Saginaw Spirit

Saginaw Spirit - Feed https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/ Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:30:14 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 Spirit GM Dave Drinkill named Director of Operations for Team Canada Red at U17 World Challenge https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/spirit-gm-dave-drinkill-named-director-of-operations-for-canada-red-at-u17-world-challenge Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:00:39 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/spirit-gm-dave-drinkill-named-director-of-operations-for-canada-red-at-u17-world-challenge Calgary, AB – Hockey Canada announced Thursday afternoon its coaching and support staffs for Canada’s national under-17 teams at the 2026 U17 World Challenge in Oakville, Ontario. Spirit General Manager Dave Drinkill will reprise his role of Director of Operations with Team Canada Red for a third consecutive year. “It’s very humbling to be able to join this group for a third season,” said Drinkill. “I’ve enjoyed seeing players get to pull on our country’s colors for the first time and grow together as a group. Winning gold last season was such a great experience and I’m honored to have the opportunity to do it again this year.” From Elmvale, Ontario, Drinkill has secured a medal in each of his previous appearances with Team Canada. He debuted with a silver in 2024 and captured gold last fall with a 6-3 victory over Canada White in Truro, Nova Scotia. Drinkill is set to begin his 12th season as general manager of the Saginaw Spirit. His tenure in Saginaw has led to three West Division titles (2019, 2020, 2024), two Western Conference Finals appearances (2019, 2024), and a Memorial Cup Championship in 2024. With four players selected directly from the Spirit roster at the 2026 NHL Draft (Nikita Klepov, Egor Barabanov, Brody Pepoy, Stepan Shurygin), Drinkill’s teams have now produced 28 NHL-drafted players. This includes five top-15 picks (Klepov, Michael Misa, Zayne Parekh, Pavel Mintyukov, Cole Perfetti) since 2020, the most by a Canadian Hockey League team in that span. Canada’s national under-17 development camp will take place July 17-21 at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville and will include practices and six games. Players will continue to be evaluated during the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) season ahead of the 2026 U17 World Challenge. The U17 World Challenge will be held Nov. 1-7 in Oakville.]]> Former Spirit captain Camaryn Baber signs with ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/former-spirit-captain-camaryn-baber-signs-with-echls-orlando-solar-bears Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:00:50 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/former-spirit-captain-camaryn-baber-signs-with-echls-orlando-solar-bears Orlando, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate to the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced Thursday that they have signed Saginaw Spirit alum Camaryn Baber to an ECHL Standard Player Contract for the 2026-27 season. Baber spent parts of five seasons with the Spirit, from 2017-18 to 2021-22. He recorded 26G-43A—69P in 145 regular season games and was named the team’s 21st captain on October 14th, 2021. Baber was originally selected by the Spirit in the 3rd round of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection. After his graduation from the OHL, Baber enrolled at the University of New Brunswick where he skated in 116 USPORTS games with 24G-28A—52P. He and the Reds would go on to three USports (AUS) Championships (2023, 2024, 2025) and two University Cup Championships (2023, 2024). Baber, fellow Spirit alum Brady Gilmour, and the 2023-2024 Reds put together a historic season, with a combined exhibition, regular and postseason record of 43-0. Their 2024 University Cup championship was the first instance in tournament history where a team did not allow a single goal, outscoring opponents 15-0. Baber’s signing with the Orlando Solar Bears is his first professional contract.]]> Trip to Newfoundland headlines 2026 Saginaw Spirit Preseason Schedule https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/trip-to-newfoundland-headlines-2026-saginaw-spirit-preseason-schedule Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:00:25 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/trip-to-newfoundland-headlines-2026-saginaw-spirit-preseason-schedule Saginaw, MI – As the Ontario Hockey League announced its 2026 preseason schedule on Tuesday afternoon, the Saginaw Spirit prepare for a unique slate of games in brand-new territory. In addition to four preseason games against OHL opponents, they will head to three cities in Newfoundland, Canada for a trio of games against the Newfoundland Regiment of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). 2026 Saginaw Spirit Preseason Schedule (7 games) Aug. 28 – at Newfoundland (QMJHL), 7:00pm NDT/5:30pm ET (Steele Community Centre, Gander, N.L.) Aug. 29 – at Newfoundland (QMJHL), 4:00pm NDT/2:30pm ET (Windsor Stadium, Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L.) Aug. 31 – at Newfoundland (QMJHL), 7:00pm NDT/5:30pm ET (Corner Brook Civic Centre, Corner Brook, N.L.) Sept. 5 – vs. Erie, 4:00pm ET (Kitchener Memorial Auditorium) Sept. 6 – vs. Oshawa, 6:00pm ET (Kitchener Memorial Auditorium) Sept. 7 – at Kitchener, 2:00pm ET (Elmira Community Centre) Sept. 13 – at Soo, 2:07pm ET (GFL Memorial Gardens) “Our organization is thrilled to bring our team to Newfoundland,” said Dave Drinkill, General Manager of the Saginaw Spirit. “This is a storied province with a deep passion for hockey, and the opportunity for our players and staff to experience it firsthand while getting quality preseason competition is something special. We’re grateful to the Regiment and to the host communities for the invitation and we’re looking forward to a tremendous series.” “On behalf of the entire Regiment organization, I want to thank the Ontario Hockey League and the Saginaw Spirit for making the trip to Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Glenn Stanford, President of the Newfoundland Regiment Hockey Club. “This series is a cross-island celebration of junior hockey, and we could not be more excited to welcome the Spirit to our province. Fans in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, and Corner Brook will have the chance to see Canadian Hockey League games in their own backyard and we know they’ll show our guests the warmest welcome.” This will be Saginaw’s first run-in with a team from the QMJHL since meeting the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the 2024 Memorial Cup. The Spirit also met the Moncton Wildcats in 2018 preseason action at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The Spirit are the first OHL club to travel to Newfoundland and Labrador for preseason action. Additional information on how to follow the Spirit through their preseason visit with the Newfoundland Regiment will be announced closer to the beginning of preseason play. The 2026-2027 regular season will begin for the Saginaw Spirit on Friday, September 18th with a visit to the Soo Greyhounds at 7:07pm. They host the Flint Firebirds on Saturday, September 19th at 7:05pm for their home opener.]]