2026 OHL Cup: Day 1 Recap
Stay tuned throughout the day for rolling updates from the OHL Cup, with game recaps, key moments, and top performers from every matchup.
TPH Offence Shows Up in Big Win
TPH vs Thunder Bay Kings
Final: 13 (TPH) – 1 (TBAY)
TPH only got to spend a couple days practicing as a group before kicking off their OHL Cup tournament versus Thunder Bay, but the limited practice time didn’t seem to be a problem as they started their week with a 13-1 win over the Thunder Bay Kings.
The scoring started less than three minutes into the game with the opening tally off the stick of Luke Hartman (1). Thunder Bay netted the equalizer just 1:13 later with a goal by Callan Gibbon (1). TPH’s Nathan Pavelski (1) scored to put TPH back in front with Hartman (2) adding his second of the game before the end of the first period.
The TPH offense turned things into another gear the rest of the way, adding five in the second and five in the third on their way to the win. Mikey Peterson (2) and Jake Hall (2) had multi-goal outings with seven other TPH skaters finding the back of the net once.
“We knew coming into this that we were going to have to set the tone off the start because no one really knows who we are, so I think we did that,” said TPH defenseman Jake Hall, “We played a really good game 5-on-5… we’re ready to win the tournament, we want to win.”
The Barrie Jr. Colts await TPH tonight at 9:00pm while Thunder Bay is back at it tomorrow morning at 8:30am vs the London Jr. Knights.
New Era Player of the Game
TPH – Jake Hall (D) 2G
Thunder Bay Kings – Darwin Brinkman (D)
Grima Records Three-Point Game in Victory for JRC
Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs. Niagara North Stars
Final: 4 (JRC) – 2 (NIA)
The Toronto Jr. Canadiens opened their campaign on a strong note, edging out a 4-2 victory over the Niagara North Stars.
Niagara struck first midway through the opening frame, as Gabriel Selvaggio (1) capitalized shorthanded to give his side an early lead. However, Toronto responded before the period was out, as newly granted exceptional status forward Kade O’Rourke (1) found the back of the net on the power play to even the score heading into the intermission.
That momentum carried into the second period, where Anthony Peragine (1) gave the Canadiens their first lead of the game. Later in the frame, Brayden Grima (1) would extend the advantage with a shorthanded marker that would stand as the game-winner.
But Grima wasn’t done there, as he added his second of the game in the third period to provide Toronto with some breathing room and secure the insurance marker.
While the North Stars pushed back late, with Caden Petrovsky (1) scoring on the power play, JRC would hold firm to close out the 4-2 win.
Toronto will look to build on the win in their next outing, while Niagara North aims to bounce back and regroup after a competitive showing.
Both teams are set to hit the ice again tonight with JRC taking on the Ajax-Pickering Raiders, and the Niagara North Stars facing off against the Sun County Panthers.
New Era Player of the Game:
Toronto Jr. Canadiens: Brayden Grima (F) – 2G, 1A
Niagara North Stars: Evan Hoven (F) – 1A
Markham Survives Late Surge from 67’s
Markham Majors vs Ottawa Jr. 67’s
Final: 3 (MAJ) – 2 (OTT)
The Markham Majors took advantage of their powerplay opportunities en route to an opening day victory over the HEO Finalist Ottawa Jr. 67’s.
With time winding down in the opening period Majors forward Joseph Fenwick (1) notched a powerplay goal for his first of the OHL Cup to give his team a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. In the second period Markham picked up right where they left off with a goal by Ryder Nobes (1). On the man advantage again later in the second period Ryder Nobes (2) added his second of the game to extend the lead to 3-0.
Ottawa came into the third period set on digging their way out of the 3-goal deficit and finally got on the board with a goal by Alexandre Saulnier (1). After a cross-checking penalty sent Jack Samek to the penalty box with just 1:37 left in regulation the 67’s saw their opportunity to get right back in the game. With Ottawa goalie Athan Stone on the bench the 67’s took advantage of the 6-on-4 opportunity with another goal by Alexandre Saulnier (2). The late charge from Ottawa was too little too late as Markham picked up the 3-2 win.
