Colts’ Joe Salandra named OHL Rookie of the Week
TORONTO – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that NHL Draft eligible Barrie Colts forward Joe Salandra is the OHL Rookie of the Week, recording five points (3-2–5) over four victories last week.
Salandra helped the Colts win a clash of Eastern Conference contenders on Family Day, recording a pair of assists in an 8-5 road win over the Ottawa 67’s. He opened the scoring back at home on Thursday night as the Colts defeated the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 in a shootout. Salandra doubled-up on Friday night in London, putting things out of reach with a pair of third period goals as the Colts defeated the Knights 5-1 for their ninth consecutive win.
A freshly-turned 18-year-old from Pleasantville, NY, Salandra has 33 points (11-22–33) over 54 games in his first OHL season. The 5-foot-10, 198Ib. right-wing as chosen by the Colts in the third round (50th overall) of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection from Brunswick School. Ranked 160th on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft, Salandra competed in this year’s Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game in Peterborough, and won a Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal with the United States last summer. He’s committed to Harvard University (NCAA).
2025-26 OHL Rookie of the Week
Sept. 18-21: Thomas Vandenberg (Ottawa 67’s)
Sept. 22-28: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs)
Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 6-12: Jaxon Cover (London Knights)
Oct. 13-19: Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 20-26: Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm)
Oct. 27-Nov. 2: Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s)
Nov. 3-9: Easton Walos (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 10-16: Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s)
Nov. 17-23: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs)
Nov. 24-30: Levi Harper (Saginaw Spirit)
Dec. 1-7: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs)
Dec. 8-14: Robin Kuzma (Kingston Frontenacs
Dec. 15-21: Caleb Mitchell (London Knights)
Dec. 28-Jan. 4: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 5-11: Charlie Murata (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 12-18: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit)
Jan. 19-25: Ryerson Edgar (Niagara IceDogs)
Jan. 26-Feb. 1: Keaton Ardagh (Brampton Steelheads)
Feb. 2-8: Kale Osipenko (Sarnia Sting)
Feb. 9-15: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit)
Feb. 16-22: Joe Salandra (Barrie Colts)
