OHL Announces Top Performers of the Week for Sept. 24-27, 2026
TORONTO – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced top performers of the week for the week of regular season games spanning September 24-27, 2026.
Cogeco OHL Player of the Week: Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes)
Vancouver Canucks prospect Adam Novotny of the Peterborough Petes is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, recording three goals, three assists and six points over three games.
Novotny returned from Canucks training camp to make an immediate impact in his season debut on Thursday, scoring twice and adding a pair of assists in a 7-4 win over the Sarnia Sting. He followed with a goal and an assist on Saturday as the Petes fell 6-3 at home to the Ottawa 67’s. All three of Novotny’s assists were primary, and his 18 shots on goal led all OHL players last week.
An 18-year-old from Kobylice, Czechia, Novotny was selected by Vancouver in the first round (24th overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft. He was originally Peterborough’s first-round pick (eighth overall) in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. Novotny won bronze with Czechia at the 2025 World Junior Championship and claimed silver in 2026.
Also considered for this week’s award, Sarnia Sting captain Alessandro Di Iorio recorded six points (2-4–6) over three contests as the Sting won two of three on a weekend road trip. Erie Otters forward Michael Dec posted six points (1-5–6) over a pair of outings as the Otters split a home-and-home against Kitchener.
2026-27 winners: Sept. 17-20: Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit); Sept. 21-27: Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes)
Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week: Vilmer Salen Forsberg (Brantford Bulldogs)
First-year Brantford Bulldogs netminder Vilmer Salen Forsberg is the Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-0 with a 2.50 goals-against average and .925 save percentage to help the Bulldogs to a club-record 5-0 start.
Salen Forsberg stopped 41 shots on Friday as the Bulldogs beat the Peterborough Petes 5-2. He made 21 saves on Sunday in Oshawa as Brantford defeated the Generals 5-3, giving him 62 saves over his two starts.
A 17-year-old from Sodertalje, Sweden, Salen Forsberg joined the Bulldogs as their second-round pick (62nd overall) in the 2026 CHL Import Draft. The 6-foot-6, 220-lb. goaltender is considered a top goaltending prospect for the 2027 NHL draft, and he represented Sweden at the 2025 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
Also considered for the award this week, reigning Goaltender of the Week Paolo Frasca of the Sudbury Wolves went 2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .927 save percentage, earning home wins over Barrie and Brampton.
2026-27 winners: Sept. 17-20: Paolo Frasca (Sudbury Wolves); Sept. 21-27: Vilmer Salen Forsberg (Brantford Bulldogs)
Make Space OHL Rookie of the Week: Aiden Kelly (Brantford Bulldogs)
Brantford Bulldogs rookie Aiden Kelly is the Make Space OHL Rookie of the Week, recording a goal and four assists over three games as the Bulldogs kept their perfect start intact.
Kelly had a goal and an assist in Friday’s 5-2 win over the Peterborough Petes, then added two helpers in Saturday’s 10-4 triumph over the Kingston Frontenacs. He chipped in an assist in Sunday’s 5-3 road win over the Oshawa Generals, giving him points in all three games and a plus-4 rating on the week.
A 16-year-old from Rochester, Mich., Kelly was Brantford’s first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection. He spent 2025-26 with the Detroit Little Caesars AAA program, recording 35 points (14-21–35) over 20 regular-season games.
Also considered for the award, Dmitry Savin of the Saginaw Spirit registered four points (2-2–4) over a pair of contests.
2026-27 winners: Sept. 17-20: Royden Smith (Kingston Frontenacs); Sept. 21-27: Aiden Kelly (Brantford Bulldogs)
GOHL Prospect of the Week: Jack Samek (London Nationals/London Knights)
London Knights prospect Jack Samek of the London Nationals is the GOHL Prospect of the Week, turning in a six-point game on his way to four goals and three assists over two outings.
Samek piled up three goals and three assists on Wednesday as the Nationals rolled to an 8-1 win over the visiting LaSalle Vipers. He found the back of the net again on Friday as London fell 5-4 on the road in Stratford. Samek is the Nationals’ early-season scoring leader with 10 points (5-5–10) through his first five games.
A 16-year-old from Etobicoke, Ont., Samek was London’s second-round pick (37th overall) in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection out of the Markham Majors U16 program. He produced 25 points (12-11–25) over 12 games in an injury-shortened 2025-26 season.
2026-27 winners: Sept. 7-13: Andrew Baker (Chatham Maroons/Guelph Storm); Sept. 14-20: Mitchell Nouwens (St. Catharines Falcons/Owen Sound Attack); Sept. 21-27: Jack Samek (London Nationals/London Knights)
