OHL This Week: January 9 to 11, 2026
The OHL trade deadline is behind us and the stretch run is officially on as we head into a busy weekend of OHL action!
OHL mourns the loss of former long-time Commissioner David Branch
The Ontario Hockey League is mourning the loss of its longtime leader, David Branch, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 77. Branch served as OHL Commissioner for 45 years from 1979 until his retirement in 2024, and simultaneously led the Canadian Hockey League as President from 1996 to 2019. A visionary builder, he oversaw the league’s expansion from 12 to 20 teams and was a pioneer in player welfare, introducing groundbreaking initiatives in education, mental health, and safety. He was appointed to the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2016. Celebration of Life details are still being finalized. Read more
Bulldogs visit Knights in this week’s Friday Night Faceoff
The OHL Friday Night Faceoff features a heavyweight tilt tonight as the Brantford Bulldogs visit the reigning Memorial Cup champion London Knights. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm at Canada Life Place. Fans can watch the action live and free on FloHockey’s YouTube, X, and Facebook channels. Read more
Novotny and Di Iorio named Captains for Top Prospects Game
The captains for next week’s Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas have been named. Peterborough Petes forward Adam Novotny will wear the ‘C’ for the Eastern Conference, while Sarnia Sting centreman Alessandro Di Iorio will lead the Western Conference. Read more
Colts and IceDogs climb OHL Power Rankings
The Ottawa 67’s remain the top-ranked team in the OHL this week, but there is movement below them as both the Barrie Colts and Niagara IceDogs are climbing the list in the latest edition of OHL Power Rankings. Read more
Bulldogs, 67’s, Spitfires and Firebirds included in CHL Top 10 Rankings
The Brantford Bulldogs are the fourth-ranked team in the Week 15 edition of CHL Top 10 Rankings presented by Delta HOtels by Marriott. The Ottawa 67’s come in at fifth, the Windsor Spitfires are ninth and the Flint Firebirds sit 10th. Read more
Spirit’s Barabanov named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week
Saginaw Spirit forward Egor Barabanov is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week. Barabanov recorded nine points (2-7–9) in five games to help the Spirit secure crucial points in the standings. Read more
Petes’ Rye named Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week
Easton Rye of the Peterborough Petes is the Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week. Rye was stellar in the crease, highlighted by a shutout performance and a total of 102 saves. Read more
Spirit’s Klepov named OHL Rookie of the Week
NHL Draft prospect Nikita Klepov of the Saginaw Spirit has been named the OHL Rookie of the Week following an impressive run of offensive contributions. Read more
Falcons’ Elliott named GOHL Prospect of the Week
Soo Greyhounds prospect James Elliott of the St. Catharines Falcons is this week’s GOHL Prospect of the Week, recording five points (1-4–5) over a pair of victories. Read more
League News
Petes announce 17th Annual Pink in the Rink: The Peterborough Petes have announced details for their 17th annual Pink in the Rink campaign, set to culminate on Saturday, Feb. 7 against the Sudbury Wolves. Over its 16-year history, the initiative has raised over $1 million for cancer research, making it the OHL’s largest ongoing fundraiser. This year’s campaign will support Survivors Abreast, a local dragon boat team comprised of breast cancer survivors in various stages of treatment and recovery. Funds raised will help the group continue their mission of improving fitness, developing paddling skills, and raising awareness for breast cancer care in the Peterborough community. Read more
Spirit name Dima Zhilkin 27th captain: The Saginaw Spirit have made 17-year-old forward Dima Zhilkin the 27th captain in franchise history. The Windsor, ON native is in the midst of a breakout second OHL season, sitting second on the team with 19 goals. He has 34 points total (19-15–34) in 30 games. Zhilkin has already been identified as a top prospect for the 2027 NHL Draft.
Otters name Trevino captain: The Erie Otters have named defenceman Tristan Trevino the 27th captain in franchise history. Trevino, who signed with the Otters as a free agent in the summer of 2025, is a former NAHL Champion with the Bismarck Bobcats where he recorded 21 points and a +30 rating in 52 games during their title run. The Wexford, PA native and Robert Morris University commit has quickly become a leader on the Otters blue line, known for his defensive reliability and shot-blocking ability. Read more
Williamson named Frontenacs captain: The Kingston Frontenacs have named 19-year-old defenceman Vann Williamson the 48th captain in franchise history. An Ajax, Ont. native, Williamson was originally a fourth-round pick by the Frontenacs in 2022 and has spent his entire OHL career in Kingston, appearing in over 160 games. He debuted with the ‘C’ in Thursday’s win over Saginaw, taking over the captaincy following the departure of Jacob Battaglia. Williamson is coming off a career-best season where he posted 27 points and a +17 rating. Read more
Transactions
Trade Deadline sees big names on the move: The OHL trade deadline has officially passed, with several contenders making major splashes. Notable moves included Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Sam O’Reilly heading from London to Kitchener, Winnipeg Jets prospect Kieron Walton moving from Sudbury to Peterborough, and Los Angeles Kings goaltending prospect Carter George being dealt from Owen Sound to the Soo Greyhounds. Trade Deadline Tracker
Storm sign defenceman Braeden Van Gelder: The Guelph Storm have signed 2007-born free agent blueliner Braeden Van Gelder to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. The Etobicoke, ON native was the captain of the OJHL’s Caledon Admirals, producing 10 points (1-9–10) across 16 games so far this season. He has also suited up in seven games for the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Eagles. Read more
Spirit sign Sawyer Schmidt: The Saginaw Spirit have signed 2025 seventh-round pick Sawyer Schmidt. The Buffalo, NY native joins the Spirit from the OJHL’s Buffalo Jr. Sabres, where he recorded 27 points (7-20—27) in 33 games this season. A 16-year-old forward who has also suited up for the U.S. National Development Team this year, Schmidt brings a combination of offensive skill and versatility to Saginaw. Read more
