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Series HQ: Brantford Bulldogs vs. Barrie Colts

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:00:32 +0000

(1) Brantford Bulldogs (48-10-8-2) vs. (2) Barrie Colts (45-14-5-4) The Eastern Conference Final brings together two of the best teams in the OHL this season, as the East Division-winning Brantford Bulldogs host the Central Division-winning Barrie Colts in what promises to be a compelling clash of contrasting styles. Both clubs have been dominant throughout the postseason, setting the stage for what could be a classic conference final. The season series between these two offers little clarity, ending deadlocked at 2-2, with the results swinging wildly from a 7-1 blowout to a 7-4 affair, suggesting that when these two meet, anything can happen. One thing that is certain, however, is the physicality this matchup brings, as the teams combined for 181 penalty minutes over those four games. It also marks just the second playoff meeting in franchise history, adding another layer of intrigue to an already compelling series. Brantford comes in as the top seed and has looked every bit the part throughout the playoffs. The Bulldogs have swept both of their series and have not scored fewer than three goals in any game this postseason, a testament to the depth of an offence that generates contributions from up and down the lineup night after night. Captain Jake O'Brien leads the team with 15 points and set the tone ahead of the series when speaking to the media. “I'm very confident in our group right now,” O'Brien said. “This is the best we've played all year, especially throughout the playoffs. Barrie is a really strong team, so it's going to be a tough challenge, but we're excited for it.” Up front, Emms Family Award finalist Caleb Malhotra paces the club in goals with eight, five of which have come on the power play, making Brantford's man advantage one of the most dangerous in the league. In goal, Ryerson Leenders leads the entire league with a 1.84 goals-against average and has been calm and composed throughout. Coach Jay McKee touched on his group's character ahead of the series. “Every player should be able to look in the mirror after a game and know they gave everything they had. That's all we ask. It's a high-character team that competes hard and executes at a high level, and that gives us confidence.” Barrie arrives in the Eastern Conference Final for the second consecutive season, but this year's group is hungry to go further after being swept by the Oshawa Generals a year ago. Coach Dylan Smoskowitz addressed that disappointment head-on ahead of the series. “We were disappointed with how things ended last year, but we've talked a lot about growth. We believe there's no such thing as losing if you learn from it. The players who were here last season have shared those lessons with the group, and that's been part of our mindset since day one.” The Colts are led offensively by Cole Beaudoin, who tops the entire league in playoff scoring with 23 points and has registered a point in every single game of this postseason. Beaudoin spoke about what it will take to get past Brantford. “I think it comes down to our depth throughout the lineup. Every night, we'll need someone to step up. It's going to take a full team effort to get past Brantford.” Emil Hemming is not far behind at 17 points, giving Barrie a potent one-two punch at the top of the lineup. Goaltender Ben Hrebik enters with a .923 save percentage and will need to be at his best against a Brantford offence that has shown no signs of slowing down. One area that will bear watching is discipline. Barrie has more than doubled Brantford's penalty minute total in the postseason, 141 to 59, and Kashawn Aitcheson was candid about the challenge that presents against a Brantford power play as dangerous as this one. “We take pride in playing a certain way, getting under opponents' skin, bringing energy, and playing with edge. But in this series, it'll be important to stay disciplined. Their power play is very strong and can make you pay if you give them too many opportunities.” McKee, for his part, made clear that the respect runs both ways. "Like us, they have their strengths and weaknesses. They're built a bit differently, so we'll need to manage their power forwards, and they also have a strong power play. Discipline will be important. Both teams are very strong, and we're expecting a great series.” Both coaches have spoken about respecting the other team while trusting their own identity, and that mutual respect feels genuinely earned. Brantford's depth and goaltending give them the edge, but Barrie's offensive firepower, battle-tested resilience, physicality, and burning desire to go one step further than last year make them a genuine threat. With Beaudoin on a career-high run and Leenders standing tall at the other end, this Eastern Conference Final has all the ingredients for something special. Series Schedule: * if needed Game 1 – Wed., April 22 at Brantford, 7:00pm Game 2 – Fri., April 24 at Brantford, 7:00pm Game 3 – Sun., April 26 at Barrie, 6:00pm Game 4 – Tues., April 28 at Barrie, 7:00pm Game 5 – Thurs., April 30 at Brantford, 7:00pm* Game 6 – Sat., May 2 at Barrie, 7:00pm* Game 7 – Mon., May 4 at Brantford, 7:00pm* Season Series: Series tied 2-2 Oct. 29 - BAR 5 at BFD 4 Jan. 25 - BAR 1 at BFD 7 Feb. 21 - BFD 4 at BAR 7 Mar. 5 - BFD 5 at BAR 3 Playoff History: This marks the first playoff meeting between Brantford and Barrie since the Bulldogs’ relocation, and just the second in franchise history. 2023 BAR def. HAM 4-2 – First Round

