Western ways of the OHL
Saddle up. It is setting up to be a wild ride in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League in the 2026 portion of this season’s schedule. No less than five teams are vying for any one of the top four spots — which means home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. …[read more]
Paul Gagne was a good one
He was playing juvenile hockey in his small, remote northeastern Ontario home town of Iroquois Falls when the head coach and general manager of the Windsor Spitfires happened to take note of his skills. And Wayne Maxner thought so much of Paul Gagne that the Spitfires coach and GM took the 5 foot 10, 180 pound forward with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 1978 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. …[read more]
Weekend wanderings
Tecumseh Eagles of the Under 15 rep level Bluewater Hockey League and Mount Brydges Bulldogs of the Provincial Jr. Hockey League both had a perfect weekend. Meanwhile, the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League wrapped up a three game road swing with a pair of narrow losses. …[read more]
Shtefan a top OHL prospect
Windsor product Roman Shtefan has been identified as one of the Top 80 prospects in the province well ahead of the June, 2026 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. A 5 foot 8, 155 pound forward with a 2010 birth date, Shtefan is the leading scorer for the Windsor Under Jr. 16 Spitfires of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario. …[read more]
New kid helps St. Mary’s
Third place St. Mary’s Lincolns skated into Chatham Memorial Arena on Sunday and left with a 5-4 win over the Maroons, who are in top spot in the Western Conference of the Greater Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
First star … Ty Dubreuil
Spitfires draft pick Ty Dubreuil had a game winning outing for the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League on Saturday night. …[read more]
Firebirds are in overdrive
Who are these guys? Not appearing on many if any forecast lists as a high end contender ahead of the current ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League season — we projected them to finish fifth among the 10 teams of the Western Conference — the Flint Firebirds are nonetheless accelerating in the fast lane. …[read more]
Weekend wanderings
A selection of recent game activity relative to various teams in the Ontario Hockey League, Greater Ontario Hockey League, Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Provincial Jr. Hockey League: …[read more]
Spits, Firebirds, Bulldogs
Driving in the fast lane with nine successive victories, the Flint Firebirds have moved to within two points of the pace setting Windsor Spitfires in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. Meanwhile, the Brantford Bulldogs of the Eastern Conference — with the best record among the 20 teams of the OHL — have added yet another impact player. …[read more]
Pickersgill in Leamington
Windsor area product Landon Pickersgill is earning his place with the Leamington Flyers of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Indeed, Leamington head coach and general manager Dale Mitchell has extensive words of praise for the 6 foot 1, 190 pound rookie defenseman who has an October 30, 2008 birth date. …[read more]
Wednesday wanderings
Here and there around the rinks of Windsor and Essex County with a slight detour over to the Strathroy-Caradoc community of Mount Brydges. …[read more]
Kostov is fired up in Flint
Alex Kostov is clicking at the most productive rate of his Ontario Hockey League career. The fourth year forward, who has a 2006 birth date, recently scored no less than seven goals in two games to power the Flint Firebirds to successive wins over the North Bay Battalion and Guelph Storm. …[read more]
St. John signs in LaSalle
From affiliate player to a full time spot on the roster. Homegrown defenseman Luke St. John, a 2025 Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the Windsor Spitfires, has officially signed with the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
Of Bulldogs and Spitfires
They are the best of the Ontario Hockey League as of now. Brantford Bulldogs and Windsor Spitfires are 1-2 in the overall standings of the 20-team OHL. …[read more]
Blockbuster in Brantford
Brantford Bulldogs general manager Spencer Hyman has popped the cork on the splashiest trade of the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League season to date. The fresh faced GM showed he has the balls of a Bulldog by dealing three players and nine draft picks — including three seconds and three thirds — to the Oshawa Generals for ace defensemen Ben Danford and Zackary Sandhu. …[read more]
St. John putting up points
Homegrown defenseman Luke St. John, a 2025 Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the Windsor Spitfires, has gone on the offensive for both the Under 18 Jr. Spitfires of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario and the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Hockey League thus far into the ’25-26 regular season. …[read more]
Cool kid Mason Courville
Two days shy of his 16th birth day — and as the youngest goalie in the Ontario Hockey League — Mason Courville had a pair of firsts. …[read more]
Spitfires … Vipers … et al
Here and there in Windsor and Essex County with various teams in the Ontario Hockey League, Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario, Bluewater Hockey League and the Greater Ontario Hockey League.
Brantford adds draft picks
As they stand atop the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League the Brantford Bulldogs have stock piled more future draft capital by trading defenseman Patrick Babin to the Guelph Storm.
Seventeen for Canada U17
Seventeen players from the Ontario Hockey League are among the 44 from across the Canadian Hockey League who will represent two Team Canada squads at the upcoming 2025 Under 17 World Challenge. The event will take place in Truro, Nova Scotia from November 2-8.
