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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, Ontario – Team Canada has announced the opening tournament roster for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship, which includes ten 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) Carter Hicks (Brampton Steelheads) Kohyn Eshkawkogan (Ottawa 67's)

Callum Croskery (Soo Greyhounds)

Forwards: Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting) Jean-Christoph Lemieux (Sudbury Wolves) Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm) Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit) Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion) “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 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 U18 Men’s World 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 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, 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.

10 OHL Officials Selected to Work 2026 TELUS Cup and IIHF U18 World Championship

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:00:09 +0000

Toronto, Ont. - The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to congratulate 10 officials currently working in the league who have been selected to officiate at national and international events this spring, including the 2026 TELUS Cup and the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.

Seven OHL officials have been selected by Hockey Canada to work the 2026 TELUS Cup, Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship, taking place from April 20–26 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

OHL referees Charlie Giesler, TJ Hunter, Derek Risebrough, Ian Rush, and Kyle Whiteman will take part in the event, joined by linespersons Devon Marson and Meck Wright.

The TELUS Cup features the host Peterborough Petes alongside five regional champions competing for a national title, showcasing the top U18 club talent from across Canada.

At the international level, three OHL officials have been selected by the International Ice Hockey Federation to officiate at the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship in Slovakia.

Referees Chad Ingalls and Tyson Stewart, along with linesperson Spencer Knox, will represent the OHL at the tournament, which runs from April 22 to May 2 in Bratislava and Trenčín.

The event features the world’s top under-18 players, including eight from the Ontario Hockey League, with Canada set to face Slovakia, Latvia, Norway, and Finland in the preliminary round. TSN and RDS will broadcast 16 tournament games, including all Team Canada preliminary-round matchups and the medal rounds.

“These assignments reflect the strength and depth of officiating in the Ontario Hockey League,” said OHL Director of Officiating Conrad Haché. “To see our officials recognized by Hockey Canada and the IIHF is a strong endorsement of the work being done across the league.”

The Ontario Hockey League continues to serve as a development path for officials, with opportunities at national and international events providing valuable experience on some of hockey’s biggest stages.

TELUS Cup – OHL Officials

Referees

REFEREE	OHL SEASON	NOTES
Charlie Giesler	4	All seasons as linesperson prior
TJ Hunter	4	1st season as OHL referee
Derek Risebrough	2	1st season as OHL referee
Ian Rush	4	1st season as OHL referee
Kyle Whiteman	1	1st season as OHL referee

