The OHL trade deadline is always eventful and this year is no different! Learn more about fresh faces in new places in the latest edition of OHL This Week.

OHL Friday Night Face Off – Windsor at London:
The first #FridayNightFaceoff didn’t disappoint as the Kitchener Rangers edged the Erie Otters. We figured we’d stay in the Western Conference for a clash of age-old 401 rivals as the London Knights host the Windsor Spitfires with first place on the line. Details

Friday Night Faceoff: Cristoforo brimming with confidence for Spitfires:
From minus-43 last season to plus-36 in 2024-25, Anthony Cristoforo has played a big part in the Windsor Spitfires’ turnaround. Read more

Otters to retire Connor McDavid’s #97 on Friday:
The big night is finally here as the Erie Otters will retire Connor McDavid’s #97 on Friday at Erie Insurance Arena. The franchise cornerstone has gone on to do great things with the Edmonton Oilers, and Friday will be a night of celebration in the Flagship City as McDavid is honoured with friends and family in attendance.

Misa, O’Brien named captains for Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game:
The inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas is fast approaching, with the puck dropping next Wednesday, January 15 at the Civic Centre in Brantford at 7:00pm. The OHL today announced captains for the highly anticipated event, with top draft eligibles on either side of the ice ready to represent their respective conferences. Details

Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game – Where to Watch and Listen:
The inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas on Wednesday, January 15 in Brantford is officially sold out, but OHL fans can still watch and listen to the game from home! Details

Spitfires’ Greentree named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week:
Los Angeles Kings prospect Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week for the second time this season, registering five goals, seven assists and 12 points over four victories. Details

Rangers’ Parsons named OHL Goaltender of the Week:
Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers is the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the fourth time this season, going 3-0-0-0, along with a 1.30 goals-against average, and a .948 save percentage. Details

Spitfires’ Belchetz named OHL Rookie of the Week:
Ethan Belchetz of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, recording three goals, four assists, and seven points in four victories. Details

Academic Players of the Month of December presented by Hockley Valley Resort:
The Ontario Hockey League announced that Ottawa’s Eshkawkogan, Sudbury’s Dean, London’s Medvedev and Soo’s Gillen have been named the OHL’s Academic Players of the Month for December, proudly presented by Hockley Valley Resort. Details

OHL Plays of the Week:
Prepare yourself for a new edition of OHL Plays of the Week with appearances from Brampton’s Lucas Karmiris, Brantford’s Tomas Hamara, Erie’s Martin Misiak, London’s Blake Montgomery and Flint’s Kaden Pitre. Watch

OHL Saves of the Week presented by Enbridge Gas:
Revisiting the biggest robberies of the past week with a fresh batch of OHL Saves presented by Enbridge Gas, featuring entries from Brantford’s David Egorov, Flint’s Nathan Day, Windsor’s Michael Newlove, Peterborough’s Zach Bowen and Barrie’s Ben Hrebik. Watch

Knights remain on top in Week 15 OHL Power Rankings:
The OHL Power Rankings remain the same for the top-6 teams, with the Kingston Frontenacs rising to seventh. Details

Week 13 edition of CHL Top 10 Rankings:
The London Knights (1), Windsor Spitfires (4), Kitchener Rangers (5) and Barrie Colts (8) have been included on the week 13 edition of the CHL Top 10 Rankings. Details

Latest Moves:

Veterans on the move as overage deadline comes and goes:
Overage veterans Brady Stonehouse (Peterborough), Tommy Budnick (Brantford), Charlie Schenkel (Kingston) and Nolan Lalonde (Sault Ste. Marie) all found new homes in the hours leading into Thursday’s overage trade deadline. Read more

Generals acquire Andrew Gibson:
The defending Eastern Conference champion Oshawa Generals are signalling they want to finish the job this spring, making a big addition on Tuesday morning in a trade with the Soo Greyhounds. The Generals have added Canadian National Junior Team blueliner Andrew Gibson in exchange for 16-year-old forward Brady Smith and eight draft picks. Details