> Defenseman Gordei Khotkov signs Scholarship and Development Agreement in Saginaw https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/defenseman-gordei-khotkov-signs-scholarship-and-development-agreement-in-saginaw Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:00:13 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/defenseman-gordei-khotkov-signs-scholarship-and-development-agreement-in-saginaw Saginaw, MI – The Saginaw Spirit have signed Russian defenseman Gordei Khotkov (GOR-dee KAWT-kawv) to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, General Manager Dave Drinkill announced Tuesday morning. Khotkov was Saginaw’s first selection in the 2026 CHL Import Draft at 16th overall. “Khotkov is a player that came up on our radar a year ago,” said Drinkill. “We watched a lot of video on him and he was a big-time player of interest for us moving into the import draft. When the rules changed to allow us to draft 2010-born players, we were very excited at the chance to add him to our already impressive group. Gordei is a mobile, skilled, and smooth-skating defenseman who can contribute at both ends of the ice.” Khotkov is a left-shot defenseman from Yaroslavl, Russia standing at 6’5”, 210lbs. At 16 years old, he spent the 2025-2026 season playing at the U16 and U17 levels for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and CSKA Moskva. In 56 regular season and tournament games at both levels, Khotkov finished the season with 63 points (24G-39A). “We believe Gordei has the abilities and the mindset to be successful in our system. He is physically mature for his age as well, which will allow for an easier transition into matchups against older players. I believe that under Chris Lazary and our staff, Gordei has the potential to be a star in this league and beyond. We are extremely happy to sign Gordei today and look forward to working with him in August.” The young defenseman’s finest performance of the season came at the U16 Russia Cup with CSKA Moskva. He tallied 31 points (13G-18A) in 19 games and led all defenseman in tournament scoring. Khotkov also appeared internationally at the U16 level, with four assists in four games while representing Russia. Khotkov’s arrival in Saginaw is dependent on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approval.]]> Spirit select defenseman Gordei Khotkov, forward Dmitri Savin in 2026 CHL Import Draft https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/spirit-select-gordei-khotkov-dmitri-savin-in-2026-chl-import-draft Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:54:35 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/spirit-select-gordei-khotkov-dmitri-savin-in-2026-chl-import-draft Saginaw, MI – The Saginaw Spirit completed the 2026 CHL Import Draft on Tuesday, selecting defenseman Gordei Khotkov and forward Dmitri Savin from Russia. Round 1 | 16th overall | (D) Gordei Khotkov Khotkov (KAWT-kawv) is a left-shot defenseman standing at 6’5” 210lbs. The 16-year-old is from Yaroslavl, Russia, and spent the 2025-2026 season with the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and CSKA Moskva programs, playing at both the U16 and U17 level. His longest stretch of regular season games came with CSKA Moskva’s U17 team, with nine points (3G-6A) over a 12-game span and 27 PIM. Khotkov also dominated at the U16 Russia Cup with CSKA Moskva, registering 31 points (13G-18A) in 19 games as the tournament’s highest-scoring defenseman. He represented Russia internationally at the U16 level, recording four assists in four games. Across all levels and tournaments, Khotkov appeared in 56 games in 2025-2026, scoring 24G-39A—63P. Round 1 | 31st overall | (F) Dmitri Savin Savin (SAVV-in) is a left-shot forward from Novosibirsk, Russia. He stands at 6’2” 190lbs and played with CSKA Moskva’s U17 and U18 teams in the 2025-2026 regular season. Savin also played a game with Kransnaya Armiya Moskva of the Russian junior league. With CSKA’s U17 program, the 2009-born Savin led the team with 29 goals and 59 points across 32 games. His 30 assists were good for second on the team. His points-per-game increased with the U18’s as he posted 24G-19A—43P in just 19 games. Savin participated in both the U17 (7G-5A—12P, 7GP) and U18 (6G-6A—12P, 8GP) Finals series with CSKA. He was tied for third in team scoring with the Gold Star Hockey U18s at the Andrews International Showcase (3G-7A—10P). Two of Saginaw’s picks from last summer’s 2025 CHL Import Draft just heard their names called in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft. Forward Nikita Klepov was drafted 15th overall by the Anaheim Ducks after a record-setting rookie season with the Spirit. Goaltender Stepan Shurygin was a 6th round pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning after a season with the most games played of any OHL goaltender. For the second straight year, the CHL Import Draft consisted of three rounds as the CHL enters its second season with three import player spots available on each club’s roster. As a reminder, new rules are in effect for this year’s draft: 20-year-old import players are eligible to be selected in any round, while 16-year-old import players may only be selected in the first round. CHL clubs may carry a maximum of one 16-year-old import player per season. That player cannot be traded or replaced by another import player during his 16-year-old season. If a 16-year-old import player is released to another level of hockey during the regular season or deleted from a club’s roster, that club will be limited to two import players for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.]]> Six Spirit players receive NHL Development Camp invites https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/six-spirit-players-receive-nhl-development-camp-invites Mon, 29 Jun 2026 21:11:21 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/six-spirit-players-receive-nhl-development-camp-invites (F) Egor Barabanov, Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames will be hosting their annual development camp for 25 prospects beginning on-ice Wednesday, July 1st at WinSport starting at 8:15am MT. The purpose of the camp is to enhance each player’s development process through direction on conditioning and familiarity with the Flames organization. Please note times/schedules are subject to change.