Two OHL players named to USA’s roster ahead of 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:59:01 +0000

Team USA has announced its tournament roster for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship, which includes two OHL players. The tournament will take place in Bratislava and Trenčín, Slovakia, from April 22 to May 2. The Americans will look to win their first gold medal since 2023. Defencemen: Levi Harper (Saginaw Spirit) Forwards: Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals) The 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship kicks off on April 22, with Team USA taking on Czechia, Denmark, Sweden and Germany in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 2. All U.S. games throughout the tournament will be broadcast live on NHL Network. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For more information on the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, please visit the official tournament website at IIHF.com For more information on USA Hockey and USA’s National Men’s Under-18 Team, please visit UsaHockey.com or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

St. Louis Blues’ prospect Lukas Fischer assigned to Springfield

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:12:56 +0000

Defenceman Lukas Fischer is set to join the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues, as they prepare for a best-of-three series against the Charlotte Checkers. The 2024 second-round selection signed his entry-level contract with St. Louis in March 2025, and has already seen action at the professional level, appearing in three games with Springfield last season.

Fischer spent the 2025–26 OHL season continuing to build his reputation as a reliable two-way blueliner. He began the year as captain of the Sarnia Sting, recording 26 points (5-21-26) in 39 games while logging significant minutes on the back end. The Brighton, MI native was dealt to the Soo Greyhounds halfway through the season, where he provided a steady presence on the blue line and added 19 points (3-15-19) in 26 regular season games.

Fischer carried that momentum into the OHL Playoffs, contributing six points (1-5-6) in 10 playoff games, while playing a key role in the Greyhounds’ defensive core.

2026 OHL Awards – Defenceman of the Year Finalists

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:03:08 +0000

TORONTO - The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced finalists for the Max Kaminsky Trophy, presented annually to the OHL Defenceman of the Year as voted by the League's General Managers. Team nominees were required to receive 20% of the vote from General Managers within their own conference to advance to the final ballot as award finalists. This year’s Max Kaminsky Trophy finalists include: Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts) - 56 GP, 28 G, 42 A, 70 PTS. Kashawn Aitcheson had a record-setting year with the Barrie Colts in 2024-25, and doubled-down on it this past season, with his 28 goals and 70 points both etched in the franchise record books. The New York Islanders first round draft pick led OHL defencemen offensively, scoring a league-high six game-winners among rearguards while his plus-46 rating was second-best league-wide. Known for bringing a physical dimension to the game, Aitcheson finished first in four different OHL Coaches Poll categories including best shot, hardest shot, best bodychecker and best offensive defenceman. The 6-foot-2, 203Ib. competitor finished his 19-year-old season as Barrie's all-time leader in career goals (63) and points (171) by a defenceman. He was named OHL Defenceman of the Month for both January and February. Frankie Marrelli (Ottawa 67's) - 66 GP, 13 G, 30 A, 43 PTS. Fourth-year veteran Frankie Marrelli logged big minutes for the Ottawa 67's, finishing the season tied for the OHL lead in plus/minus with a plus-48 rating. The 19-year-old posted career-highs in goals (13), assists (30) and points (43), heating up in January and February with a stretch of 15 points over 13 games. Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds) - 45 GP, 18 G, 30 A, 48 PTS. Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Chase Reid produced at a more than point-per-game clip in his second campaign, playing big minutes for the Soo Greyhounds. The 18-year-old from Chesterfield, Michigan recorded six different games of at least three points, including a hat-trick on Dec. 5th against the Oshawa Generals. Reid appeared in four different categories in this year's OHL Coaches Poll including best skater, best shot, best defensive defenceman and was voted best offensive defenceman in the Western Conference. He enters the 2026 NHL Draft as the second-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. Carson Woodall (Windsor Spitfires) - 68 GP, 12 G, 51 A, 63 PTS. A former 10th round pick that has developed into a dependable option in Windsor, Spitfires defenceman Carson Woodall nearly doubled his point output from 2024-25. The Belle River native got off to a hot start, being named the OHL Defenceman of the Month for October and garnered respect from OHL coaches at season's end, being included in most improved player and best offensive defenceman categories on the annual coaches poll. Woodall's steady presence helped guide the Spitfires to a second straight West Division title.

