defensive excellence is not to go unrecognized as he continues to provide stability for the Lightning up-front.<\/p>\n

Cirelli plays in Tampa alongside fellow Otters alumnus\u00a0Erik Cernak<\/strong>, who is coming off of another strong season on the Lightning’s back-end, with the defensive efforts of the pair of them helping to contribute to their goaltender\u00a0Andrei Vasilevskiy\u00a0<\/strong>winning his second Vezina Trophy as the league’s top netminder.<\/p>\n

Darren Raddysh – Headed Home<\/h1>\n

Former Otter and 2017 OHL Champion\u00a0Darren Raddysh\u00a0<\/strong>had a career year in Tampa and it has netted him a nice deal as he returns home to suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2026-27 NHL season.<\/p>\n

Thrust into a much bigger role in Tampa due to a litany of injuries on the blueline, Raddysh shined, playing in 72 games with the Lightning, collecting 70 points (22G+48A), nearly a point per game, the team’s leading point-getter from the backend. He was also the team’s time-on-ice leader skating nearly 23 minutes a night while posting a +21.<\/p>\n

This career year for the Toronto native earned him an 8-year deal with his hometown Maple Leafs where he will begin next season hoping to continue the magic and have another strong season.<\/p>\n

Jaime Drysdale – Postseason Hero<\/h1>\n

Another recent Otter making waves at the NHL level,\u00a0Jaime Drysdale <\/strong>was the only former Otter to make his way to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n

In his third season with the Philadelphia Flyers, the former number six overall pick in the NHL Draft skated in 78 games and collected 32 points (8G+24A) while playing over 21 minutes a night.<\/p>\n

Drysdale and the Flyers made it past the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the postseason before being knocked-out in round two by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes. In his first career playoff appearance, the Toronto native scored twice and provided two assists in 10 games.<\/p>\n

Drysdale continues to make a big impact across the state as he continues to develop into quite the NHL two-way defenseman.<\/p>\n

Other Notables<\/h1>\n

There are plenty of other notable Otters who had strong campaigns in the NHL in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

It was another electric season in the Motor City for\u00a0Alex Debrincat\u00a0<\/strong>as he comes off of his third 40-goal season in the NHL, posting 41 in all 82 games with the Detroit Red Wings, leading the way in scoring for his team with 85 points. A lethal scorer, this 2017 OHL champ has been fantastic since taking the NHL stage and looks to build off another big year in Motown.<\/p>\n

Ryan O’Reilly\u00a0<\/strong>is coming off yet another big year for the Nashville Predators. The model of consistency in the NHL, the forward collected 74 points (25G+49A), playing in all but one game in Smashville this season. This was good enough for second on the team in points just behind\u00a0Filip Forsberg<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Another elite center who can play in all three zones,\u00a0Dylan Strome\u00a0<\/strong>has had another strong year in our nation’s capital, posting 58 points (19G+39A) in 80 games with the Washington Capitals. Strome was effective in the faceoff dot, winning over 58% of his draws. This former number one overall pick by Erie and number three overall pick in the NHL continues his solid career to this point.<\/p>\n

Alongside these players on NHL rosters, the Otters also have a large group of alumni playing hockey professionally in the U.S. and beyond. They also have former players who have gone onto incredibly successful careers away from the rink. It is paramount to see the Otters are one of the top developmental organizations in the world and look to continue this legacy as they embark on their 30th season in the NHL.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]With the NHL Entry Draft taking place this weekend in Buffalo and the next crop of elite talent ready to hear their names called as they embark on the next step in their hockey journey, it’s a fitting time to take a look back at what was an incredibly successful season for Otters’ alumni…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":569,"featured_media":41728,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[367],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-41726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-367","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2026\/06\/25115630\/NHL-LOOK-BACK.png",8000,4500,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/569"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41726"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41726\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":41718,"date":"2026-06-18T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/?p=41718"},"modified":"2026-06-18T12:28:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T16:28:25","slug":"release-erie-otters-sign-forward-anton-gesink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/article\/release-erie-otters-sign-forward-anton-gesink","title":{"rendered":"RELEASE: Erie Otters Sign Forward Anton Gesink"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0<\/strong>The offseason is in full swing and the Otters have made another move to add depth to their forward group.<\/p>\n