On-Ice Schedule

Date	Time	Location
Wednesday, July 1	GOALIE GROUP A 8:15am On-Ice Evaluation 10:00am Off-Ice Workout GROUP 1 & 2 9:30am On-Ice Evaluation 11:45am Off-Ice Workout GOALIE GROUP B 10:00am Off-Ice Workout 11:30am On-Ice Evaluation	WinSport
Thursday, July 2	GOALIE GROUP A 8:15am On-Ice Evaluation 10:00am Off-Ice Workout GROUP 1 & 2 9:30am On-Ice Evaluation 11:45am Off-Ice Workout GOALIE GROUP B 10:00am Off-Ice Workout 11:30am On-Ice Evaluation	WinSport
Friday, July 3	3 ON 3 SNOWY CUP 10:00am - 11:45am	WinSport

Full Release

(F) Jacob Cloutier, Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets announced today the roster and groups for their 2026 Development Camp that runs from Monday, June 29 to Friday, July 3 at hockey for all centre. Link: Winnipeg Jets 2026 Development Camp roster and groups

Monday, June 29 is dedicated to off-ice testing, but there will be a media availability at 12:00 p.m. Practice sessions begin Tuesday, June 30 at 9:30 a.m. All practices are open to the public.

Winnipeg Jets 2026 Development Camp Schedule (all on-ice sessions open to public)

Date	Session - Time (Arena)	Session - Time (Arena)
Tues, June 30	Goalies - 9:30 a.m. (WMGT)	Skaters - 10:00 a.m. (WMGT/PCL)
Wed, July 1	Goalies - 10:00 a.m. (PCL	Skaters Testing - 9:30 a.m. (All arenas)
Thur, July 2	Team A Practice - 10:00 a.m. (WMGT)	Team B Practice - 11:00 a.m. (PCL)
Fri, July 3	Scrimmage - 9:30 a.m. (PCL/WMGT)

Full Release

(F) Nikita Klepov, Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks today announced the club's annual prospect Development Camp will take place Monday, June 29 through Wednesday, July 1 at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena in Irvine, Calif. Anaheim’s 2026 Development Camp roster will feature 29 players (17 forwards, 9 defensemen and three goaltenders). The roster features three first-round picks, including 2026 selections Nikita Klepov (15th overall) and MarcusNordmark (28th overall), and 10th overall pick in 2025 Roger McQueen. Monday, June 29 Group 1 off-ice: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Group 2 off-ice: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Group 2 on-ice: 12:15 - 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 30 Group 1 off-ice: 8 - 10 a.m. Group 1 on-ice: 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. Group 2 off-ice: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Wednesday, July 1 Groups 1 & 2 off-ice: 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. Full Release

(G) Brady Knowling, San Jose Sharks

The Sharks will host their annual Sharks Prospect Scrimmage at Tech CU Arena on Thursday, July 2 starting at 11:00 a.m. This is the first chance to see several high-level prospects in the Sharks system compete against one another, including some of the Sharks' top selections from the 2026 NHL Draft. For the full roster, please click here. Tuesday, June 30 9:15-10:15 a.m. PT Sharks Rink (Team Thornton) 10:30-11:30 a.m. PT Sharks Rink (Team Marleau) Wednesday, July 1 9:15-10:15 a.m. PT Sharks Rink (Team Marleau) 10:30-11:30 a.m. PT Sharks Rink (Team Thornton) Thursday, July 2 11:00 a.m. PT Scrimmage at Tech CU Arena Full Release

(F) Brody Pepoy, Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today the roster for the club's 2026 Development Camp. Players will undergo medicals on Wednesday, July 1, while the first full-team on-ice session and media availability will take place on Thursday, July 2, at Ford Performance Centre. A total of 53 players (29 forwards, 18 defencemen, six goaltenders) are slated to take part in this year’s development camp. Attending this year’s camp will be 23 Maple Leaf draft picks, including all 10 of Toronto’s selections from the 2026 NHL Draft. They Include forwards Gavin McKenna, Zach Olsen, Cooper Williams and Brody Pepoy; defencemen Alexander Bilecki, Ethan MacKenzie, Måns Gudmunssson and Yaroslav Fedoseyev; and goaltenders Juuso Ainasto and Patriks Plumins. Full Release

(G) Stepan Shurygin, Tampa Bay Lightning (Invited, unable to attend)

