https://chl.ca/ohl Official Website of the OHL Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:30:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://media.chl.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/03123951/SiteIcon-150x150.png https://chl.ca/ohl 32 32 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/2026-ohl-in-the-system-detroit-red-wings Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:30:51 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/2026-ohl-in-the-system-detroit-red-wings This 32-part series will spotlight OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.  Join us for OHL in the System! Today, we take a closer look at the Detroit Red Wings prospect pool.   Adam Levac (C) – Peterborough Petes (2024-26) Selected: 4th Round, 108th Overall (2026) OHL Career Stats: 117 GP, 22G, 32A, 54 PTS, -22 Age: 18 With the 108th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Detroit Red Wings selected Peterborough Petes forward Adam Levac. The Embrun, Ont., native enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign, more than tripling his offensive production by recording 44 points (16-28–44) in 60 regular-season games.   Beckham Edwards (C) – Sarnia Sting (2024-26) Selected: 5th Round, 143rd Overall (2026) OHL Career Stats: 126 GP, 44G, 46A, 90 PTS, -35 Age: 18 The Detroit Red Wings selected Sarnia Sting centreman Beckham Edwards in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Edwards posted his second consecutive 45-point season, recording 19 goals and 26 assists in 68 games. He also represented Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, producing four points (2-2–4) in five games.   Michal Svrcek (C/W) – Windsor Spitfires (2026-27) Selected: 4th Round, 119th Overall (2025) 2025-26 Stats (Brynäs IF U20): 11 GP, 6G, 12A, 18 PTS, +8 Age: 19 Following his CHL Import Draft selection by Windsor in 2025, Michal Svrcek remained with Brynäs IF, recording 18 points (6-12–18) in 11 J20 Nationell games. Internationally, the 6-foot forward represented Slovakia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, contributing a goal and an assist in five games. He is set to make his OHL debut with the Spitfires this fall.   Chase Stillman (RW/LW) – Sudbury Wolves (2019-22), Peterborough Petes (2022-23) Signed: Jul. 5, 2026  OHL Career Stats: 176 GP, 51G, 80A, 131 PTS, -31 Age: 23 Recently acquired by the Detroit Red Wings, Chase Stillman spent the 2025-26 season with the Abbotsford Canucks, recording nine points (3-6–9) and 48 penalty minutes in 24 games. Originally selected 29th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 NHL Draft, the former J. Ross Robertson Cup champion, has accumulated 45 points (21-24–45) and 174 penalty minutes across 143 AHL games with Utica, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Abbotsford since 2023-24.   Cameron Butler (RW/LW) – Peterborough Petes (2018-20), Niagara IceDogs (2020-2022), Oshawa Generals (2022-23) Signed: Jul. 1, 2026    OHL Career Stats: 257 GP, 74G, 80A, 154 PTS, -84 Age: 24 Also joining the Red Wings organization this summer, Cameron Butler split the 2025-26 season between the AHL's Iowa Wild and the ECHL's Iowa Heartlanders. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound forward recorded one goal in 16 AHL games while adding 20 points (9-11–20) and 77 penalty minutes in 30 ECHL contests. Originally signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Butler made his NHL debut on March 30, 2024.   Tomorrow on OHL In The System: We'll take a look at the OHL talent inside the Utah Mammoth organization.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl/article/knights-sign-defenceman-jackson-marthaler Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:22:42 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/knights-sign-defenceman-jackson-marthaler LONDON, ON - The London Knights have announced the signing of defenceman Jackson Marthaler to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Marthaler was drafted by the Knights in the fourth round (76th overall) of the 2026 OHL Priority Selection and spent the majority of the 2025-26 season with the U.S. National U18 Team, where he appeared in 54 regular-season games and recorded four assists. The Superior, Wisconsin native also suited up for the USNTDP Juniors of the USHL, where he also tallied four assists and is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the 2027-28 season. The signing marks the next step in Marthaler’s development as he joins the Knights organization ahead of the upcoming season.