2026-27 Season Preview: Brantford Bulldogs

After finishing atop the OHL standings a season ago, the Brantford Bulldogs will look almost entirely different when they hit the ice in 2026-27.

Brantford went 48-10-8-2 to capture the Hamilton Spectator Trophy, losing just once in regulation on home ice before its season came to a heartbreaking end in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. The Bulldogs also led the OHL with 296 goals and operated at 35.1 percent on the power play, the most efficient mark since the league began tracking the statistic in 1997-98.

Now comes the challenge of replacing much of what made that team so successful.

General Manager Spencer Hyman has taken full advantage of hockey’s changing landscape, bringing in a long list of new faces throughout the offseason. Both of last season’s goaltenders were traded on the same day in June, the blue line has been completely rebuilt and the forward group will feature plenty of newcomers as well.

That leaves new Head Coach Michael Babcock with something close to a blank canvas. While there may be plenty of unfamiliar names in Brantford, there is no shortage of intriguing talent among them. The Bulldogs were one of the busiest teams of the offseason, adding players from across the OHL, USHL, BCHL and international ranks.

 

Starting Six:

* The Starting Six does not represent a projected lineup, but instead highlights six key players to watch entering the 2026-27 season.

FORWARD | Kaden McGregor

2025-26 (Peterborough Petes): 39 GP, 7G, 13A, 20 PTS

The first overall selection in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection has a new home after the Bulldogs acquired Kaden McGregor from the Peterborough Petes at the beginning of August.

McGregor recorded 20 points through 39 games during his rookie season before an injury cut his campaign short. The Braeside, Ont. native also represented Team Canada White at the 2025 U17 World Challenge, recording five points in five games while helping Canada to a silver medal.

Now healthy and entering his second OHL season, McGregor will have an opportunity to take on a significant role with his new club. He has already been named an assistant captain ahead of his first season in Brantford.

 

FORWARD | Jason Musa

2025-26 (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders): 61 GP, 25G, 31A, 56 PTS

Jason Musa wasted little time introducing himself to Bulldogs fans.

Signed as a free agent in May after spending last season with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Musa recorded 25 goals and 56 points in 61 games before making the move to Brantford. His offence carried straight into the preseason, where he piled up five goals and 11 points through four games. The University of Massachusetts commit is set to join the NCAA ranks in 2027-28, but first, he’ll look to make an immediate impact in Brantford.

 

FORWARD | Jack Good

2025-26 (Brooks Bandits): 54 GP, 22G, 48A, 70 PTS

Jack Good arrives in Brantford with plenty of experience and an impressive final season in the BCHL behind him.

The overage forward recorded 70 points in 54 games with the Brooks Bandits last season, leading the BCHL with 48 assists. His performance earned him First Team All-Star honours while helping Brooks capture a second consecutive BCHL championship, with Good scoring the overtime winner in Game 5 of the championship series.

Originally selected by the Erie Otters in the seventh round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the Markham, Ont. native now gets his opportunity in the OHL. 

 

DEFENCEMAN | Jet Kwajah

2025-26 (Madison Capitols): 55 GP, 7G, 20A, 27 PTS

Acquired from the Owen Sound Attack during the offseason, Jet Kwajah brings an offensive element to Brantford’s completely rebuilt blue line.

The Hamilton, Ont. native spent the past two seasons with the USHL’s Madison Capitols after originally being selected in the sixth round of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. After earning USHL All-Rookie Team recognition in 2024-25, Kwajah increased his production to seven goals and 27 points in 55 games last season, leading Madison defencemen in goals.

The right-shot rearguard is committed to Penn State University and was included in NHL Central Scouting’s rankings ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft. Kwajah has also been named an assistant captain entering his first season with the Bulldogs.

 

DEFENCEMAN | Abe Barnett

2025-26 (U.S. National U18 Team): 62 GP, 1G, 10A, 11 PTS

Abe Barnett adds size and international experience to Brantford’s new-look defence.