Linespersons

LINESPERSON	OHL SEASON
Devon Marson	2
Meck Wright	2

IIHF U18 World Championship – OHL Officials

Referees

REFEREE	OHL SEASON	YRS. AS REFEREE
Chad Ingalls	4	4
Tyson Stewart	6	6

Linespersons

LINESPERSON	OHL SEASON
Spencer Knox	5

Rangers’ Dylan Edwards named Cogeco OHL Player of the Week

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:30:15 +0000

TORONTO - The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that overage forward Dylan Edwards is the Cogeco OHL Player of the Week, producing four goals, two assists and six points over three games to help the Kitchener Rangers advance to the Western Conference Championship Series. Edwards scored a hat-trick in Kitchener's Game 3 road win on Tuesday, scoring the deciding goal with 5:17 remaining in a 4-3 victory over the Soo Greyhounds. He helped lead the charge in pushing the Rangers through to the third round of the playoffs with a goal and two assists in Friday's 5-1 win at the Aud. A 20-year-old from Toronto, Edwards has 13 points (8-5--13) over nine games in these playoffs, building-off a 40-goal, 87-point regular season over 67 games between the Rangers and Erie Otters. The 5-foot-8, 171Ib. left-wing was originally Erie's eighth round (150th overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, and produced 84 goals, 100 assists and 184 points over 222 career regular season games. Completing his fourth full OHL season, Edwards as produced 20 goals, 17 assists and 37 points over 24 career playoff contests between the Rangers and Otters. He is committed to Quinnipiac University (NCAA). 2025-26 Cogeco OHL Player of the Week – Playoffs Mar. 23-29: Jacob Battaglia (Flint Firebirds) Mar. 30-Apr. 5: Ben Wilmott (Barrie Colts) Apr. 6-12: Adam Jiricek (Brantford Bulldogs) Apr. 13-19: Dylan Edwards (Kitchener Rangers) 2025-26 Cogeco OHL Player of the Week – Regular Season Sept. 18-21: Cole Davis (Windsor Spitfires) Sept. 22-28: Ethan Czata (Niagara IceDogs) Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts) Oct. 6-12: Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs) Oct. 13-19: Adam Benak (Brantford Bulldogs) Oct. 20-26: Kieron Walton (Sudbury Wolves) Oct. 27-Nov. 2: Harry Nansi (Owen Sound Attack) Nov. 3-9: Alex Kostov (Flint Firebirds) Nov. 10-16: Nathan Aspinall (Flint Firebirds) Nov. 17-23: Marek Vanacker (Brantford Bulldogs) Nov. 24-30: Kieron Walton (Sudbury Wolves) Dec. 1-7: Alex McLean (Guelph Storm) Dec. 8-14: Christopher Brown (Soo Greyhounds) Dec. 15-21: Alex Pharand (Sudbury Wolves) Dec. 28-Jan. 4: Egor Barabanov (Saginaw Spirit) Jan. 5-11: Cole Beaudoin (Barrie Colts) Jan. 12-18: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) Jan. 19-25: Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs) Jan. 26-Feb. 1: Kevin He (Flint Firebirds) Feb. 2-8: Ben Wilmott (Barrie Colts) Feb. 9-15: Egor Barabanov (Saginaw Spirit) Feb. 16-22: Quinn Beauchesne (Guelph Storm) Feb. 23-Mar. 1: Liam Greentree (Windsor Spitfires) Mar. 2-8: Sam O’Reilly (Kitchener Rangers) Mar. 9-15: Cooper Foster (Ottawa 67’s) Mar. 16-22: Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs)

Colts’ Ben Hrebik named Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:00:23 +0000

TORONTO - The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that Ben Hrebik is the Mary Brown's Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week, going 2-1 with a 2.36 goals-against average and .933 save percentage to help the Barrie Colts advance to the Eastern Conference Championship Series. Hrebik made a total of 98 saves last week, rebounding from a Tuesday night loss with 33 saves in a 3-2 road win on Thursday. He closed out the second round series with another 33 saves against the Ottawa 67's in Game 5 as the Colts prevailed by a score of 4-1. A 20-year-old from Milton, ON, Hrebik is 8-1 in these playoffs with a 2.34 goals-against average and .923 save percentage with one shutout. The 6-foot-3, 204Ib. netminder was Barrie's ninth round (173rd overall) pick in 2022, and played to a regular season mark of 26-11-3-3 with a 2.81 goals-against average and .920 save percentage over 43 games. 2025-26 Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week – Playoffs Mar. 23-30: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires) Mar. 31-Apr. 5: Jack Lisson (North Bay Battalion) Apr. 6-12: Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs) Apr. 13-19: Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts) 2025-26 Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week – Regular Season Sept. 18-21: Jason Schaubel (Kitchener Rangers) Sept. 22-28: Joey Costanzo (Windsor Spitfires) Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs) Oct. 6-12: Mason Vaccari (Flint Firebirds) Oct. 13-19: Patrick Quinlan (Sarnia Sting) Oct. 20-26: Ryerson Leenders (Brantford Bulldogs) Oct. 27-Nov. 2: Aleksei Medvedev (London Knights) Nov. 3-9: Matthew Minchak (Kingston Frontenacs) Nov. 10-16: Ben Hrebik (Barrie Colts) Nov. 17-23: Easton Rye (Peterborough Petes) Nov. 24-30: Zach Bowen (Brampton Steelheads) Dec. 1-7: Vladislav Yermolenko (Niagara IceDogs) Dec. 8-14: Mason Vaccari (Flint Firebirds) Dec. 15-21: Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s) Dec. 28-Jan. 4: Easton Rye (Peterborough Petes) Jan. 5-11: Zachary Jovanovski (Guelph Storm) Jan. 12-18: Matthew Humphries (Oshawa Generals) Jan. 19-25: Carter George (Soo Greyhounds) Jan. 26-Feb. 1: Zach Bowen (Brampton Steelheads) Feb. 2-8: Easton Rye (Peterborough Petes) Feb. 9-15: Christian Kirsch (Kitchener Rangers) Feb. 16-22: Gavin Betts (Kingston Frontenacs) Feb. 23-Mar. 1: Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s) Mar. 2-8: Arvin Jaswal (Barrie Colts) Mar. 9-15: David Egorov (Brantford Bulldogs) Mar. 16-22: Mike McIvor (North Bay Battalion)

