OHL In The System: Carolina Hurricanes

This 32-part series will spotlight OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.

Join us for OHL In the System!

Today, we turn our attention to the Carolina Hurricanes and the young talent developing within their system.

 

Filip Ekberg (LW) – Ottawa 67’s (2024-25)
Selected: 7th Round, 221st Overall (2025)
OHL Career Stats: 53 GP, 16 G, 29 A, 45 PTS, +5
Age: 18

Swedish forward Filip Ekberg was selected 221st overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2025 NHL Draft. He had an electric showing for Sweden at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship and tallied 16 goals and 45 points in his first season with the Ottawa 67’s.

 

Jakub Vondras (G) – Sudbury Wolves (2023-24
Selected: 1st Round, 22nd Overall (2023)
OHL Career Stats: 37 GP, 3.79 GAA, .861 SV%, 20-10-2-1
Age: 21

After a season with the Sudbury Wolves, Jakub Vondras returned to Czechia for the 2024-25 season, playing 18 games with HC Dynamo Pardubice B. He posted a 6-9-0 record along with a 3.32 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage. Vondras is expected to remain overseas for the upcoming season.

 

Deni Goure (C) – Owen Sound Attack (2019-24)
Signed: July 9th, 2025
OHL Career Stats: 259 GP, 102 G, 149 A, 251 PTS, -24
Age: 22

After five seasons with the Owen Sound Attack, Deni Goure signed a two-way deal with the Hurricanes organization. In 2024-25, he excelled in the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush, recording 55 points (23-32–55) in 69 games, third among ECHL rookies. Goure also made a brief AHL appearance with the Calgary Wranglers and is expected to join the Chicago Wolves this fall.

 

Bryce Montgomery (D) – London Knights (2019-23)
Selected: 6th Round, 170th Overall (2021)
OHL Career Stats: 84 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 PTS, +5
Age: 22

Defenseman Bryce Montgomery spent most of the 2024-25 season with the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison, tallying 10 points (2-8–10) in 51 games. He also suited up in five contests for the Chicago Wolves and will look to take the next step in his development this season.

 

Evan Vierling (C) – Flint Firebirds (2018-20), Barrie Colts (2019-23)
Signed: July 4th, 2025
OHL Career Stats: 218 GP, 75 G, 138 A, 213 PTS, -15
Age: 23

Evan Vierling spent the 2024-25 season in the ECHL with the Maine Mariners, where he posted 22 points (6-16–22) in 21 regular-season games. This offseason, he signed a one-year, one-way deal with the Wolves, with whom he will start the upcoming season. 

 

Ryan Suzuki (C) – Barrie Colts (2017-20), Saginaw Spirit (2019-20)
Selected: 1st Round, 28th Overall (2019)
OHL Career Stats: 173 GP, 57 G, 120 A, 177 PTS, +30
Age: 24

In his third AHL season with the Chicago Wolves, Ryan Suzuki posted a career-high 59 points (12-47–59) in 69 games. His strong play earned him his NHL debut with the Hurricanes on January 30, 2025, and a selection to the AHL All-Star Game

 

Tomorrow on In The System, we’ll take a look at the OHL Talent inside the Tampa Bay Lightning organization!