The Bulldogs acquired Barnett’s OHL rights from the Ottawa 67’s in January before officially adding the 6-foot-3, 198-pound defenceman following two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program.

The Wilmette, IL., native has represented the United States at the U17 World Hockey Challenge, U18 World Championship and 2024 Youth Olympic Games, where he won gold. Barnett is committed to the University of Michigan for the 2027-28 season and is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

 

GOALTENDER | Vilmer Salén Forsberg

2025-26 (Södertälje SK U18): 11 GP, 2.28 GAA, .920 SV%

With both of last season’s Bulldogs goaltenders moving on, the crease is wide open, and Vilmer Salén Forsberg is one of the new faces looking to make his mark. Selected 62nd overall by Brantford in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, the 6-foot-6, 235-pound netminder becomes the first Swedish player and first import goaltender in Bulldogs history.

Salén Forsberg posted a 2.28 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 11 appearances with Södertälje SK at the U18 level last season while still competing as an underager. He also earned opportunities at the U20 level and internationally with Sweden, including appearances at the U17 World Hockey Challenge before playing all four games for his country at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

 

Breakout Watch:

George Komadoski – D

2025-26 (Flint Firebirds): 50 GP, 0G, 3A, 3 PTS

George Komadoski joins the Bulldogs after being acquired from the Flint Firebirds during the offseason. The St. Louis, Mo. native appeared in 50 games during his first OHL season, recording three assists and 34 penalty minutes. Signed by Flint as a free agent after spending 2024-25 with Mount St. Charles Academy, the 6-foot-3 defenceman now gets a fresh opportunity with Brantford.

Eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft and committed to the University of Notre Dame for the fall of 2027, Komadoski will look to carve out a larger role on Brantford’s rebuilt blue line.

“George is a player we believe is ready to take a significant step forward this season. He brings size, strength and a real physical presence to our back end, and he competes extremely hard every night. He plays with an edge, defends with purpose and has continued to grow in confidence with the puck. We believe George has all the tools to take on a much bigger role for us this season and establish himself as an impactful defenceman in our league.” – General Manager Spencer Hyman

 

Owen DeGraff – RW

2025-26 (Waterloo Black Hawks): 51 GP, 7G, 2A, 9 PTS

Owen DeGraff brings a combination of size and physicality to Brantford after spending last season with the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound winger previously spent three seasons with the Long Island Gulls, producing 77 points in 78 games during his draft year. His first USHL season saw him develop into a difficult player to play against, using his size and speed on the forecheck while adding seven goals in 51 games.

The Odessa, Fla. native was also named to the USHL All-Academic Team and appeared in the 2026 Chipotle All-American Game.

“Owen has a combination of size, compete and skill that we’re really excited about. He plays hard, gets to difficult areas and has the ability to impact the game in a number of different ways. We believe he’s ready for a much bigger role and has an opportunity to establish himself as an important player for our team this year.”  – General Manager Spencer Hyman

 

Futures Watch:

Get to know the next wave of Brantford’s talent by revisiting the Bulldogs’ 2026 draft class and new additions in our Futures Watch feature.

 

The Outlook:

There may not be another team in the OHL entering 2026-27 with as much change to navigate as the Bulldogs.

A 48-win team that led the league in scoring and produced a historically efficient power play has been almost entirely reshaped. There are new faces in net, a completely rebuilt blue line and significant turnover up front, all under a new head coach.

That makes Brantford one of the more intriguing teams to watch early in the season. Hyman has brought in experienced players, alongside younger talent, giving Babcock plenty of pieces to work with despite the lack of continuity.

The question is how quickly those pieces come together. Last season’s Bulldogs set an incredibly high bar, particularly offensively, and replacing 296 goals and a 35.1% power play will be no small task. This year’s group may look very different, but after one of the busiest offseasons in the league, there will be no shortage of new talent looking to make its mark in Brantford.

 

 

Opening Night:

Friday, September 18th

Niagara IceDogs at Brantford Bulldogs| 7:00 p.m.

 

Fans can catch all the action live on FloHockey.