Wolves add top prospect Adam Nemec: The Sudbury Wolves have signed 2026 NHL Draft prospect Adam Nemec. The Slovakian forward, who is the younger brother of New Jersey Devils defenceman Simon Nemec, recently represented his country at the World Juniors where he recorded five points (1-4—5) in five games. Nemec, who also scored in his OHL debut on Wednesday, joins the Wolves after starting the season in the Slovakian professional league. Read more
67’s sign Teddy Spitznagel: The Ottawa 67’s have signed forward Teddy Spitznagel to an OHL Scholarship and Development agreement. Spitznagel, a former USHL Clark Cup champion with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, began the season with the University of Michigan men’s hockey program. Read more
Otters sign 6-foot-7 forward Jackson Schouten: The Erie Otters just got bigger, signing 6-foot-7, 216Ib. free agent forward Jackson Schouten to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. The overage winger has recorded nine points (2-7–9) over 28 games with the NAHL’s Rochester Jr. Americans so far this season. Read more
At the Rinks
Rangers honour Bellows with Level of Legacy: The Kitchener Rangers will honour franchise icon Brian Bellows this Friday at The Aud as the second inductee into their new Level of Legacy program. Bellows, the second overall pick in the 1982 NHL Draft, played two standout seasons in Kitchener from 1980-82, recording a staggering 213 points in 113 games. Most notably, he captained the Rangers to their first-ever Memorial Cup championship in 1982. Following his junior career, Bellows went on to play 17 NHL seasons, recording over 1,000 points and winning a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993.
Country Night in Sudbury: It’s Country Night at the Sudbury Community Arena this Friday as the Wolves host the Niagara IceDogs. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free Wolves cowboy hat, so get there early to saddle up for the action!
Sting host Country Night in Sarnia: The country theme continues down south as the Sarnia Sting host their own Country Night on Friday against the Erie Otters. The first 1,500 fans through the doors at Progressive Auto Sales Arena will receive a free Sting cowboy hat to kick off the weekend in style.
Spitfires celebrate Bomber’s birthday: The Windsor Spitfires are throwing a party this Sunday! Fans are invited to celebrate the birthday of everyone’s favourite mascot, Bomber. The festivities will conclude with a special “Skate with the Spitfires” event following the game, giving fans the chance to hit the ice with their favourite players.
Alumni News
From the O to the Pros – OHL Alumni Weekly: Connor McDavid is rising a 16-game point streak, Brent Burns moves up on the NHL’s ironman list and Denver Barkey has his first NHL goal. Read more
OHL mourns the loss of Glenn Hall: Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Glenn Hall passed away this week at the age of 94. Before his legendary NHL career, Hall starred for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires (1949-1951), where he won the Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 1951. Known as “Mr. Goalie,” he revolutionized the position by pioneering the butterfly style and set an unbreakable NHL record by starting 502 consecutive games. A three-time Vezina Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion, Hall remains one of the most influential figures in goaltending history. Read more
OHL mourns the loss of Bob Pulford: The hockey world also lost a giant in Bob Pulford, who died at the age of 89. A native of Newton Robinson, ON, Pulford’s decorated career began with the Toronto Marlboros, where he helped the team win back-to-back Memorial Cup championships in 1955 and 1956. He went on to win four Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs and later became the first president of the NHL Players’ Association. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991, Pulford’s legacy spans decades as a player, coach, and executive. Read more
Kane hits 500 career goals: Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane scored his 500th career NHL goal on Thursday in a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The former London Knight becomes just the fifth U.S.-born player to reach the milestone, joining legends like Mike Modano and Jeremy Roenick. Kane, who was the CHL Rookie of the Year in 2007 with the Knights, has now cemented his place as one of the greatest American players in history, adding this latest accolade to a trophy case that includes three Stanley Cups.
Raddysh nets first hat-trick in breakout season: Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Darren Raddysh scored his first career NHL hat-trick on Jan. 3 against the San Jose Sharks. The former Erie Otter and Max Kaminsky Trophy winner is enjoying a breakout campaign, currently sitting second in NHL goal scoring among defencemen with 12 goals. Stepping up in the absence of Victor Hedman, Raddysh has become a key offensive weapon for the Lightning.
Zhilkin makes NHL debut with Jets: Former Guelph Storm and Kitchener Rangers forward Danny Zhilkin made his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Selected 77th overall by Winnipeg in 2022, Zhilkin earned the call-up after a strong start with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, where he recorded 14 points (7-7—14) in 30 games. The 22-year-old played over six minutes in his debut, realizing a lifelong dream after a junior career that saw him post 126 points in 186 OHL games. Read more
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, January 9
North Bay at Brampton, 7:00pm
Saginaw at Flint, 7:00pm
Oshawa at Kitchener, 7:00pm
Brantford at London, 7:00pm (Friday Night Faceoff on FloHockey)
Erie at Sarnia, 7:05pm
Niagara at Sudbury, 7:05pm
Ottawa at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm
Barrie at Guelph, 7:07pm
Saturday, January 10
Erie at London, 4:00pm
Kingston at Flint, 7:00pm
Kitchener at Owen Sound, 7:00pm
Guelph at Peterborough, 7:05pm
Windsor at Saginaw, 7:05pm
Niagara at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07pm
Brampton at Barrie, 7:30pm
Sunday, January 11
Kingston at Sarnia, 2:05pm
Ottawa at Sudbury, 2:05pm
Brantford at Windsor, 4:05pm
Barrie at Oshawa, 6:05pm
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