2026 OHL Priority Selection First Round Recap

KINGSTON – Twenty players representing 12 different programs were selected in the opening round of the 2026 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore on Friday night at Slush Puppie Place as the OHL made its return to an in-person Priority Selection for the first time since 2000.

The Oshawa Generals opened the draft by selecting Vaughan Kings centreman Kane Cloutier with the first overall pick. Cloutier becomes the first GTHL player chosen first overall since Michael Misa was selected by the Saginaw Spirit in 2022.

Detroit Little Caesars forward Colin Kennedy (Erie, 2nd overall) and Hill Academy forward Tanner Adams (Brampton, 3rd overall) rounded out the top three selections.

The North Bay Battalion selected the first goaltender of the draft when they chose Don Mills Flyers netminder Owen Loftus 11th overall. Loftus becomes the first goaltender taken in the opening round since the Mississauga Steelheads selected Jack Ivankovic seventh overall in 2023.

Two hometown products heard their names called in the first round, with London native Ryan Beaulieu going 14th overall to the London Knights and Barrie native Lucas Matheson being selected 17th overall by the Barrie Colts.

Size was also on display throughout the opening round. The Guelph Storm selected 6-foot-6 defenceman Declan McNally seventh overall, while the host Kingston Frontenacs chose 6-foot-7 forward Logan Prud’homme with the 10th pick.

All 20 OHL clubs made a first-round selection. The round featured eight players from the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), four from U.S.-based programs, three from Hockey Canada accredited sports schools, three from the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), and two from the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario (ALLIANCE).

The Vaughan Kings produced a first-round-best three selections, led by Cloutier’s first overall selection and Jack Ferguson Award honour. Defenceman Adrian Sgro was chosen fourth overall by the Sarnia Sting, while forward Landon Roulston went 13th overall to the Peterborough Petes.

A total of 11 forwards, eight defencemen and one goaltender were selected in the opening round. The evening featured several special guests including Oshawa Generals legend John Tavares who announced the first overall selection followed by 2026 Calder Trophy winner and Erie Otters graduate Matthew Schaefer to announce the second. Kingston product and NHL great Doug Gilmour announced the Kingston Frontenacs’ 10th overall selection of Logan Prud’homme.

2026 OHL Priority Selection – First Round Selections:

Click on the player’s name to watch their profile video

1. Oshawa Generals – Kane Cloutier C (Vaughan Kings) | 6’0″
2. Erie Otters – Colin Kennedy C (Little Caesars) | 5’9″
3. Brampton Steelheads – Tanner Adams C (Hill Academy) | 6’0″
4. Sarnia Sting – Adrian Sgro LD (Vaughan Kings) | 5’11”
5. Sudbury Wolves – Kash Kwajah C (Toronto Jr. Canadiens) | 5’11”
6. Saginaw Spirit – Drew Bate – C (London Jr. Knights) | 5’10” 
7. Guelph Storm – Declan McNally – LD (Don Mills Flyers) | 6’6″
8. Owen Sound Attack – Max Fransen RD (Upper Canada College) | 5’11”
9. Niagara IceDogs – Max Lappan – RD (Detroit HoneyBaked) | 6’1″
10. Kingston Frontenacs – Logan Prud’homme – C (Upper Canada College) | 6’7″
11. North Bay Battalion – Owen Loftus – G (Don Mills Flyers) | 6’1″
12. Soo Greyhounds – Jaden Licastro – LD (Toronto Marlboros) | 6’1″
13. Peterborough Petes – Landon Roulston – Landon Roulston, C (Vaughan Kings) | 6’1″
14. London Knights – Ryan Beaulieu – LD (London Jr. Knights) | 5’11”
15. Flint Firebirds – Chase Schulberger – RD (Woodbridge Wolfpack) | 6’1″
16. Windsor Spitfires – Lauchlan Whelan – C (Quinte Red Devils) | 5’11”
17. Barrie Colts – Lucas Matheson – LD (Barrie Jr. Colts) | 5’9″
18. Ottawa 67’s – Andrew Laurin – RW (Quinte Red Devils) | 6’1″
19. Kitchener Rangers – Braden Reilly – RW (Toronto Marlboros) | 5’11”
20. Brantford Bulldogs – Aiden Kelly – C (Little Caesars) | 5’11”

The 2026 OHL Priority Selection continues with Rounds 2-15 on Saturday in Kingston. Follow along on YourTV and live on FloHockey as well as the OHL’s social media channels for continued coverage.