When asked what the message was from the coaching staff late in the game, Nobes said, “Just stay calm, stick to the game plan – get pucks in deep, hard on the back check and no mistakes. We got that win there but it was a little close.”
Markham’s next match-up has them pitted up against the OMHA Champion Credit River Capitals at 8:45pm, “It always takes a little pressure off your shoulders [to get the first win],” said Nobes, “but we’ll be back here at 8:45 ready to go. Stronger, faster, harder, that’s what the OHL Cup is all about”.
The 67’s have the afternoon to rest up before a meeting versus the Upper Canada Cyclones at 7:15pm.
New Era Players of the Game
Markham Majors – Ryder Nobes (F) 2G
Ottawa 67’s – Alexandre Makaridze (D)
Quinte’s Third Period Comeback Propels Them Past Vaughan
Vaughan Kings vs Quinte Red Devils
Final: 5 (QRD) – 2 (VK)
The Quinte Red Devils entered the OHL Cup with something to prove after bowing out in the semi-final of the OMHA Championships. That is exactly what they did with a statement 5-2 win over the GTHL Champion Vaughan Kings.
Vaughan’s Brody Brown (1) opened the scoring early in the second period as both teams tried to find their footing in this afternoon battle. Quinte’s Trent Clow (1) responded later in the second with a wrist shot that flew by the blocker of Kings goalie Demetri Stokes. The Kings captain Adrian Sgro (1) responded just 16 seconds later with an equally impressive wrist shot from the top of the right circle to give Vaughan the 2-1 lead at the second intermission.
The Red Devils came out flying in the third period and were able to capitalize on an early opportunity by Andrew Laurin (1) that tied the game 2-2. Minutes later Trent Clow (2) would add his second of the game to give Quinte their first lead.. An insurance goal was scored by Lauchlan Whelan (1) and Austin Preston added an empty net goal to secure the 5-2 comeback win for Quinte.
“Obviously we knew [Vaughan] was going to be a tough opponent, so all the boys bore down and brought our full game out there. That’s a huge win and it’ll be fuel for us the next few games,” said Red Devils forward Trent Clow.
Quinte’s next game is Tuesday morning at 8:00am versus the Brantford 99ers. It’s a quick turn around for Vaughan as they look to get in the win column tonight at 7:30pm vs Team NOHA.
New Era Players of the Game
Vaughan Kings – Nathan Ferriss (G)
Quinte Red Devils – Adrian Sgro (D) — 1G
Dragojevic and Hogg lead Barrie to 5-2 Wildcard Win
Wildcard Game #4 – Barrie Jr Colts vs Central Ontario Wolves
Final: 5 (BAR) – 2 (COW)
The final wildcard game of the day got off to a quick start with Cole Roberts (1) of the Central Ontario Wolves opening the scoring just 11 seconds into the game. The Barrie Jr Colts were able to even the game before the end of the first period off a goal by Cameron Hogg (1).
The Jr Colts didn’t waste much time in the second period. They took their first lead of the game on a goal by Luka Dragojevic just 2:35 into the middle frame. Barrie found themselves on the penalty kill just past the midway mark of the second period but that didn’t stop Gavin O’Connell (1). He scored his first of the tournament to add to his teams’ lead.
In the third period Cameron Hogg (2) netted his second of the game to extend the Barrie lead to 4-1. The Wolves didn’t go away though, as Tristan Endicott (1) scored to make it just a 2-goal difference. Luka Dragojevic (2) answered immediately for Barrie as the Jr. Colts walked away with the 5-2 wildcard win.
The New Era Player of the Game for Barrie, Luka Dragojevic had this to say after the win, “The boys were fired up all week at practice… the hard effort that we’ve put in this year, we got to put it into this game and now we have to get ready for tonight”
Barrie’s next game will be against TPH at 9pm.