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl/article/spitfires-sign-2026-1st-round-pick-lauchlan-whelan Fri, 17 Jul 2026 20:06:12 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/spitfires-sign-2026-1st-round-pick-lauchlan-whelan WINDSOR, ON. - The Windsor Spitfires are proud to announce the signing of forward Lauchlan Whelan to the Red, White and Navy! Whelan was selected by the Spitfires in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2026 OHL Priority Selection. The Cobourg, Ontario native stands 6-foot-0 and weighs 165 pounds. Whelan spent the past three seasons with the Quinte Red Devils. During the 2023-24 season, he recorded 41 goals and 36 assists for 77 points in 42 games. He followed that with 20 goals and 21 assists for 41 points in just 23 games during the 2024-25 campaign. Whelan also earned a call-up to the Quinte U16 team, registering one assist in one game. In his OHL Draft season, Whelan appeared in 34 games, recording 32 goals and 22 assists for 54 points. He elevated his play in the postseason, tallying 12 goals and three assists for 15 points in eight playoff games. The Cobourg, ON native is excited to be joining the club. “I am incredibly honoured to sign with Windsor.” Whelan said. “It is a special moment for me and my family because of all the sacrifices that have been made to get here. I am grateful to the organization for believing in me, and I know this is only the start. I am excited to come in every day with a strong work ethic, good character, keep improving and do whatever I can to help the team succeed.” Bill Bowler spoke on Whelan putting pen to paper. “Lauchlan is a dynamic and talented forward” GM Bill Bowler said. “He competes at both ends of the ice and we look forward to his exciting style of play. We welcome him and his family to the Spitfires!”  ]]> https://chl.ca/ohl/article/colorado-avalanche-name-jussi-ahokas-head-coach-of-ahl-affiliate-colorado-eagles Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:43:42 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/colorado-avalanche-name-jussi-ahokas-head-coach-of-ahl-affiliate-colorado-eagles KITCHENER, ONT. — The Kitchener Rangers announced today that Head Coach Jussi Ahokas will be leaving the organization to accept the Head Coach position with the Colorado Eagles, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. Ahokas departs Kitchener following one of the most successful three-year stretches in Rangers’ history. Since being named the 25th head coach in franchise history in July 2023, the Oulu, Finland native guided the club to a combined regular-season record of 135-52-13-4, including three straight 40-win seasons and consecutive 100-point campaigns for the first time in franchise history. Under Ahokas, the Rangers never finished below fourth place in the Western Conference and captured the 2025-26 OHL Championship before going 4-0-0-0 at the Memorial Cup in Kelowna, BC to win junior hockey's most prestigious trophy for the third time in franchise history. Ahokas made history as he became the first European head coach to win both an OHL Championship and a Memorial Cup. “On behalf of the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club, I want to congratulate Jussi Ahokas on being named Head Coach of the Colorado Eagles,” said Kitchener Rangers Chief Operating Officer and Governor Joe Birch. “This opportunity is a testament to Jussi's outstanding leadership, exceptional hockey mind, and unwavering commitment to player development. During his time in Kitchener, he helped elevate our organization to new heights, culminating in a Memorial Cup championship while leaving a lasting impact on our players, staff, and community. We are incredibly proud of everything he accomplished with the Rangers and wish Jussi and his family continued success in this well-deserved next chapter.” Jussi Ahokas was a pioneer for European coaches at the junior level in Canada becoming the first European to coach in the Canadian Hockey League, creating another pathway on route to the professional level in our sport. “When we hired Jussi three years ago, he always said his goal was to move on to pro hockey and try to reach his goal of coaching in the NHL,” said Kitchener Rangers General Manager Mike McKenzie. “While we will miss him in Kitchener, we are happy that he is one step closer to that goal and we were able to play a small role in it. We would like to thank Jussi for his dedication and contributions to our club and wish him the best in Colorado.” Ahokas’ Rangers teams posted regular-season records of 41-23-4-0 in 2023-24, 47-15-4-2 in 2024-25 and 47-14-5-2 in 2025-26. His 135 regular-season victories rank fourth in franchise history, trailing only Peter DeBoer (297), Joe McDonell (226), and Steve Spott (187), while his .703 points percentage is the best mark by a head coach in Rangers history. In the postseason, Ahokas led Kitchener to a 32-16 playoff record across three seasons, including a 16-2-0-0 run to the 2025-26 OHL Championship and a perfect 4-0-0-0 record at the Memorial Cup. Before joining the Rangers, Ahokas built one of the most decorated coaching résumés in European hockey. He was named the Alliance of European Hockey Clubs’ 2019-20 Coach of the Year and earned the Kalevi Numminen Trophy as Liiga Coach of the Year after guiding Kouvola KooKoo to a 110-point season. Internationally, Ahokas led Finland to gold medals at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championship. The Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo would like to thank Jussi Ahokas for his great accomplishments over his tenure and the dedication he has shown to our club and community.