The Tampa Bay Lightning today announced the preliminary roster and schedule for the team’s 2026 Development Camp, presented by Florida Blue. On-ice workouts begin with on-ice testing on Monday, June 29 and will conclude with the annual 3-on-3 tournament on Thursday and Friday. Tournament games will be streamed LIVE on the Lightning App and air on The Spot Tampa Bay 66, the television home of the Bolts. Tampa Bay’s Development Camp will showcase its top prospects, along with recent NHL draftees, invitees and additional participants. All 3-on-3 tournament games on Thursday and Friday will be streamed LIVE on the Lightning App and on The Spot Tampa Bay 66. The broadcast will feature the Lightning broadcast team with Dave Randorf and Brian Engblom calling the action, while reporter Gabby Shirley will be at ice level. Full Release]]> Barabanov, Knowling, Pepoy, Shurygin selected on Day 2 of 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/barabanov-knowling-pepoy-shurygin-selected-on-day-2-of-2026-upper-deck-nhl-draft Sat, 27 Jun 2026 20:38:34 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/barabanov-knowling-pepoy-shurygin-selected-on-day-2-of-2026-upper-deck-nhl-draft Buffalo, NY – On the second day of the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft, four Spirit players heard their names called. Forwards Egor Barabanov and Brody Pepoy, along with goaltenders Brady Knowling and Stepan Shurygin, were selected by NHL clubs. Calgary Flames: 4th Round, 100th overall - (F) Egor Barabanov The OHL’s second-leading assist man was Saginaw’s first player off the board on day two of the 2026 NHL Draft. Barabanov finished the season with 28G-63A—91P, good for fourth in league scoring. He is the fourth Spirit player to be selected by the Calgary Flames, following Zayne Parekh (2024), Ilya Solovyov (2020) and T.J. Brodie (2008). Barabanov represented the Spirit at the 2026 Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game, and was twice named the OHL’s Player of the Week. He recorded a personal-best six-point game in Sarnia on February 13th. San Jose Sharks: 4th Round, 127th overall - (G) Brady Knowling Knowling has spent the last two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. Last season, he posted a 15-13-3-1 record, 3.51 GAA and .883 SV% with the NTDP’s U-18 team. He also appeared in a game with the U-17 squad, with a 2.01 GAA and .946 SV%. He signed an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement in Saginaw earlier this month. “I’m speechless right now,” said Knowling. “To actually hear your name called, it’s pretty special. There’s a lot of emotion right now, but having a smile on my face is all I care about. To know that [my family] is here and to share that moment with them and know they’ll remember it for the rest of their lives just like I am, it’s pretty special.” Last summer, Knowling led Team USA’s U-18 team to a Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal with four wins, a 2.35 GAA and .914 SV%. He joined the Americans for the IIHF World Junior Championship in January of 2026 as well. Toronto Maple Leafs: 6th Round, 169th overall - (F) Brody Pepoy Brody Pepoy was a free agent signing by the Spirit out of their 2025 training camp. He finished his rookie season with 29 points (16G-13A) in 67 games. His best stretch of games this season came in late November and early December, with a ten-point run (6G-4A) in ten games. He scored his first career hat trick on February 13th in Sarnia. Pepoy is the second player to be drafted from Saginaw by the Maple Leafs, following Keaton Middleton in the 4th round, 101st overall in 2016. Tampa Bay Lightning: 6th Round, 186th overall - (G) Stepan Shurygin Goaltender Stepan Shurygin rounded out Saginaw’s selections at the 2026 NHL Draft. The 6’5” Russian netminder led the OHL with 59 appearances in 2025-2026, which was the fourth-most by a Spirit goaltender in a single season. He claimed 24 victories with a 3.79 GAA and .888 SV%. Shurygin also represented Team West at the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game. Shurygin is the second player to be selected from Saginaw by the Tampa Bay Lightning, following Mitchell Stephens in the second round, 33rd overall in 2015.]]> Nikita Klepov drafted 15th overall by Anaheim Ducks at 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/nikita-klepov-drafted-15th-overall-by-anaheim-ducks-at-2026-upper-deck-nhl-draft Sat, 27 Jun 2026 02:12:07 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/nikita-klepov-drafted-15th-overall-by-anaheim-ducks-at-2026-upper-deck-nhl-draft Buffalo, NY - Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Klepov was selected 15th overall by the Anaheim Ducks at the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft at KeyBank Center on Friday night. His selection comes as the crowning achievement in a storied U18 season, raking in OHL awards, winning an international gold medal and setting milestones with the Spirit. “I couldn’t be happier, it’s perfect,” said Klepov. “I had everything I could have asked for this year, with the trust I got in the system, it was a special year.” The Deerfield Beach, FL native led the OHL in scoring with 97 points (37G-60A), securing the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy. He did so as a rookie, becoming the first player since Patrick Kane in 2007 to achieve such a feat. Klepov was also named the Emms Family Award winner as the league’s top first-year player. He is just the third player in OHL history to win both the Eddie Powers Trophy and Emms Family Award in the same season, after Kane and Jack Valiquette of the 1973-74 Soo Greyhounds. Klepov’s selection by Anaheim marks a run of three consecutive first-round picks at the NHL Draft by Spirit players. He follows Michael Misa (2nd overall, San Jose, 2025) and Zayne Parekh (9th overall, Calgary, 2024). The Spirit have now seen six players selected from their roster in the first round of the NHL Draft (Pavel Mintyukov – 10th overall, Anaheim, 2022… Cole Perfetti - 10th overall, Winnipeg, 2020… Matthew Corrente – 30th overall, New Jersey, 2006). In addition to the Eddie Powers Trophy and Emms Family Award, Klepov won the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the league’s top-scoring right winger. He was a finalist for the Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s most outstanding player. The OHL named Klepov to its First All-Star Team and its First All-Rookie Team. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) placed Klepov on its Second All-Star Team and its Rookie Team. Klepov is the second player to be drafted by Anaheim from the Saginaw Spirit, joining defenseman Pavel Mintyukov in 2022. By March of this season, Klepov had begun to rewrite the Spirit record book. His 97 points and 60 assists each became records by a rookie in Saginaw. The 37 goals he scored tied Cole Perfetti’s rookie record, established in 2018-2019. In addition to setting or matching rookie records in Saginaw, Klepov led his rookie OHL class in goals, assists, and points. Klepov won gold with Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, registering 1G-5A—6P in six tournament games. He also appeared in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge and the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game, where he was named Team West’s Player of the Game. Klepov was the eighth-ranked North American Skater on NHL Central Scouting’s final list. He was the third player selected out of the Ontario Hockey League at the 2026 NHL Draft.]]> Nikita Klepov, Levi Harper named to 2025-26 CHL All-Star and All-Rookie Teams https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/nikita-klepov-levi-harper-named-to-2025-26-chl-all-star-and-all-rookie-teams Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:14:07 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/nikita-klepov-levi-harper-named-to-2025-26-chl-all-star-and-all-rookie-teams The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today announced its First, Second, and Third All-Star Teams for the 2025-26 season, along with its All-Rookie Team. Media members who regularly cover the CHL and the Member Leagues — the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) — participated in the voting process to determine this year’s CHL All-Star and All-Rookie teams. Ballots were cast based on regular-season performances, with voters selecting the top players from across the CHL’s three leagues to recognize outstanding individual achievements.