Greyhounds’ captain Brady Martin reassigned to Milwaukee Admirals

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:24:46 +0000

The Nashville Predators have announced that forward Brady Martin has been reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals for the AHL Playoffs. The 2025 fifth-overall selection appeared in three games with Nashville to begin the season, recording one assist before returning to the Soo Greyhounds lineup.

Martin continued to play a key role for the Greyhounds registering 24 points (8-16-24) in 24 regular season games, before elevating his game with 10 points (3-7-10) in 10 playoff games. The Greyhounds were able to defeat the London Knights in a 5-game Round 1 series, before ultimately being eliminated in a 4-1 series loss to the Kitchener Rangers in Round 2.

Selected third overall in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, Martin has developed into one of the league’s household names. Across three seasons with the Soo, Martin totalled 124 points (51-73-124) in 133 games, showcasing the reasons he was a top-5 pick in last year's NHL Draft.

The Greyhounds’ captain is set to take another step in his development with his first taste of professional playoff hockey. The Admirals will face the Manitoba Moose in a best-of-three series to open the AHL Playoffs, beginning Wednesday, April 22.

Marco Mignosa joins Syracuse Crunch on amateur tryout

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:23:52 +0000

Forward Marco Mignosa is set to take the next step in his hockey career, earning an opportunity at the professional level with the Syracuse Crunch on an amateur tryout agreement. Selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NHL Draft, Mignosa’s signing comes after a standout overage season in the OHL with the Greyhounds.

The Vaughan, ON native delivered a career-best campaign with the Soo, recording 89 points (35-54-89) in 65 regular season games. He continued to produce at a high level in the OHL Playoffs, adding 17 points (7-10-17) in just 10 playoff appearances, serving as a key part of the Greyhounds offence.

Mignosa wraps up an impressive five-year OHL career that saw him appear in 303 regular season games, totalling 116 goals and 173 assists for 289 points. His offensive consistency shined in the playoffs, where he accumulated 30 points (12-18-30) across 36 career postseason games.

Mignosa will now look to carry that momentum into the professional ranks with Syracuse, as the Crunch prepare for a best-of-five series with the Cleveland Monsters.

Ten OHL players named to Canada’s opening roster ahead of 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:19:43 +0000

TORONTO - Hockey Canada has announced its tournament-opening roster for the 2026 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship, which includes 10 OHL players. The tournament will take place in Bratislava and Trenčín, Slovakia, from April 22 to May 2. Canada will look to defend their gold medal and reach the top of the podium for the third consecutive year. Goaltenders: Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs) Defencemen: Lucas Ambrosio (Erie Otters) Callum Croskery (Soo Greyhounds) Kohyn Eshkawkogan (Ottawa 67's) Carter Hicks (Brampton Steelheads) Forwards: Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion) Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting) Jean-Cristoph Lemieux (Sudbury Wolves) Thomas Vandenberg (Ottawa 67's) Dimian Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit) “Following a competitive camp, we are pleased to announce this group of 25 players who will begin the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship for Canada,” said Program of Excellence General Manager Alan Millar. “We are excited about our group’s competitiveness, talent and character as we prepare to open the tournament tomorrow against the host Slovaks. This team will represent Canada and their respective hometowns with pride and humility.” The 2026 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship kicks off on April 22, with Canada taking on Slovakia, Latvia, Norway and Finland in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on May 2. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast 16 tournament games, including all Team Canada preliminary-round games, as well as the quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal games. For more information on the tournament, please visit the official tournament website at IIHF.com For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

OHL Freeviews to Conclude with Conference Finals Coverage

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:00:03 +0000

The Ontario Hockey League and FloHockey will conclude this season’s game Freeviews with coverage of both Conference Final openers as the race for the 2026 J. Ross Robertson Cup continues.

Following Freeview coverage throughout the regular season and early playoff rounds, Game 1 of both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals will be available live and free across FloHockey’s social platforms. Fans can watch on FloHockey’s YouTube, X, and Facebook channels, while all other games remain available with a FloHockey subscription.