]]> https://chl.ca/ohl/article/2026-ohl-in-the-system-anaheim-ducks Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:30:30 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/2026-ohl-in-the-system-anaheim-ducks This 32-part series will spotlight OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.  Join us for OHL in the System! Today, we take a closer look at the Anaheim Ducks prospects who have developed in the OHL.   Nikita Klepov (RW) – Saginaw Spirit (2025-26) Selected: 1st Round, 15th Overall (2026) OHL Career Stats: 67 GP, 37G, 60A, 97 PTS, +9 Age: 18 After trading up to acquire the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Anaheim Ducks selected Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Klepov. The 6-foot winger is coming off a remarkable rookie season in which he captured both the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year and the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the league's leading scorer after recording 97 points (37-60–97) in 67 regular-season games.   Eric Frossard (D) – Guelph Storm (2024-26) Selected: 5th Round, 146th Overall (2026) OHL Career Stats: 81 GP, 5G, 11A, 16 PTS, -16 Age: 18 The Anaheim Ducks selected 6-foot-4 Guelph Storm defenceman Eric Frossard in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. The London, Ont., native recorded 14 points (5-9–14) in 51 games during his sophomore OHL season and was relied upon in key defensive situations throughout the year.   Noah Read (LW) – London Knights (2024-26), Niagara IceDogs (2025-26) Selected: 3rd Round, 72nd Overall (2025) OHL Career Stats: 105 GP, 21G, 27A, 48 PTS, -3 Age: 19 Joining his hometown Niagara IceDogs prior to the 2025-26 season, Noah Read recorded 20 points (10-10–20) in 50 regular-season games with his new club. The third-round pick continues to develop as a dependable two-way winger after beginning his OHL career with the London Knights.   Ethan Procyszyn (C) – North Bay Battalion (2022-26) Selected: 3rd Round, 68th Overall (2024)  OHL Career Stats: 257 GP, 85G, 92A, 177 PTS, +22 Age: 20 Ethan Procyszyn led the Battalion in scoring during the 2025-26 season with 59 points (31-28–59) in 65 games. The 6-foot-3 centre also paced the club in goals, plus/minus and faceoff wins, while ranking among the team's leaders in several offensive and defensive categories. A native of Wasaga Beach, Ont., Procyszyn served as North Bay’s captain over the past two seasons, establishing himself as a consistent presence in all situations. He signed an entry-level contract with the Ducks in April and is expected to begin his professional career with the San Diego Gulls in the fall.   Darels Uljanskis (D) – Flint Firebirds (2025-26) Selected: 7th Round, 214th Overall (2024)  OHL Career Stats: 42 GP, 8G, 18A, 26 PTS, +25 Age: 19 In his first season with the Flint Firebirds, Darels Uljanskis recorded 26 points (8-18–26) and a +25 rating in 42 regular-season games before adding five assists in the playoffs. Internationally, the 6-foot-2 blueliner represented Latvia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he recorded a goal and an assist. He is committed to St. Cloud State University for the 2026-27 season.    Coulson Pitre (RW) – Flint Firebirds (2021-24) Selected: 3rd Round, 65th Overall (2023)  OHL Career Stats: 166 GP, 75G, 84A, 159 PTS, +22 Age: 21 Playing in his second full professional season, Coulson Pitre appeared in 25 regular-season games with the San Diego Gulls, recording five points (2-3–5). He also added 21 points (5-16–21) in 26 games with the ECHL's Tulsa Oilers.   Konnor Smith (D) – Peterborough Petes (2021-24), Owen Sound Attack (2023-25), Brampton Steelheads (2024-25) Selected: 4th Round, 97th Overall (2023)  OHL Career Stats: 219 GP, 26G, 44A, 70 PTS, 0 Age: 21 Konnor Smith spent most of the 2025-26 season with the ECHL's Tulsa Oilers, recording nine points (8-1–9) in 38 regular-season games. The 6-foot-6 defenceman also appeared in 13 contests with the San Diego Gulls, registering his first AHL point with an assist.   Tomorrow on OHL In The System: We'll take a look at the OHL talent inside the Detroit Red Wings organization.