67’s’ Ryder Fetterolf named OHL Rookie of the Week

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:30:19 +0000

TORONTO - The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that 2026 NHL Draft eligible goaltender Ryder Fetterolf of the Ottawa 67's is the OHL Rookie of the Week, going 1-2 with a 2.70 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. Fetterolf's 67's saw their playoff run come to an end, but the OHL Goaltender of the Year did not disappoint, making 97 saves over three games to give the Barber Poles a chance against the Barrie Colts. Fetterolf made 36 saves in a 5-2 Game 3 victory on Tuesday, turned aside 40 shots as the 67's lost 3-2 in Game 4 and made 21 saves in Game 5 as Ottawa's season came to an end in a 4-1 final. An 18-year-old from Sewickley, Pennsylvania, Fetterolf claimed the Jim Rutherford Trophy as OHL Goaltender of the Year, becoming the first rookie in his first two seasons of eligibility to do so in OHL history. He played to a record of 29-9-2-1 with a franchise record 2.07 goals-against average and league-leading .923 save percentage, posting an OHL rookie record six shutouts. In the playoffs, Fetterolf was 5-4 with a 3.04 goals-against average and .900 save percentage over nine games. He is listed as the OHL's top NHL Draft eligible netminder on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings released last week, coming in at 11th in North America. 2025-26 OHL Rookie of the Week – Playoffs Mar. 23-29: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) Mar. 30-Apr. 5: John McLaughlin (Windsor Spitfires) Apr. 6-12: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) Apr. 13-19: Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67's) 2025-26 OHL Rookie of the Week – Regular Season Sept. 18-21: Thomas Vandenberg (Ottawa 67’s) Sept. 22-28: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) Oct. 6-12: Jaxon Cover (London Knights) Oct. 13-19: Ryder Cali (North Bay Battalion) Oct. 20-26: Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm) Oct. 27-Nov. 2: Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s) Nov. 3-9: Easton Walos (Sarnia Sting) Nov. 10-16: Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s) Nov. 17-23: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) Nov. 24-30: Levi Harper (Saginaw Spirit) Dec. 1-7: Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs) Dec. 8-14: Robin Kuzma (Kingston Frontenacs Dec. 15-21: Caleb Mitchell (London Knights) Dec. 28-Jan. 4: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) Jan. 5-11: Charlie Murata (Flint Firebirds) Jan. 12-18: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) Jan. 19-25: Ryerson Edgar (Niagara IceDogs) Jan. 26-Feb. 1: Keaton Ardagh (Brampton Steelheads) Feb. 2-8: Kale Osipenko (Sarnia Sting) Feb. 9-15: Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit) Feb. 16-22: Joe Salandra (Barrie Colts) Feb. 23-Mar. 1: Evgeny Dubrovtsev (North Bay Battalion) Mar. 2-8: Nolan Snyder (Kingston Frontenacs) Mar. 9-15: Ryder Fetterolf (Ottawa 67’s) Mar. 16-22: Cam Warren (North Bay Battalion)