General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0<\/strong>and Director of Hockey Operations\u00a0Scott Grieve\u00a0<\/strong>announced today the Otters have signed forward\u00a0Anton Gesink\u00a0<\/strong>to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.<\/p>\n

Gesink comes to Erie following an unbelievable season at Ridley College where he collected 60 points (24G+36A) in 57 games.<\/p>\n

The 6’2 native of Wilmette, IL is a right-shot forward who comes to Erie as a proven goal scorer at the prep hockey level and looks to add size and scoring to the Otters’ lineup.<\/p>\n

During his time with the Chicago Reapers U14AAA Program, Gesink was teammates with current Otter\u00a0Tyler Cooper<\/strong>, bringing a bit of familiarity to the Flagship City.<\/p>\n

Otters Director of Hockey Operations\u00a0Scott Grieve\u00a0<\/strong>spoke about the addition of Gesink and what he brings to the Otters organization.<\/p>\n

“We are very excited to be welcoming Anton to our organization,”\u00a0Grieve\u00a0<\/strong>said. “We have followed Anton throughout the year and believe his development curve over the last 12 months has been steep. He possesses a blend of size, skill and pace. We look forward to working with Anton to further his development both on and off the ice.”<\/p>\n

The Erie Otters are thrilled to welcome Anton Gesink to the Flagship City and look forward to seeing what the forward can bring to the club in the fall.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
About the Erie Otters:<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
The Erie Otters are an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, the Otters have a rich history of excellence both on and off the ice. The team is committed to creating memorable experiences for its fans and contributing to the growth and well-being of the Erie community.<\/i><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For further information on the Erie Otters and for media inquiries, please contact Trevor Kubeja at\u00a0<\/i>trevorkubeja@ottershockey.com<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Stay Informed:<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
Keep up-to-date with the latest Erie Otters news by visiting OttersHockey.com, or follow along on social media with the Otters\u00a0<\/i>Facebook<\/i><\/a>,\u00a0<\/i>Twitter<\/i><\/a>, or\u00a0<\/i>Instagram<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
###<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0The offseason is in full swing and the Otters have made another move to add depth to their forward group. General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0and Director of Hockey Operations\u00a0Scott Grieve\u00a0announced today the Otters have signed forward\u00a0Anton Gesink\u00a0to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Gesink comes to Erie following an unbelievable season at Ridley College…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":569,"featured_media":41719,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[367],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-41718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-367","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2026\/06\/18092409\/26_Signing_Gesink_16x9.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/569"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41718\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":41714,"date":"2026-06-17T13:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T17:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/?p=41714"},"modified":"2026-06-17T13:22:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T17:22:38","slug":"release-erie-otters-welcome-kyle-makaric-as-assistant-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/article\/release-erie-otters-welcome-kyle-makaric-as-assistant-coach","title":{"rendered":"RELEASE: Erie Otters Welcome Kyle Makaric as Assistant Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0<\/strong>There’s a new face behind the Otters bench, and it’s one with plenty of familiarity to the OHL.<\/p>\n

General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0<\/strong>and Head Coach\u00a0Kris Mallette\u00a0<\/strong>announced today the addition of\u00a0Kyle Makaric\u00a0<\/strong>to the Otters’ coaching staff as an Assistant Coach.<\/p>\n

The 37-year-old native of LaSalle, ON comes to Erie following last season where he was an Assistant Coach with the Saginaw Spirit.<\/p>\n

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the Erie Otters organization,” Makaric <\/strong>said. “After speaking with Dave, Kris, Jeremy, and Ken, it became clear why the organization is held in such high regard throughout the hockey community.<\/p>\n

I look forward to working alongside the players and staff each day, both on and off the ice, helping our athletes develop, compete, and achieve their goals. I am excited to get to work and contribute in any way I can to help our team achieve success.”<\/p>\n

Makaric brings an extensive list of experience with him to the Flagship City, including two CCHL Championships as Head Coach of the Ottawa Jr. Senators, including being named the Coach of the Year in the league in 2023. During his time in Ottawa, he led the Jr. Senators through a period of incredible success culminating in the pair of championships.<\/p>\n