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl/article/steelheads-sign-defenceman-john-montanino Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:23:46 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/steelheads-sign-defenceman-john-montanino BRAMPTON, ON - The Brampton Steelheads announced the signing of their fifth-round pick in this year's 2026 OHL Priority Selection, John Montanino, to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.  Selected 84th overall, the 6-foot-1, 201-pound defenceman is a product of the Little Caesars U15 AAA.  The Sarnia, Ontario native enjoyed a strong 2025-26 campaign with Little Caesars U15 AAA, recording 5 goals and 10 assists in 15 regular season games. A smart, dependable defenceman, Montanino excels in his own zone and uses his combination of size, strength, and skating ability to his advantage at both ends of the ice. Head Coach and General Manager James Richmond commented after signing Montanino, “John is a big, puck-moving defenceman that can move up and down the ice very well. He competes at a high level, which makes him hard to play against in the D-Zone. We look forward to seeing John in the blue and white.” Montanino’s steady defensive presence, physical maturity, and high hockey IQ makes him an exciting addition to the Steelheads’ blueline as he begins the next chapter of his development in Brampton.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl/article/bulldogs-sign-defenceman-john-kanyo Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:26:31 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/bulldogs-sign-defenceman-john-kanyo BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Brantford Bulldogs President of Hockey Operations Spencer Hyman today announced the signing of 2026 4^th round, 65^th overall selection, John Kanyo, from the Barrie Colts U16 to an OHL Scholarship & Development Agreement. Kanyo, of Innisfil, ON, will remind Bulldogs fans of a young Owen Protz. The 6’1”/180 right-shot rearguard has already known for his ability to shut down the opposition and play a heavy physical game. After winning an OMHA U15 Championship in 2025, Kanyo had a standout season in 2025-26 at the U16 level. Skating in 59 games on the season, Kanyo posted 12 goals & 28 assists for 40 points with 109 penalty minutes. Kanyo’s solid defensive style earned him a 7 game callup to the U18 AAA level and he continued to shine a brief playoff run posting a goal & 2 assists in 3 games with 27 peanlty minutes. Kanyo becomes the 4^th signing from the Bulldogs 2026 Priority Selection class joining 20^th overall pick Aiden Kelly, 31^st selection Finn Ellery & 40^th selection Kayden Kelly “We’re thrilled to welcome John Kanyo to the Bulldogs. said Hyman. “He’s a tough, physical player who competes with an edge every single shift and isn’t afraid to get under the skin of opposing players. He brings the kind of grit and intensity that fits our identity perfectly, and we have no doubt he’s going to become a fan favourite in Brantford.”.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl/article/former-ohl-staff-members-lennon-payne-join-penguins-hockey-operations Thu, 16 Jul 2026 18:45:04 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/former-ohl-staff-members-lennon-payne-join-penguins-hockey-operations https://chl.ca/ohl/article/ottawa-67s-extend-assistant-coaches-norm-milley-and-paul-stoykewych Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:33:08 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/ottawa-67s-extend-assistant-coaches-norm-milley-and-paul-stoykewych OTTAWA – The Ottawa 67’s have announced that assistant coaches Norm Milley and Paul Stoykewych have each signed two-year contract extensions through the 2027-28 Ontario Hockey League season. "I am very happy to have both Norm and Paul back on our coaching staff," said Ottawa 67’s Head Coach Dave Cameron. "Norm’s experience and understanding of the game are invaluable. He’s become one of the most respected coaches in the OHL and brings a wealth of knowledge to our group. Paul offers a fresh perspective, and his personable, detail-oriented approach has made a significant impact on our players’ development. Together, they are outstanding members of our staff." Milley, 46, is set to begin his ninth season with the Ottawa 67’s, having joined the organization in 2017 as part of André Tourigny's coaching staff. Since then, the Toronto native has helped lead the team to an OHL Championship Series appearance in 2019 and three Hamilton Spectator Trophy titles alongside Tourigny and current Head Coach Dave Cameron. Before turning to coaching, Milley had a distinguished playing career. As a standout with the Sudbury Wolves, he collected multiple CHL and OHL honours before being selected 37th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1998 NHL Draft. Milley went on to play for Buffalo and the Tampa Bay Lightning and enjoyed a strong career in the American Hockey League. He concluded his