Barrie Colts are 2026 Central Division Champions

Cole Beaudoin‘s second of the night came 24 seconds into overtime as the Barrie Colts defeated the Sarnia Sting 2-1 and secured their second-straight Central Division title.

Barrie extends its current winning streak to 11 games, matching the Flint Firebirds for the longest of the 2025-26 season as the Colts capture their 10th Emms Trophy as Central Division champions in franchise history.

The 41-11-2-4 Colts have excelled under first-year head coach Dylan Smoskowitz, having won 22 of their last 24 games. They currently sit 17 points ahead of the second-place North Bay Battalion in the Central Division.

A first round NHL Draft pick of the Utah Mammoth, Beaudoin currently leads the OHL with 1.76 points-per-game while Kashawn Aitcheson has been among the league’s top defenders on the back end, leading OHL rearguards with 63 points (26-37–63) over 47 games. Positional excellence continues in the crease where the tandem of Ben Hrebik and Arvin Jaswal has provided consistent goaltending throughout the season.

The Colts are chasing their second championship in franchise history, having won their first back in 2000. They’ve won the Bobby Orr Trophy as Eastern Conference champions four different times.

The Emms Trophy is named in honour of four-time Memorial Cup champion coach and founder of the OHA’s Barrie Flyers, Hap Emms.

Cole clinches the Central!

Cole Beaudoin doesn't take long to score his second of the game for the @OHLBarrieColts and helps them secure the top spot in the Central Division!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/xUfeVNlPXW

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 28, 2026