CHL First All-Star Team

Goaltender – Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s / OHL): 29-9-2-1 record, 2.07 GAA, .923 SV% & 6 SO in 41 GP during the 2025-26 season; signed by Ottawa as an undrafted free agent last summer, Fetterolf quickly emerged as one of the CHL’s top goaltenders during a historic rookie campaign with the 67’s. The 18-year-old from Sewickley, Pa., led the CHL in both goals-against average and save percentage, while his six shutouts set a new OHL record for the most by a rookie goaltender in a single season. An eligible prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, Fetterolf is ranked No. 11 among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings. Named the CHL Goaltender of the Year, Fetterolf became the first Ottawa 67’s player to receive the honour and just the second rookie or first-year CHL goaltender to capture the award, joining Martin Biron of the Beauport Harfangs in 1994-95. Defenceman – Bryce Pickford (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 45G-38A, 83 PTS, +55 in 55 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Montreal Canadiens prospect authored one of the greatest goal-scoring seasons by a defenceman in modern CHL history, scoring 45 goals — the highest single-season total by a CHL blueliner in the 21st century and the most since Greg Hawgood’s 48-goal campaign in 1987-88. The 20-year-old captain from Chauvin, Alta., was the only defenceman to finish among the CHL’s top 10 goal scorers, while his 19 power-play goals and 11 game-winning goals both ranked among the league leaders. Named CHL Defenceman of the Year, Pickford became the second Medicine Hat Tigers player to win the award, joining Kris Russell in 2006-07. Defenceman – Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts / OHL): 28G-42A, 70 PTS, +46 in 56 GP during the 2025-26 season; Aitcheson put together a record-setting season in Barrie, leading all OHL defencemen with 70 points while establishing a new Colts franchise record for goals by a defenceman with 28. The New York Islanders prospect and Toronto, Ont., native also finished among the OHL leaders with a +46 rating and six game-winning goals, while his 15 power-play goals led all OHL blueliners. Named the OHL’s Defenceman of the Year, Aitcheson closed out his Colts career as the franchise’s all-time leader in both goals (63) and points (171) by a defenceman. Forward – Sam O’Reilly (Kitchener Rangers / OHL): 29G-42A, 71 PTS, +20 in 56 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect was named the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player after making an immediate impact with the Kitchener Rangers following a mid-season move from the London Knights. The 20-year-old from Toronto recorded 43 points and a +31 rating in 28 games with Kitchener, helping the Rangers finish atop the Western Conference standings for the first time since 2008. O’Reilly also won 58 per cent of his faceoffs and was recognized in the OHL Coaches Poll as the Western Conference’s smartest player, best faceoff man, and best defensive forward. He carried that form into the spring, earning both OHL Playoff MVP and Memorial Cup MVP honours while leading Kitchener to a Memorial Cup title. With that sweep, he became just the fourth player in CHL history to win regular-season, playoff, and Memorial Cup MVP honours in the same season, joining Brad Richards, Corey Perry, and Mitch Marner. The championship also marked his second straight Memorial Cup title after winning with London a year earlier, placing him among a rare group of players to win back-to-back Memorial Cups with different teams. Forward – Maxim Massé (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL): 51G-51A, 102 PTS, +62 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Anaheim Ducks prospect captured the CHL’s David Branch Player of the Year Award after being named the QMJHL’s Most Valuable Player and winning the first scoring title of his QMJHL career. The 20-year-old from Rimouski, Que., finished with 102 points, including 51 goals and 51 assists, to become one of only two CHL players to surpass both the 50-goal and 100-point marks in 2025-26. Massé also tied for the CHL lead in goals, ranked second in the QMJHL with a +62 rating and eight game-winning goals, and helped lead Chicoutimi to its first QMJHL Championship title in 32 years. With his CHL MVP honour, Massé became just the sixth player in CHL history to win both CHL Rookie of the Year and the CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award over his career, joining Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Alex DeBrincat, Alexis Lafrenière, and Gavin McKenna. Forward – Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 45G-59A, 104 PTS, +47 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; the 18-year-old from Osoyoos, B.C., finished second in scoring among all WHL and CHL skaters with 104 points in 68 games. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Liam is ranked 20th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings. His 45 goals were tied for second in the WHL, while his 59 assists ranked fifth across the league. One of only four CHL players to reach the 100-point mark in 2025-26, Ruck also tied for third in the CHL with 10 game-winning goals and helped Medicine Hat finish atop the Central Division. Originally selected ninth overall by the Tigers in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Ruck was also a member of Medicine Hat’s 2025 WHL Championship team a year ago.

