OHL Notebook: Dec. 2nd, 2025

Here’s a look at some of the top storylines from a busy weekend across the league:

 

Brantford Drops Two in Regulation

The Brantford Bulldogs’ winning streak came to a halt over the weekend with two regulation losses to the Brampton Steelheads and Oshawa Generals. Despite the setback, Brantford still leads the league in both power-play efficiency and total goals scored. Jake O’Brien remains atop the OHL in scoring with 44 points, and Marek Vanacker leads in goals with 23. The Bulldogs also dominate the plus/minus leaderboard, with Owen Protz (+23), Vanacker (+20), O’Brien (+19), Edison Engle (+17), and Adam Benak (+17) all ranking among the top five.

 

Flint Firebirds Capture I-75 Divide Cup

The Flint Firebirds claimed the annual I-75 Divide Cup with a 5-4 victory over the Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday night, securing their first series win since the 2021-22 season. The trophy represents bragging rights between the two rivals, awarded to the team with the better regular-season head-to-head record.

 

Ottawa 67’s Rise to No. 1 in Power Rankings

For the first time since October 13, the Brantford Bulldogs no longer hold the top spot in the OHL Power Rankings. The Ottawa 67’s have surged to the top after winning 12 of their last 14 games, including victories over Oshawa and North Bay. Sitting just three points behind Brantford in the East Division, Ottawa continues to gain momentum. Rookie netminder Ryder Fetterolf has been a standout, earning OHL Rookie of the Month honours after posting a flawless 8-0-0-0 record in November.

 

Kaden McGregor Nets First Multi-Goal Game

The 2025 first-overall selection and Jack Ferguson Award winner, Kaden MacGregor, scored twice against the IceDogs, marking his first career multi-goal performance. The Peterborough rookie now has 14 points (6-8–14) through 19 games this season.

 

Paul Flache Sets Firebirds Coaching Record

With Flint’s home-ice win on Saturday, Head Coach Paul Flache earned his 78th career victory behind the bench, surpassing Ted Dent’s previous franchise record of 77 wins to become the Firebirds’ all-time winningest coach.

 

Adam Jiricek Holds Longest Point Streak by Defenceman

Bulldogs defenceman Adam Jiricek saw his impressive 13-game point streak snapped in Sunday’s matchup against Oshawa. However, his run remains the longest by an OHL defenceman this season, during which he tallied 19 points (6-13–19).

 

U.S. National Junior Team Announces Preliminary Roster

The U.S. National Junior Team has unveiled its preliminary roster for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, which includes three OHL players: AJ Spellacy (Windsor Spitfires), Henry Brzustewicz (London Knights), and Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds).

 

Zach Bowen Earns Goaltender of the Week

Brampton Steelheads netminder Zach Bowen has been named the Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week after going 2-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and a stellar .959 save percentage. Bowen stopped 70 of 73 shots across two games, including 36 saves in Erie to earn second-star honors in a 5-2 win over the Otters. He followed that performance with 34 saves and first-star recognition in a 2-1 victory over Brantford, handing the Bulldogs their first regulation loss of the season.

 

Slovakia Reveals Preliminary World Junior Roster

Team Slovakia has announced its preliminary roster for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, featuring three OHL players: Ján Chovan (Sudbury Wolves), Alex Misiak (Erie Otters), and Tomás Pobežal (Kingston Frontenacs).

 

Kieron Walton Leads Sudbury

Sudbury Wolves forward and Winnipeg Jets prospect Kieron Walton has earned Cogeco OHL Player of the Week honours for the second time this season. Walton recorded four goals and three assists for seven points over three games, extending his point streak to 10 games.

 

Czechia Shares Preliminary World Junior Roster

Team Czechia has released its preliminary roster for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, which includes five OHL players: Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes), Adam Jiricek (Brantford Bulldogs), Adam Benak (Brantford Bulldogs), Vladimir Dravecky (Brantford Bulldogs), and Jakub Fibigr (Brampton Steelheads).