Other stops along the way for the Otters’ new assistant include four years with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires AAA Program, multiple stints with the University of Windsor, the Chatham Maroons, and Leamington Flyers. He also coached with Canada East at the World Junior ‘A’ Championship and with BioSteel Sports Academy.<\/p>\n

General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0<\/strong>spoke with excitement about the arrival of Makaric and what he will bring to the organization.<\/p>\n

“Kyle represents a promising young mind in hockey with prior experience as a head coach at the Tier II level, where he was responsible for coaching and assembling elite teams,”\u00a0Brown\u00a0<\/strong>said. “The combination of Kyle’s understanding of the OHL and his background in USports made him highly appealing. Kyle exemplifies innovation and maintains an openness to novel ideas that motivate players to engage in learning and persist in their developmental journey with enthusiasm.”<\/p>\n

Otters’ Head Coach\u00a0Kris Mallette\u00a0<\/strong>spoke on the addition of Makaric to his staff and why he was the right pick for the group.<\/p>\n

“Kyle will bring a strong work ethic and hockey knowledge that will immediately strengthen our bench and maximize our players’ potential,”\u00a0Mallette\u00a0<\/strong>said. “We are excited to add another person who shares the same team-first culture mentality both on and off the ice. Kyle’s communication and overall skill set will be a valuable addition to our existing group.”<\/p>\n

Makaric will take charge of the Otters’ forwards and power play as he is set to begin his second season in the OHL and first with Erie.<\/p>\n

The Erie Otters are thrilled to welcome Kyle Makaric to the Flagship City and are looking forward to seeing what he will bring the organization in the fall.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
About the Erie Otters:<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
The Erie Otters are an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, the Otters have a rich history of excellence both on and off the ice. The team is committed to creating memorable experiences for its fans and contributing to the growth and well-being of the Erie community.<\/i><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For further information on the Erie Otters and for media inquiries, please contact Trevor Kubeja at\u00a0<\/i>trevorkubeja@ottershockey.com<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Stay Informed:<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
Keep up-to-date with the latest Erie Otters news by visiting OttersHockey.com, or follow along on social media with the Otters\u00a0<\/i>Facebook<\/i><\/a>,\u00a0<\/i>Twitter<\/i><\/a>, or\u00a0<\/i>Instagram<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
###<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0There’s a new face behind the Otters bench, and it’s one with plenty of familiarity to the OHL. General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0and Head Coach\u00a0Kris Mallette\u00a0announced today the addition of\u00a0Kyle Makaric\u00a0to the Otters’ coaching staff as an Assistant Coach. The 37-year-old native of LaSalle, ON comes to Erie following last season where he was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":569,"featured_media":41715,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[367],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-41714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-367","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2026\/06\/17101956\/26_Welcome_Makaric.png",1080,1350,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/569"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41714"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41714\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":41716,"date":"2026-06-17T10:45:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T14:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/?p=41716"},"modified":"2026-06-17T10:32:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T14:32:31","slug":"release-erie-otters-acquire-three-picks-in-swap-with-storm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/article\/release-erie-otters-acquire-three-picks-in-swap-with-storm","title":{"rendered":"RELEASE: Erie Otters Acquire Three Picks in Swap with Storm"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0<\/strong>With the OHL Priority Selection in the books, the window has been re-opened for deals to be made between clubs in the OHL.<\/p>\n

The Erie Otters struck a deal today involving picks for the upcoming CHL Import Draft.<\/p>\n

General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0<\/strong>announced today the Otters have acquired the #19 overall pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft alongside Brantford’s second round Priority Selection pick in 2027 and Flint’s fifth round Priority Selection pick in 2028 from the Guelph Storm in exchange for the #4 overall pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft.<\/p>\n