Colts add Romani, Van Steensel in trade with Battalion:
After helping the North Bay Battalion reach three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, the dynamic trio of Dalyn Wakely, Anthony Romani and Owen Van Steensel are all in Barrie Colts blue for a fourth run at glory. The Colts acquired the latter two in a Sunday trade that saw 16-year-old forward Parker Vaughan, overage winger Zach Wigle and four conditional draft picks go back to North Bay. Details

Frontenacs add three Memorial Cup champions:
In a pair of separately announced trades, the Kingston Frontenacs acquired 19-year-old veterans Joey Willis, Ethan Hay and Will Bishop, bolstering their lineup as the calendar turns over to 2025. Details

Steelheads acquire Konnor Smith:
The Brampton Steelheads beefed up their blueline on Wednesday morning, acquiring Owen Sound Attack captain Konnor Smith in exchange for seven draft selections including a pair of second round picks. Details

Firebirds acquire McCue, Attack add Zurawski:
With the OHL trade deadline approaching on Friday, the Flint Firebirds and Owen Sound Attack addressed a need up front with forwards Sam McCue and Cole Zurawski going separate ways on Wednesday. Details

IceDogs’ Noah Van Vliet commits to Sacred Heart:
Niagara IceDogs overage defenceman Noah Van Vliet has committed to Sacred Heart University for the 2025-26 season. A 6-foot-2, 222Ib. blueliner, Van Vliet has put up 12 points (3-9–12) through 38 games with the Niagara IceDogs in his fourth OHL season. Details

Battalion’s Zach Wigle commits to RIT:
Newly acquired North Bay Battalion overage forward Zach Wigle has committed to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) for the 2025-26 season. Selected by the Colts in the ninth round (169th overall) of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, the Oakville, Ont., native played four seasons in Barrie, amassing 69 points (29-40–69) in 173 regular season games. Details

Greyhounds’ Carlisle commits to Notre Dame:
Soo Greyhounds defenceman Caeden Carlisle recently committed to the University of Notre Dame the school announced over the holidays. The overage blueliner, who is wearing the ‘C’ for the Greyhounds this season, is in his fourth campaign, recording 12 assists in 35 games this year. Details

Rangers’ Misaljevic commits to Clarkson:
Kitchener Rangers forward Adrian Misaljevic has announced his commitment to Clarkson University for the 2025-26 season. Misaljevic will join teammate and fellow overager Jackson Parsons on the Golden Knights next season. The Woodbridge, Ontario native has been excellent so far this season, leading the team in both goals (18) and points (39) while skating in 36 games. Details

Spirit sign 2023 pick Hayden Barch:
Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced Monday afternoon that the team has signed defenseman Hayden Barch to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. A right-shot from Grand Bend, Ont., Barch clocks in at 6’1”, 190 lbs. Details

Rangers sign University of Michigan forward Christian Humphreys:
The Kitchener Rangers announced today the signing of Christian Humphreys to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Humphreys, 18, was an 11^th round draft selection (212^th overall) by the Kitchener Rangers in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Drafted out of the Bishop Kearney Selects U16 program. Christian was also selected in the 7^th round (215^th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Details

Storm sign third round pick Eric Frossard:
The Guelph Storm has signed 2024 third-round pick Eric Frossard to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the hockey club. The 6’4, 195 lbs left-shot defenseman was drafted 43^rd overall by the Storm in last spring’s OHL Priority Selection after notching 23 points in 30 games (5 goals and 18 assists) for the London Jr. Knights U16 AAA program. Details

Petes sign Import selection Kaiser:
The Peterborough Petes haves signed German defenceman Rio Kaiser to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Kaiser, a native of Berlin, Germany, was originally selected by the Petes in the first round, 31st overall, of the 2023 CHL Import Draft. Details

Other News:

Explore the OHL – Flint Firebirds:
The Ontario Hockey League is home to 20 teams—17 in Canada and three in the United States. Shifting the focus beyond hockey operations, the OHL aims to highlight the distinctiveness of each member club, with this week’s edition of Explore the OHL featuring the Flint Firebirds. Details