Game 1: Wednesday, April 22 – Barrie at Brantford (7:00 pm)

Eastern Conference Final – Bobby Orr Trophy

The Eastern Conference Final opens in Brantford as the Bulldogs host the Barrie Colts with the Bobby Orr Trophy on the line.

Brantford enters the series after finishing atop the Eastern Conference in the regular season and carrying that form into the postseason. The Bulldogs now look to take the next step on home ice as they pursue a trip to the OHL Championship Series.

Barrie returns to the Conference Final for the second straight season following last year’s run that ended against Oshawa. The Colts arrive with experience at this stage and will look to establish themselves early on the road in Game 1.

Game 1: Friday, April 24 – Windsor at Kitchener (7:00 pm)

Western Conference Final – Wayne Gretzky Trophy

The Western Conference Final begins Friday night in Kitchener as the Rangers host the Windsor Spitfires with the Wayne Gretzky Trophy at stake.

Kitchener earned home ice advantage and opens the series in front of its home crowd following a strong finish to the regular season and a consistent playoff run. The Rangers now turn their focus to a berth in the Championship Series on the line.

Windsor continues its playoff push after navigating a competitive Western Conference bracket. The Spitfires enter the Conference Final looking to carry momentum into another road Game 1 as they face a familiar opponent.

Final Game Freeviews of the Season

These two Conference Final openers mark the final game Freeviews of the 2025–26 OHL season.

All remaining playoff games, including the OHL Championship Series, will be available on FloHockey.tv and the FloSports app with a subscription.

Freeview coverage will return later this spring with the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, set for June 12 and 13.

Fans can watch both Conference Final Game 1 matchups live and free at:

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FloHockey
Watch on X: https://x.com/FloHockey
Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloHockey

FAQ

What are OHL Freeviews?
OHL Freeviews are select games made available live and free across FloHockey’s social platforms.

Where can I watch the Freeview games?
Fans can watch on FloHockey’s YouTube, X, and Facebook channels, as well as the OHL’s Facebook page.

Do I need a subscription?
No subscription is required for Freeview games. A FloHockey subscription is required to watch all other OHL Playoff games.

What’s next for Freeviews?
Freeview coverage will return with the 2026 OHL Priority Selection on June 12 and 13.