With this move, the Otters continue to build an impressive draft catalogue with eyes toward an exciting future.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
About the Erie Otters:<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
The Erie Otters are an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, the Otters have a rich history of excellence both on and off the ice. The team is committed to creating memorable experiences for its fans and contributing to the growth and well-being of the Erie community.<\/i><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For further information on the Erie Otters and for media inquiries, please contact Trevor Kubeja at\u00a0<\/i>trevorkubeja@ottershockey.com<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Stay Informed:<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
Keep up-to-date with the latest Erie Otters news by visiting OttersHockey.com, or follow along on social media with the Otters\u00a0<\/i>Facebook<\/i><\/a>,\u00a0<\/i>Twitter<\/i><\/a>, or\u00a0<\/i>Instagram<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
###<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Erie, Pennsylvania —\u00a0With the OHL Priority Selection in the books, the window has been re-opened for deals to be made between clubs in the OHL. The Erie Otters struck a deal today involving picks for the upcoming CHL Import Draft. General Manager\u00a0Dave Brown\u00a0announced today the Otters have acquired the #19 overall pick in the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":569,"featured_media":41717,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[367],"tags":false,"class_list":["post-41716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-367","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2026\/06\/17103154\/26_Trade_16x9.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/569"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41716"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41716\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":41663,"date":"2026-06-16T14:00:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T18:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/?p=41663"},"modified":"2026-06-16T11:46:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T15:46:20","slug":"erie-otters-release-2026-27-regular-season-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/ohl-otters\/article\/erie-otters-release-2026-27-regular-season-schedule","title":{"rendered":"Erie Otters Release 2026-27 Regular Season Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Erie, Pennsylvania — <\/strong>On Tuesday afternoon, the Ontario Hockey League unveiled the full 2026-27 season schedule for all 20 member teams, as the Erie Otters look ahead to another highly anticipated season.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It’s a landmark year as the Erie Otters celebrate their 30th season in team-history which presents a well-balanced schedule of home game dates, allowing for fans to maximize their time at the EIA throughout the entire seven-month season. While sticking with traditions like the School Day game and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, and the third-straight season featuring a game on Thanksgiving Eve.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The 2026-27 edition of the Erie Otters starts with plenty of excitement with returning players like\u00a0Michael Dec\u00a0<\/strong>and Captain Tristen Trevino<\/strong> alongside exciting young players like 2025 picks Jake Murray <\/strong>and Tyler Cooper<\/strong>. Also top NHL prospect Lucas Ambrosio <\/strong>will be back in the navy and gold for the Otters’ 30th season.\u00a0Under the tutelage of head coach Kris Mallette<\/b>, who will begin his second full season with the Otters as the club looks to make its return to the OHL postseason.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The countdown officially begins to the 2026-27 season for the Erie Otters, with 94 days separating today and the season opener on September 18 as the Otters visit the Guelph Storm and the Sleeman Centre, the home of the 2027 Memorial Cup. Erie will hit the road for a home-and-home against the Kitchener Rangers on September 25 before heading home for the Home Opener (pres. by Rebich Investments) to conclude the weekend against the reigning Memorial Cup Champions, extending Erie’s new tradition of September home openers. Another new tradition fans will notice this season is a new Saturday start time of 6 P.M., allowing for everyone to maximize their time downtown and at the rink.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
October starts with the Eastern Swing as the Otters take on thePeterborough Petes at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on October 1, the Ottawa 67’s at TD Place on October 3 and the Kingston Frontenacs at Slush Puppie Place on October 4. Erie will then make their first trip to Canada Life Place in London on October 9 before returning home to take on the Ottawa 67’s on Saturday October 10 and the Barrie Colts on Sunday October 11 to conclude the first three-in-three weekend of the season. The Otters will stay home the following weekend with the Soo Greyhounds making their lone visit to town on Friday October 16 and the London Knights visiting for the first time on Saturday October 17. As announced Wednesday, OHL Rivalry Week will see the Otters battle their geographic rivals, the Niagara IceDogs in a home-and-home Friday October 23 in St. Catharines and Saturday October 24 in Erie. The weekend will wrap-up with the Otters making a Sunday trip to Brampton on October 25. Erie will then head west for a pair of games in Windsor (29th) and Sarnia (30th) concluding the month. October is the team’s busiest month of the season with 13 games. No shortage of highly-anticipated opponents in the spookiest month of the year!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