playing days in Germany’s DEL, earning several league honours, including leading the league in assists and points. On the international stage, Milley has represented Canada as both a player and a coach. Stoykewych, 31, joined Cameron’s coaching staff ahead of the 2023-24 season and is entering his fourth year with the organization. Previously, the Winnipeg native spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s hockey program. Before that, he served as a skills development coach and program coordinator at Manitoba’s RINK Training Centre and as an assistant coach with the Western Mustangs during the 2019-20 season. As a player, Stoykewych played for the Western Michigan University Broncos from 2014 to 2018, tallying 23 points over 82 NCAA games. Prior to his collegiate career, he represented Canada West at the 2012 and 2013 World Junior A Challenge, as well as the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Milley and Stoykewych will return alongside reigning OHL Coach of the Year Dave Cameron as the 67’s open their preseason schedule on August 30 against the Kingston Frontenacs at Slush Puppie Place. Ottawa begins the 2026-27 regular season in Kingston on September 20, before hosting the Sarnia Sting in their home opener at The Arena at TD Place on September 27 at 3:00 p.m.]]> https://chl.ca/ohl/article/2026-ohl-in-the-system-new-york-islanders Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:27:31 +0000 https://chl.ca/ohl/article/2026-ohl-in-the-system-new-york-islanders This 32-part series will spotlight OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.  Join us for OHL in the System! Today, we will take a closer look at the New York Islanders' OHL-heavy pipeline.   Vladimir Dravecky (D) –  Brantford Bulldogs (2025-26), Guelph Storm (2026-27) Selected: 5th Round, 141st Overall (2026) OHL Career Stats: 58 GP, 9G, 19A, 28 PTS, +24 Age: 18 The New York Islanders selected newly acquired Guelph Storm defenceman Vladimir Dravecky in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Acquired by the Storm earlier this offseason following a trade with the Brantford Bulldogs, the late-2007-born blueliner recorded 28 points (9-19–28) in 58 games during his rookie OHL season. His father, Vladimir Sr., continues to play professionally in Czechia's top league.   Kashawn Aitcheson (D) – Barrie Colts (2023-26) Selected: 1st Round, 17th Overall (2025) OHL Career Stats: 207 GP, 63G, 108A, 171 PTS, +42 Age: 19 Kashawn Aitcheson put together a record-setting final season in Barrie, leading all OHL defencemen with 70 points while setting a Colts franchise record for goals by a defenceman with 28. The Toronto, Ont., native also finished among the league leaders with a +46 rating and six game-winning goals, while his 15 power-play goals paced all OHL blueliners. Named the OHL's Defenceman of the Year as the recipient of the Max Kaminsky Trophy, Aitcheson finished his Colts career as the franchise's all-time leader among defencemen in both goals (63) and points (171). He also represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, earning a bronze medal, and was named to both the OHL and CHL First All-Star Teams.   Luca Romano (C) – Kitchener Rangers (2023-25) Selected: 3rd Round, 74th Overall (2025) OHL Career Stats: 178 GP, 49G, 57A, 106 PTS, +15 Age: 19 Luca Romano capped off his third season with the Kitchener Rangers by helping the club capture both the OHL and Memorial Cup championships. Serving as an assistant captain, Romano recorded 33 points (14-19–33) in 55 regular-season games before adding another championship to his résumé.   Jesse Nurmi (LW) – London Knights (2024-26) Selected: 4th Round, 113th Overall (2023) Signed:  OHL Career Stats: 88 GP, 23G, 39A, 62 PTS, +7 Age: 21 After beginning the season with the ECHL's Worcester Railers, where he recorded two points (1-1–2) in 12 games, Jesse Nurmi returned to the London Knights at the end of December and made an immediate impact. Despite appearing in nearly half as many games as the previous season, the Finnish forward matched his career high with 31 points (14-17–31) and put together an impressive 11-game point streak during the regular season. He is expected to begin the upcoming season with the relocated Hamilton Hammers of the AHL.   Isaiah George (D) – London Knights (2021-24) Selected: 4th Round, 98th Overall (2022) Signed:  OHL Career Stats: 189 GP, 19 G, 56 A, 75 PTS, +72 Age: 22 Isaiah George spent the majority of the season with the AHL's Bridgeport Islanders, recording 18 points (2-16–18) in 47 regular-season games. He also appeared in four games with the New York Islanders, registering his first NHL point with an assist, and is expected to compete for a full-time roster spot this fall.   Tomorrow on OHL In The System: We'll take a look at the OHL talent inside the Anaheim Ducks organization.]]>