CHL Second All-Star Team

Goaltender – Rudy Guimond (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL): 40-7-1-2 record, 2.27 GAA, .922 SV% & 3 SO in 50 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Detroit Red Wings prospect captured the QMJHL’s Patrick-Roy Trophy after a dominant season with the Moncton Wildcats. Guimond led all QMJHL goaltenders in wins, goals-against average, save percentage, and minutes played, while his 40 victories also led the CHL. The 20-year-old became the first CHL goaltender to reach the 40-win mark since Dustin Wolf in 2018-19 and just the sixth QMJHL netminder since 2000 to do so. Guimond helped guide Moncton to a second consecutive QMJHL regular-season championship and concluded his QMJHL career with a league-record 2.14 career goals-against average. Defenceman – Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds / OHL): 18G-30A, 48 PTS, +27 in 45 GP during the 2025-26 season; ranked No. 2 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Reid established himself as the highest-ranked current CHL skater in this year’s draft class. The 18-year-old from Chesterfield, Mich., averaged better than a point per game with the Soo Greyhounds and was one of just six first-year draft-eligible defencemen across the CHL to do so. A finalist for the OHL’s Defenceman of the Year Award, Reid was recognized in four categories in the OHL Coaches Poll, including as the Western Conference’s Best Offensive Defenceman. He was also named the CHL’s Top Draft Prospect for 2025-26, becoming the eighth defenceman to claim the award since it was first presented in 1991. Reid also marked the second straight OHL blueliner to receive the honour, following Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer, who won the award a year ago before capturing this year’s Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. Defenceman – Tommy Bleyl (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL): 13G-68A, 81 PTS, +58 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season; Bleyl delivered a historic rookie campaign from the blue line, setting a new QMJHL record for points by a rookie defenceman with 81 in 63 games. Ranked No. 17 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, he also led the entire QMJHL with 68 assists — the highest single-season total by a CHL rookie defenceman in the 21st century. Bleyl became only the second player in QMJHL history to win both the Émile-Bouchard Trophy as Defenceman of the Year and the Sidney-Crosby Trophy as Rookie of the Year in the same season, joining Dmitry Kulikov. After helping Moncton capture a second consecutive QMJHL regular-season title, he was also named the CHL Rookie of the Year, becoming just the fourth defenceman to win the award after Philippe Boucher, Bryan Berard, and Landon DuPont, as well as the first Wildcats player to receive the honour. Forward – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit / OHL): 37G-60A, 97 PTS, +9 in 67 GP during the 2025-26 season; ranked No. 8 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Klepov captured the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the OHL’s leading scorer and the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the league’s top-scoring right winger after finishing with 97 points in 67 games. The 17-year-old from Deerfield Beach, Fla., became the first rookie in his first two years of OHL eligibility to lead the league in scoring since Jack Valiquette in 1973-74 and the first rookie to lead any CHL Member League in scoring since Patrick Kane in 2006-07. Klepov’s 37 goals tied Cole Perfetti’s Saginaw Spirit rookie record, while his 60 assists and 97 points established new franchise rookie benchmarks. Forward – Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL): 21G-87A, 108 PTS, +45 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Ruck captured the Bob Clarke Trophy and the CHL Top Scorer Award after leading the WHL and the entire CHL with 108 points. Ranked No. 23 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old from Osoyoos, B.C., recorded a CHL-best 87 assists in 68 games, serving as one of the driving forces behind a Medicine Hat team that led the WHL in goals, owned the league’s top power play, and finished atop the Central Division. Ruck’s twin brother, Liam, finished second in both the WHL and CHL scoring races with 104 points, making Markus and Liam the first siblings in CHL history to finish first and second in league scoring in the same season. Forward – Tij Iginla (Kelowna Rockets / WHL): 41G-49A, 90 PTS, +47 in 48 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Utah Mammoth prospect returned from an injury-shortened 2024-25 campaign to produce at one of the highest rates in the CHL. The 19-year-old from Lake Country, B.C., led all WHL skaters and ranked second across the CHL with 1.88 points per game, finishing with 90 points in just 48 contests. Iginla established new career highs in both assists and points, while his 41 goals ranked tied for sixth among WHL skaters. He was also one of just five players across the CHL to top 40 goals and 40 assists in 2025-26. Selected sixth overall by Utah in the 2024 NHL Draft, Iginla has recorded 225 points in 184 career WHL regular-season games.