November begins with the Otters staying out west and heading to Sault Ste. Marie for the one and only time to take on the Greyhounds on November 4. The way home will see a duo of stops in Michigan with a battle with the Firebirds (6th) and Spirit (7th). Erie returns home following this trip with a mid-week clash with the Kitchener Rangers at home on Thursday November 12. Another home-and-home with the IceDogs is to follow as Erie will host their geographic rivals on Saturday November 14 before heading to the Meridian Centre for a Sunday afternoon tilt on November 15. Erie begins a three-game homestand the following weekend with the Saginaw Spirit coming to town on Friday November 20, Keenan Reynolds and the Owen Sound Attack make their first of three visits to the Flagship City on Saturday November 21 and the annual Thanksgiving Eve game on Wednesday November 25 against the rival London Knights. Erie then hits the road, going to Guelph on Black Friday (27th) before returning home on Saturday November 28 to take on the Windsor Spitfires concluding the month.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
While the Otters will be home for Christmas, the team will be on the road for the first three games of the final month of 2026. While not quite the North Pole, the northern swing begins the last month of the year with Thursday December 3’s game at North Bay, a visit to Sudbury (4th) and Oshawa (6th) to conclude the trip. Erie then returns for a four-game homestand heading into the holiday break with games against the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday December 12, the London Knights on Sunday December 13, the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday December 18 and the final game before the break taking place on Saturday December 19 against the Sarnia Sting. After the stockings are taken down and ol’ Saint Nick has returned to the North Pole, Erie will push toward 2026 with a pair of games against the Brantford Bulldogs on the road (29th) and at home for the annual New Years’ Eve clash on Thursday December 31.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Happy New Year! The 2026 portion of the season begins with the annual back-to-back weekend in Owen Sound on January 2 and 3. Erie then heads home for a mid-week home battle with the Brampton Steelheads on Wednesday January 6 before heading to Kitchener (8th) and back home on Saturday January 9 to take on the Niagara IceDogs. Erie stays home the following weekend with visits from the Flint Firebirds on Friday January 15 and the Oshawa Generals on Saturday January 16. Then it’s off to London for a Friday night battle in the Forest City against the Knights (22nd) and then the first home game of the season against the Guelph Storm on Saturday January 23. Erie then hits the road for a trio of games to conclude the month beginning at Brantford (27th) and then heading to Michigan for games against Flint (29th) and Saginaw (30th). The first month of 2026 sees plenty of weekend action against many highly-anticipated opponents.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The penultimate month of the regular season features the team’s most home games in a month with seven. A month full of home cooking for the Otters begins on the road as Erie heads to St. Catharines to take on the IceDogs (4th). Erie then returns home for four-straight beginning with the home back-to-back against Owen Sound on Saturday February 6th and 7th. The Otters will then host the Flint Firebirds on Friday February 12th and the Guelph Storm on Saturday February 13th. Erie then returns the favor by heading to the Sleeman Centre for a family day matinee with the Storm. After, it’s another three-in-three weekend beginning in London (19th) before the Otters head home on Saturday February 20 against the Peterborough Petes and Sunday February 21 against the Windsor Spitfires. Erie then hits the road for a pair of midweek games in Owen Sound (24th) and Barrie (25th) before they head back to the EIA to conclude the month against the Sarnia Sting on Saturday February 27.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The final month of the regular season begins with a quick trip to Kitchener to take on the Rangers. Erie then heads hope to wrap-up what is their final three-in-three of the season with games against the North Bay Battalion on Saturday March 6 and Sudbury Wolves on Sunday March 7. Erie stays home the following weekend with visits from the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday March 13 and Guelph Storm on Sunday March 14. The final week of the regular season begins with two midweek games in Sarnia (17th) and Windsor (18th). The regular season comes to an end on Saturday March 20 against the Brantford Bulldogs. From there, it’ll be determined if the Otters are in the playoffs, who their opponent will be, and when they’ll bring playoff hockey back to downtown Erie once again!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Director of Business Operations\/ Fan Experience\u00a0Darcie Chabola\u00a0<\/b>spoke with great regard on the excitement from a hockey and community standpoint for the team\u2019s 30th Season.<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWe’re hoping our fans are as excited as we are for the 26-27 season!,” Chabola\u00a0<\/b>said. “This schedule release is just the beginning of the fun. We’ve added some new, creative minds to the staff, mixed with some long-time veterans that have been working hard on the promo schedule to ensure all 34 home games are entertaining from the moment fans walk through the front doors until the last buzzer sounds. There won’t be a game on this schedule you’ll want to miss!”<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The full promotional schedule, including day-specific themes, theme nights, and giveaways will be released in the coming weeks by the organization.<\/div>\n
2026-27 SCHEDULE:<\/b><\/div>\n
September:<\/div>\n