New Era Players of the Game
Barrie Jr Colts – #13 (F) Luka Dragojevic
Central Ontario Wolves – #91 (F) Finn Ellery
McKeown’s 34 Save Shutout Advances Cyclones
Wildcard Game #3 – Upper Canada Cyclones vs Ottawa Valley Titans
Final: 2 (UPCC) – 0 (OVT)
A goalie duel was the story of Wildcard Play-In Game #3. The two HEO rivals didn’t score a goal until early in the second period when Quinn Crealy (1) opened things up for the Cyclones. That was how the score stayed until late in the third period when Julian Melo (1) added an empty net goal to give the Cyclones the 2-0 win and advance them to round robin play.
Cyclones goalie Kellen McKeown stopped all 34 shots that he faced while Titans goalie Marcus Smolcic stopped 31 of the 32 that he faced. Both goalie were named the New Era Player of the Game for their respective teams.
“He played unreal, they had so many shots and so many opportunities and he shut them out. It’s huge having a game on top of everyone else and already being on a winning streak,” said goalscorer Quinn Crealy.
Next up for the Cyclones is another HEO opponent, the Ottawa Jr 67’s. This is a rematch of their HEO first round series that the 67’s took 7-points-to-5. The series featured three ties in six games. They face-off at 7:15pm.
New Era Players of the Game
Upper Canada Cyclones – Kellen McKeown (G) — 34 SVS
Ottawa Valley Titans – Marcus Smolcic (G) — 31 SVS
Adams’ Hat Trick Helps Hill Academy to 5-2 Wildcard Win
Wildcard Game #2 – Biosteel Academy vs Hill Academy
Final: 5 (HILL) – 2 (BIO)
It took a while to see the first goal of the game but Hill Academy’s Tanner Adams (1) cracked things open with just 1:26 left in the second period. Hill widened their lead in the third period with back-to-back goals by Adams (2) and Finley Merrill (1) who found the back of the net while shorthanded.
Biosteel Academy responded with a special teams goal of their own, off the stick of Preston Medeiros (1). A few minutes later, with the goalie pulled, Biosteel got within one courtesy of a Kayden Cook (1) goal.
Hill Academy didn’t let the game get any closer, adding a pair of empty netters by Gabriel Barakat and Tanner Adams (3).
“Very happy with the way that I played personally, but I think the more important thing was that the team got the job done and now we’re in the OHL Cup,” said Hill Academy Captain Tanner Adams following the win.
Hill Academy now plays the Huron-Perth Lakers at 5:15pm. It will be the first game of the round robin for both teams.
New Era Players of the Game
Biosteel Academy – #73 (D) Kayden Cook
Hill Academy – #74 (G) Matteo Orlando
McGarry Sends Raiders to Wildcard Victory with Third-Overtime Winner
Wildcard Game #1 – Mississauga Senators vs. Ajax Pickering Raiders
Final/3OT: 3 (APR) – 2 (SENS)
The Ajax Pickering Raiders staged a dramatic comeback in their OHL Cup Wildcard matchup, scoring with just over a minute remaining in regulation before sealing the win in triple overtime.
Jake Harris (1) and Oliver Iemma (1) struck early for the Mississauga Senators, finding the back of the net in the first and second periods to give the Sens a 2-0 lead.
Captain Jean-Luc Moreau-Hernandez (2) responded midway through the second period to cut the deficit in half, setting the stage for a late push.
In the final minutes of regulation, back-to-back penalties put the Senators down two men, giving the Raiders a 5-on-3 advantage. Moreau-Hernandez capitalized, scoring his second of the night with just 1:04 remaining to force overtime.
The deadlock carried through two full overtime periods before Ajax Pickering finally broke through early in the third extra frame. With time and space at the blue line, defenceman Brady McGarry (1) stepped into a shot and buried the winner.
“I got a nice D-to-D pass from my partner, saw the opening and just fired it,” McGarry said. “It feels great. We were all really tired, but we knew we were the underdogs. We came in hard and got it done.”
With the wildcard victory, the Raiders secure a spot in the Subban Division and will look to carry that momentum into round-robin play.
New Era Players of the Game:
Mississauga Senators: Massimo Tomassi (G) – 35 SVS
Ajax Pickering-Raiders: Tanner Gibson (G) – 29 SVS