CHL Third All-Star Team

Goaltender – Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George Cougars / WHL): 32-13-0-0 record, 2.51 GAA, .919 SV% & 4 SO in 46 GP during the 2025-26 season; the San Jose Sharks prospect became the first Prince George Cougars goaltender to capture the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy and just the third netminder in franchise history to earn the honour. The 6-foot-6 netminder from North Vancouver, B.C., led the WHL in both wins (32) and save percentage (.919), tied for second in shutouts (4), and ranked fourth in goals-against average (2.51). Ravensbergen helped Prince George record a third consecutive 40-win season, while allowing two goals or fewer in 25 of his 46 appearances. Undrafted into the WHL, he owns 91 career regular-season wins across three seasons with the Cougars. Defenceman – Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips / WHL): 18G-55A, 73 PTS, +59 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season; one year after being named CHL Rookie of the Year, DuPont continued to build on his exceptional start in Everett. The 17-year-old from Calgary, Alta., established career highs across the board with 18 goals, 55 assists, 73 points, and a +59 rating in 63 games. Eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft, DuPont finished tied for fourth among all WHL defencemen in points, while his 55 assists were tied for second among league blueliners. The right-shot defenceman also added 28 power-play assists, the second-highest total among all WHL skaters. Defenceman – Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL): 28G-50A, 78 PTS, +32 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Rudolph posted one of the top offensive seasons by a WHL defenceman in his NHL Draft year, leading the Prince Albert Raiders in scoring while helping the club capture the East Division title. Ranked No. 5 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old from Lacombe, Alta., finished third among WHL defencemen in both goals and points, while his 28 goals tied a Raiders franchise record for goals by a defenceman, matching the mark set by Josh Morrissey in 2013-14. Originally selected first overall by Prince Albert in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Rudolph also represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and captained Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game. Forward – Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts / OHL): 33G-56A, 89 PTS, +40 in 54 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Barrie Colts co-captain was named the CHL Sportsman Player of the Year after delivering one of the OHL’s most complete seasons. The Utah Mammoth prospect led Barrie with 89 points in just 54 games while taking only 29 penalty minutes, and his 1.65 points-per-game average ranked second in the OHL. Beaudoin also finished tied for the OHL lead with 10 game-winning goals and won 55 per cent of his faceoffs. In the OHL Coaches Poll, the 20-year-old from Kanata, Ont., led all Eastern Conference players with four first-place finishes — hardest worker, best defensive forward, best on faceoffs, and best penalty killer. Forward – Nathan Aspinall (Flint Firebirds / OHL): 33G-61A, 94 PTS, +21 in 65 GP during the 2025-26 season; the Flint Firebirds captain helped lead his club to the best season in its 10-year history while setting a new franchise record with 61 assists. The 6-foot-7 winger from Markham, Ont., finished with 94 points, a 47-point improvement from the previous season, and placed fifth in the OHL with 250 shots on goal. A fifth-round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2024 NHL Draft, Aspinall also tied for the OHL lead with eight first goals and converted on four of six shootout attempts. His breakout campaign earned him OHL Player of the Month honours in November and recognition in both the hardest shot and best playmaker categories in the Western Conference portion of the OHL Coaches Poll. Forward – JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers / WHL): 42G-55A, 97 PTS, +13 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Hurlbert enjoyed one of the most productive rookie seasons in Kamloops Blazers history, recording 97 points to surpass Scottie Upshall’s previous franchise rookie benchmark of 87. Ranked No. 12 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2026 NHL Draft, the Allen, Texas product led all WHL rookies in scoring and tied Nikita Klepov for the most points by any CHL rookie in 2025-26. Hurlbert became just the third player in Blazers history to win the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year, joining Upshall and Ron Shudra. He also ranked among WHL leaders in points, goals, first goals, and assists while serving as an alternate captain in his first WHL season.