Misa named 26th captain in Spirit history:
The Saginaw Spirit announced Wednesday afternoon that Michael Misa has been named the 26th captain in the team’s history. Misa, a top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft, is in his third OHL season after being granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada in 2022. Details

OHL Prospect Pipeline:
Junior hockey is entering a transformative phase, particularly in major junior hockey and the Ontario Hockey League. The return of the Prospect Pipeline series will spotlight many OHL-affiliated prospects excelling with their Tier II junior teams. Details

Sting hire Dave Matsos as Assistant Coach:
Sarnia Sting General Manager Dylan Seca announced a new addition to the Club’s Hockey Operations Department this morning, including OHL alumnus David Matsos who will be joining the bench as assistant coach. Details

2025 OHL Draft Profile – Caden Bell:
Right shot blueliner Caden Bell brings mobility and vision to the Don Mills Flyers back end, helping them win the Toronto Marlboros Holiday Classic last month. Watch

11 OHL players earn medals at 2025 IIHF World Juniors:
11 OHL players earned medals at the 20205 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, with Willis, Hillebrandt and Terrance helping the United States defeat Finland 4-3 in overtime during Sunday’s gold medal game. Details

Community Corner:

Rangers to host Hockey is For Everyone game:
Celebrate inclusivity and community at the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Is For Everyone game on January 10th! This special event highlights our commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for fans of all backgrounds. Details

Firebirds to host Firebirds Fight Hunger game on Friday:
The Flint Firebirds are teaming up with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and their agency partners for the annual Firebirds Fight Hunger campaign, aiming to support local families in need during the winter season. Fans attending the Firebirds games on January 3 and January 10 will have the opportunity to donate non-perishable food items and help make a meaningful impact in the community. Details

Greyhounds and Wolves to host Bell Lets Talk games:
The Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves are set to host their Bell Lets Talk games in support of mental health on Friday, January 10. Visit team websites for more information.

Otters to host Youth Sports night on Saturday:
The Erie Otters are set to host their Youth Sports night on Saturday where the first 1,500 fans through the doors will receive a Ty Henry bobblehead!

Alumni Notes:

OHL mourns the loss of Dwight Foster:
The Ontario Hockey League joins the Kitchener Rangers organization in mourning the loss of Dwight Foster, the club’s all-time leading scorer who passed away on Monday at the age of 67. (382) who played 262 games from 1973-1977. Read more

CHL Alumni Spotlight: Tyler Toffoli:
In the fourth OHL edition of the CHL Alumni Spotlight presented by Carlsberg Canada, former Ottawa 67’s forward Tyler Toffoli reflects on his OHL journey (2008-12) and his development during four seasons in Ottawa before advancing to a successful professional career in the National Hockey League. Watch

Seven former OHL players named to 2025 AHL All-Star Classic:
Seven former OHL players have been named to the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic roster, to be held from February 2-3, 2025 in Palm Desert, California. The 2025 AHL All-Star rosters feature 36 first-time AHL All-Stars and 13 rookies, as well as 12 former first-round NHL draft choices and eight second-round picks Read more at the AHL.com

Upcoming Schedule:

Thursday, January 9th
Kingston at North Bay – 7:00pm
Saginaw at Niagara – 7:00pm
Barrie at Peterborough – 7:05pm

Friday, January 10th
Oshawa at Ottawa– 7:00pm
Guelph at Flint – 7:00pm
Saginaw at Erie – 7:00pm
Brampton at Kitchener – 7:00pm
Windsor at London – 7:00pm (Friday Night Faceoff)
Niagara at Sudbury – 7:05pm
Owen Sound at Sarnia – 7:05pm
Kingston at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm

Saturday, January 11th
North Bay at Brampton – 4:00pm
Windsor at Flint – 7:00pm
Sarnia at Erie – 7:00pm
London at Owen Sound – 7:00pm
Brantford at Peterborough – 7:05pm
Guelph at Sault Ste. Marie – 7:07pm
Kitchener at Barrie – 7:30pm