OHL Alumni Quinn and Luukkonen Finally Taste Playoff Hockey in Buffalo

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:15:05 +0000

They have been teammates in Buffalo for years, and every season always ended the same way. No playoffs. No postseason debut. Just another spring spent watching. Jack Quinn and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, two OHL alumni drafted and developed by the Sabres, have lived through the heartbreak together, a forward out of the Ottawa 67's and a goaltender out of the Sudbury Wolves, both waiting for the night their names would finally appear in a Stanley Cup Playoff box score. On Sunday night at KeyBank Center, after years of near-misses, rebuilds and April disappointment, that night finally arrived. Buffalo's 14-year playoff drought was the longest active streak in the NHL, and it became a weight that every young Sabre carried from the minute he pulled on the jersey. Luukkonen was drafted 54th overall in 2017, and Quinn was taken eighth overall just three years later in 2020. They came to Buffalo as hyped OHL products, and they stayed through everything the organization went through. Plenty of highly touted players had left Buffalo over the years, but Quinn and Luukkonen stayed. When the Sudbury Wolves used their third overall pick in the 2018 CHL Import Draft on a tall, calm Finnish teenager, they knew they were getting a goaltender. What they didn't know however, was that they were getting one of the best single seasons any OHL netminder has ever had. Luukkonen's OHL career was brief, just one year in North American junior hockey before he turned pro, but he made every game count. In 2018-19, he set the Sudbury Wolves franchise record for most wins in a regular season and led the OHL in wins (38), save percentage (.920), and shutouts (6). He became the first European import player to win the Red Tilson Trophy as the league's most outstanding player, and he also took home OHL Goaltender of the Year honours. The road from Sudbury to Buffalo's crease, however, was anything but linear. Luukkonen spent years bouncing between the AHL's Rochester Americans and the Sabres, competing through a revolving door of goaltenders, an ankle surgery, and stretches where he was the fourth goalie on the depth chart. He kept working. He earned the job. And in his long-awaited Stanley Cup Playoff debut as the starter, that composure showed up when it mattered most. Luukkonen made 17 saves, including a pair of breakaway stops on Bruins superstar David Pastrnak, denials that kept Buffalo within reach when the game could have easily slipped away. https://twitter.com/SabresPlays/status/2046029007427166519 In Ottawa, Jack Quinn was on his own OHL journey, one that stretched three seasons. Drafted by the 67's in the second round of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, Quinn's arrival in the league was quiet, with just 12 goals in his rookie season. The next year, he rebuilt his mindset, his body, and his game. The payoff was a 2019-20 campaign that ranks among the most impressive individual seasons by a Sabres draft pick in recent memory. Quinn finished second in the OHL with 52 goals in 62 regular-season games for the 67's, becoming just the fourth OHL player in the previous 10 seasons to reach the 50-goal mark in his draft year. But the NHL road has also tested Quinn. He lost most of his second pro season to a serious Achilles injury, spent stretches shuttling to and from Rochester, and fought to find his footing on a team that kept falling short. Through it all, he stayed determined to turn things around. And on Sunday night, the instincts that once made him a 50-goal scorer in the OHL resurfaced in the biggest moment of his career. With just 3:24 left in regulation and the Sabres suddenly tied 2-2, after trailing by two goals for the majority of the game, Quinn pounced on a mistake from Hampus Lindholm in the offensive zone and fed Mattias Samuelsson at the top of the left faceoff circle for the go-ahead goal. It was a flashy and crucial primary assist on the winner in his first playoff game, and it helped the Sabres complete a historic and epic comeback win – the franchise's first postseason victory since 2011. https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres/status/2046051656924823950 For Quinn, that assist was the kind of play Sabres fans had been waiting to see from him in a playoff game for a long, long time. For Luukkonen, at the other end of the ice, the breakaway stops on Pastrnak carried the same weight, the culmination of years of work finally paying off on the biggest stage. https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres/status/2046059387798577618 The Ontario Hockey League is known for developing players for the NHL. But every so often, a moment like this arrives to remind everyone why the work matters, and why loyalty matters too. Jack Quinn and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen travelled very different roads through the OHL and through the Buffalo system. But, those roads finally converged into a dream they had been chasing all along. And somewhere in Ottawa and Sudbury, there are billet families, coaches, teammates and fans who watched this one very closely, knowing exactly where their stories started.

2026 OHL Awards – General Manager of the Year Finalists

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:30:47 +0000

TORONTO - The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award, presented annually to the OHL General Manager who best excelled at his role during the regular season. Marty Williamson of the Barrie Colts and Dave McParlan of the Flint Firebirds were the front-runners in the voting process carried-out by OHL General Managers. The winner will be determined by a panel consisting of accredited OHL media members, as well as a representative from NHL Central Scouting. Here's some information on this year's finalists: Marty Williamson (Barrie Colts) - 45-14-5-4, 99 Pts., 1st Central Division In his first season exclusively focused on managerial duties, Marty Williamson helped push the Barrie Colts to the next level with key additions at the OHL trade deadline, bringing in veterans Parker von Richter and Mason Zebeski from the Brampton Steelheads as well as Ben Wilmott from the London Knights. The Colts cruised to their second straight Central Division title, finishing 19 points ahead of second place North Bay under first-year Head Coach Dylan Smoskowitz. Led by previous Williamson acquisitions in Cole Beaudoin, Kashawn Aitcheson and Emil Hemming, the Colts led the OHL with 24 road wins, and were 31-1-1-1 in games where they scored first. Dave McParlan (Flint Firebirds) - 44-17-4-3, 95 Pts., 2nd West Division The Flint Firebirds turned-in the best season in their 10-year history, with 44 wins, 95 points and 199 goals-against setting new benchmarks. General Manager Dave McParlan brought in several names who turned into key pieces for Flint, most notably offseason goaltending addition Mason Vaccari from the Kingston Frontenacs who helped them make a 32-point improvement in the standings. The Birds benefitted from McParland's deadline addition of Winnipeg Jets prospect Kevin He from the Niagara IceDogs, who joined Jacob Battaglia, Ihnat Pazii and Brady Smith as in-season trade pick-ups. The Flint program also benefitted from McParlan's signing of 2007-born former draft picks Dryden Allen and Luka Graziano on the blueline along with first-year 2006-born 20-goal scorer Darian Anderson. The Firebirds boasted the Western Conference's best road record under Head Coach Paul Flache, and gave the Flint faithful plenty to cheer about in 2025-26.