CHL All-Rookie Team

Goaltender – Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s / OHL): 29-9-2-1 record, 2.07 GAA, .923 SV% & 6 SO in 41 GP during the 2025-26 season; Fetterolf’s first CHL season produced one of the top rookie goaltending campaigns in recent CHL and OHL history. The 18-year-old from Sewickley, Pa., set an Ottawa 67’s franchise record with a 2.07 goals-against average, while his six shutouts established a new OHL rookie record. Fetterolf also shared the Dave Pinkney Trophy with Jaeden Nelson as the OHL’s lowest goals-against tandem and received the F.W. “Dinty” Moore Trophy as the rookie goaltender with the league’s lowest goals-against average. An eligible prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, Fetterolf is ranked No. 11 among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings. Defenceman – Tommy Bleyl (Moncton Wildcats / QMJHL): 13G-68A, 81 PTS, +58 in 63 GP during the 2025-26 season; Bleyl finished second among all QMJHL rookies with 81 points, setting a league record for points by a rookie defenceman. His 68 assists led the QMJHL regardless of position and represented the highest single-season total by a CHL rookie defenceman in the 21st century. Ranked 17th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Bleyl ended the season with three QMJHL trophies — the Sidney-Crosby Trophy, Émile-Bouchard Trophy, and Raymond-Lagacé Trophy — before being named CHL Rookie of the Year. Defenceman – Levi Harper (Saginaw Spirit / OHL): 12G-45A, 57 PTS, -3 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Harper made an immediate impact with Saginaw, setting a new Spirit record for points by a rookie defenceman. The 17-year-old from Tampa, Fla., recorded 57 points in 68 games while seeing significant minutes on the Spirit blue line. A 2027 NHL Draft prospect, Harper joined Saginaw after winning gold with the United States at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and later represented his country at the 2026 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship. He also earned the OHL’s Bobby Smith Trophy as Scholastic Player of the Year after posting a 93.2 per cent academic average and graduating a full year early. Forward – Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL): 29G-55A, 84 PTS, +33 in 67 GP during the 2025-26 season; Malhotra emerged as one of the OHL’s most productive rookies in his first season with the Brantford Bulldogs. The 6-foot-2 centre recorded 84 points in 67 games, setting a new franchise record for points by a Bulldogs rookie. Ranked sixth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Malhotra also scored eight game-winning goals, produced 30 power-play points, and was a finalist among the Eastern Conference’s top stickhandlers in the OHL Coaches Poll. His strong start included points in 11 of his first 12 games, highlighted by a five-point performance against Sudbury on September 27. Forward – JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers / WHL): 42G-55A, 97 PTS, +13 in 68 GP during the 2025-26 season; Hurlbert’s outstanding rookie season saw him become the highest-scoring first-year player in Kamloops Blazers history. The 6-foot forward led all WHL rookies and tied for the CHL rookie scoring lead with 97 points, while his 42 goals ranked tied for fourth among WHL skaters. The Allen, Texas, native became just the third rookie in Blazers history to score 40 goals in a season, joining Scottie Upshall and Rudolfs Balcers. He was also named to the WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team and finished as the No. 12-ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings. Forward – Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit / OHL): 37G-60A, 97 PTS, +9 in 67 GP during the 2025-26 season; Klepov became just the third player in OHL history to win both the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy and the Emms Family Award as Rookie of the Year in the same season, joining Jack Valiquette and Patrick Kane. The 17-year-old Saginaw Spirit forward led the OHL with 97 points and became the first rookie to lead any CHL Member League in scoring since Kane did so with London in 2006-07. Ranked No. 8 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, Klepov recorded at least three points in a game 13 times and earned OHL Rookie of the Month honours in October, January, and February.]]> Top-ranked 2026 goaltending prospect Brady Knowling signs with Saginaw https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/top-ranked-2026-goaltending-prospect-brady-knowling-signs-with-saginaw Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:52 +0000 Dillon Clark https://chl.ca/ohl-spirit/article/top-ranked-2026-goaltending-prospect-brady-knowling-signs-with-saginaw Saginaw, MI. – Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced Saturday morning that the organization has signed goaltender Brady Knowling (NO-ling) to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Knowling is the #1-ranked North American goalie on NHL Central Scouting’s list for the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft. “We’re extremely excited to welcome Brady and his family to the Saginaw Spirit,” said Drinkill. “Brady is an elite goaltender who has consistently proven himself at the highest levels of his position, especially in international play with high stakes. His talent, work ethic, and competitive nature make him a tremendous addition to our team. He is an equally impressive young man off the ice as well – a team-first player that is driven to do anything to help his teammates succeed. We are beyond thrilled to bring him into our organization today and look forward to seeing the impact Brady will have both on and off the ice.” Knowling, a dual US-Canadian citizen originally from Toronto, Ont., is a 6’5” left-hand catching goaltender. The Spirit selected Knowling with their third-round pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. “Ever since I first toured Saginaw, I loved the place and the staff,” said Knowling. “I’m happy it worked out and that I’m able to be here for what will be a fantastic year. I believe we are going to do something special this season and we have the team to do it – from goalies to skaters and staff.” Knowling has spent the last two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. Last season, he posted a 15-13-3-1 record, 3.51 GAA and .883 SV% with the NTDP’s U-18 team. He also appeared in a game with the U-17 squad, with a 2.01 GAA and .946 SV%. “Brady brings a very strong pedigree as a goaltender to our team and strengthens our crease,” said goaltending coach Kevin Delamarter. “He brings great size, athleticism, and overall skill. I’m excited to help him continue to build on his abilities and overall development here in Saginaw.” Last summer, Knowling led Team USA’s U-18 team to a Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal with four wins, a 2.35 GAA and .914 SV%. He joined the Americans for the IIHF World Junior Championship in January of 2026 as well. Knowling won the inaugural game of this season’s CHL USA Prospects Challenge in Calgary, AB back on November 25th. His 42 saves backstopped Team USA to a 4-2 victory on the event’s opening night and he was named player of the game. At the 2024 OHL Cup, Knowling led the North York Rangers to an OHL Cup semi-final appearance with a 3-1-0 record. Knowling joins Dima Zhilkin (19th overall), Blake Barnes (107th overall), Brody Najim (110th overall), Tyler Martyniuk (117th overall), Liam Campbell (141st overall), Trevor Theuer (201st overall), and Kaden Sienko (261st overall) as the eighth player from the 2024 OHL Priority Selection to sign a Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team.]]>