From Erie to Elite: How Matthew Schaefer Took the NHL by Storm

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:54:28 +0000

There are rookie seasons, and then there is what Matthew Schaefer accomplished this past year. The New York Islanders defenceman, at just 18 years old, spent the 2025-26 season rewriting NHL record books that had stood for decades. But to appreciate just how extraordinary his first professional campaign was, you have to rewind the tape. Schaefer's path to stardom began in April 2023, when the Erie Otters selected him first overall in the OHL Priority Selection, making him just the third player in franchise history to carry that distinction, following Ryan O'Reilly and Connor McDavid. The Stoney Creek product was also the first defenceman ever taken first overall by the Otters. In his 2023-24 rookie OHL season, Schaefer suited up for 56 games on Erie's blue line, posting 17 points (3-14–17). His poise, skating, and play-driving ability earned him a spot on the OHL All-Rookie First Team, and he capped the year by captaining Team Canada White to gold at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge before adding another gold with Canada's Under-18 team the following summer. Entering the 2024-25 season, Schaefer was already a highly touted prospect for the upcoming NHL Draft, and he started the year proving exactly why. He posted 22 points (7-15–22) in just 17 games with the Otters, a pace of more than a point per game from the back end. He was then chosen to represent Canada at the 2025 World Junior Championship, which ended in a way that nobody expected. In the team's round-robin upset loss to Latvia, Schaefer suffered a broken collarbone, an injury that ended his tournament and, ultimately, his OHL season. Most prospects would have seen their draft stock slip, but Schaefer's never wavered. When June rolled around, the New York Islanders made him the first-overall pick, betting on the player they had seen and trusting that the skill set he'd flashed in Erie would translate to the game's highest level. And while most had expected him to do fairly well in his first season, Schaefer ended up defying every reasonable expectation. He signed an entry-level contract with the Islanders in August and made his debut on October 9, 2025, where he registered his first NHL point. The next game, he scored his first NHL goal, becoming the second-youngest defenceman in league history to do so, and he never looked back. By season's end, Schaefer led all NHL rookies in virtually every category that mattered for a defenceman. His 23 goals tied Hall of Famer Brian Leetch's NHL record for goals by a rookie defenceman, a mark that had stood since 1988-89. His 36 assists and 59 points were the most ever by an 18-year-old defenceman in NHL history, breaking Phil Housley's 43-year-old record of 57 points set in 1982-83. Schaefer also led the Islanders with eight power-play goals, 18 power-play points, a plus-13 rating and an average of 24:41 of ice time per game, while ranking second on the team with 221 shots on goal and third with 111 blocked shots. Along the way, he became the youngest defenceman in NHL history to record a multi-goal game, the youngest player in NHL history to score an overtime goal, and, at just 18 years and 195 days, became the youngest defenceman ever to reach 50 career points. He also broke the long-standing Islanders franchise record for goals by a rookie defenceman, previously held by Hall of Fame legend and OHL alumnus Denis Potvin. Schaefer was named NHL Rookie of the Month in both October and December, and he enters the awards calendar as a front-runner for the Calder Trophy. "It's crazy to think that I'd be playing in the NHL this year," Schaefer said. "I was going to NHL games as a fan last year, up top in the nosebleeds with my brother and parents. It's a dream come true. I can't thank this organization enough, and all my teammates, staff and everyone. It was an amazing year. I got to learn so much." Schaefer's journey has also been shaped by personal loss. His mother, Jennifer, passed away from breast cancer in February of 2024. "I wish my mom could be here too," Schaefer said. "I'd love to see her reaction with the fans. I wish she could be at the games, and I could give her a big hug after. At the end of the day, she's always with us in spirit. My dad, my brother and I looked up to my mom so much, and she was the backbone of our family, the strongest person in our family, and the boss, for sure. She's someone that you always think about and will never get off your mind." What makes Schaefer's season so remarkable isn't just the records. It's the road he travelled to get here. A draft year ended with a broken bone on the coveted World Junior stage and just 73 OHL games under his belt to prepare for the best league in the world. What he managed to do in spite of it all was historic. Schaefer completely rewrote the book on what an 18-year-old defenceman can do in his first NHL season, and more excitingly, his ceiling has no end in sight. Related Articles:

Toronto Jr. Canadiens Capture 2026 U14 OHL Cup Championship

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 22:15:15 +0000

KINGSTON, ON – The Toronto Jr. Canadiens have claimed the 2026 U14 OHL Cup title, defeating the Toronto Marlboros 5-1 in an all-Toronto championship final at the INVISTA Centre in Kingston on Sunday afternoon.

Forward Tristan Reynolds led the way in the championship game, opening the scoring and finishing with two goals and an assist as the Jr. Canadiens capped off a perfect run through the tournament.

Cruz Sabatelli, Jaxson Pollard and Lucas Sieradzki also scored for the Jr. Canadiens, with Pollard adding an assist. Reynolds factored into three of the team’s five goals in the final.

“It feels great,” said Reynolds. “I can’t even describe how I’m feeling right now. I’m even surprised.”

“It means a lot. We’ve been preparing for this all year. I’ve been looking forward to this for two years. It just means so much to me. The boys deserve it. They worked hard.”

Cal Reilly scored the lone goal for the Marlboros. Reilly is the brother of 2026 OHL Priority Selection eligible prospect Braden Reilly of the Marlboros.

The victory marks the second U14 OHL Cup championship for the Jr. Canadiens, who previously captured the title in 2023. It also extends the GTHL’s run to five straight tournament wins.

“I mean, it’s huge,” said Jr. Canadiens head coach Lee Jinman. “There was probably a moment earlier in the year that nobody would have expected we’d be here. Full credit to them. They’ve come together over the last three, four months. It’s been unbelievable to watch them grow as young men on and off the ice.”

The Jr. Canadiens advanced to the final with a 5-1 win over the York-Simcoe Express in the semi-final. Reynolds scored twice and added an assist in that contest, while Jaxson Pollard, Andrew Carrique and Michael Alati also found the back of the net. Cruz Sabatelli contributed with a pair of assists.

“We were really confident going into the playoffs and we ended up sweeping a really good Vaughan Kings team,” Jinman said. “After that series, something clicked with everybody. The players had really bought in and everything really seemed to take off.”

On the other side, the Marlboros earned their spot in the final with a 2-0 shutout win over the Chatham-Kent Cyclones. Stefano Amodeo and Cal Reilly provided the offence in the victory.

Both finalists were dominant throughout the tournament. The Jr. Canadiens posted a 3-0 record in round robin play before defeating the Elgin Middlesex Canucks 9-0 in the quarterfinals. The Marlboros also went 3-0 in the preliminary round and advanced with a 7-0 quarterfinal win over the Halton Hurricanes.

Behind the bench, both teams featured ties to the Ontario Hockey League. Jinman spent three seasons in the OHL with North Bay, while Marlboros head coach Justin Donati is a former OHL forward who suited up for Oshawa, Toronto and Sudbury.

“If you get a chance, go watch a couple of these JRC games,” added Jinman. “You’re going to see some of these names in a few years for sure.”

The 2026 event was once again hosted by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), and showcased the depth of talent across the province at the U14 level, with the Jr. Canadiens adding their name to the growing list of champions in Kingston.

The U14 OHL Cup has historically featured current OHL stars such as Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting) and Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs).

U14 OHL Cup Champions
2026 – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)
2025 – Vaughan Kings (GTHL)
2024 – Markham Majors (GTHL)
2023 – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL)
2022 – Vaughan Kings (GTHL)

For full results and statistics from the 2026 U14 OHL Cup, visit u14ohlcup.ca.