Vaccari is a mint for Flint
A fresh start in Flint is providing a net gain for overage goalie Mason Vaccari. Acquired by the Firebirds from the Kington Frontenacs for a few excess draft picks in an off season Ontario Hockey League trade, Vaccari has found new life in Flint.
Welsh…Geleynse…Vaccari
Windsor Spitfires have promoted from within to hire their new video coach. The Spitfires have also added a new equipment manager. Meanwhile, a veteran goalie has his first Ontario Hockey League shutout in three years.
Early season impressions
Three or so weeks into the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League regular season have led to a writer’s collection of noteworthy scribbles.
Eyes on Caleb Malhotra
Caleb Malhotra has the National Hockey League scouts standing up and taking notice even though he is just beginning his Ontario Hockey League playing career with the Brantford Bulldogs.
Oh ya, Flint is all fired up
At times, a win can be just a win. But when the win comes against a team’s arch rival — and on the road in their barn, in front of more than 4.900 fans — then the win has extra meaning. Take the Flint Firebirds, for example.
So, here we go in the ‘O’
For those who have any sort of play or say or way or pay or hey relative to the 20 teams of the Ontario Hockey League, the OHL is seemingly set up for a ’25-26 season of hope and nope.
Western world of the OHL
A year ago, the top four teams — leading to home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs — among the 10 members of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League were the London Knights, Kitchener Rangers, Windsor Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit. London, Kitchener and Windsor are all expected to retain their upper floor status in ’25-26 — and it says here that the Soo Greyhounds will move up to edge out Saginaw et al as the fourth seed.
Brantford’s red hot rookie
If the exhibition slate is any indication then Brantford Bulldogs forward Jeremy Freeman might be in line to have an impact as an Ontario Hockey League rookie in ’25-26.
Spits ship trio to LaSalle
They are worthy of playing in the Ontario Hockey League. But given that the Windsor Spitfires are an OHL team deep in talent, goalie Jake Windbiel, defenseman Grady Spicer and forward Ian Inskip have been shipped to the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League to begin the ’25-26 season.
Big goalie in Mount Brydges
Mount Brydges Bulldogs of the Provincial Jr. C Hockey League have signed sizeable puck stopper Joshua Purtill ahead of the looming ’25-26 season.
GWG for Spitfires draft pick
Spitfires draft pick Ty Dubreuil made a decisive impression in his first ever Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League game as a 2009 birth year forward.
Brantford boosts its depth
Rookie general manager Spencer Hyman has added another building block to the Brantford Bulldogs. Hyman has acquired 2008 birth year forward Ryan Chamberlain from the Sarnia Sting for an eighth round draft pick.
Hartsburg has Erie feeling
Chris Hartsburg is back in the Ontario Hockey League after a four year hiatus — and with the Erie Otters, no less. The 45 year old Hartsburg, who manages the local arena and the minor hockey association in Erie, has been hired by the OHL Otters as a part time skills development coach.
Rose lands in Port Stanley
Bryan Rose is returning to the Provincial Jr. C Hockey League as a head coach after an absence of five years. Rose has been hired to take command of the deck duties with the Port Stanley Sailors.
Back with Mount Brydges
A goalie, a defenseman and a forward are among the veterans who have confirmed a return to the Mount Brydges Bulldogs ahead of the ’25-26 Provincial Jr. C Hockey League season.
Brantford eyeing Oshawa
It was the Oshawa Generals — arch rivals no less — who put a halt on the Ontario Hockey League playoff run of the Brantford Bulldogs last spring. And it is Oshawa that Brantford will be out to unseat as Eastern Conference playoff champions this season.
Mount Brydges deals for DD
Dylan Dundas has been acquired by the Mount Brydges Bulldogs from the Dorchester Dolphins for Nolan Burnside in an exchange of 2004 birth year forwards between the two Provincial Jr. C Hockey League teams.
Want to assist in Mount B?
Mount Brydges Bulldogs of the Provincial Jr. C Hockey League are looking to fill a number of positions within the organization.
Brantford bumps up Burnell
Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League have boosted 27 year old Owen Burnell from his sole role as video coach to assistant coach on the staff of veteran bench boss Jay McKee.
Mount B has schedule start
Mount Brydges Bulldogs of the Provincial Jr. C Hockey League have confirmed both their 2025 exhibition schedule and their ’25-26 regular season home opener.
Former 3rd rounder to Flint
Better late than never. Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have confirmed the signing of 2007 birth year defenseman — and future Harvard University commit — Luka Graziano to a standard player agreement.
Mount Brydges adds d-man
Point producing defenseman Logan Vandierendonck has been acquired by the Mount Brydges Bulldogs from the Lucan Irish in a three player Provincial Jr. C Hockey League transaction.
Young blood of the Bulldogs
They have star power on the frozen stage with a sweet seven side of National Hockey League draft picks who are all poised to play prominent roles in ’25-26. And the Brantford Bulldogs also have some fledgling Ontario Hockey League talent that is braced to bloom.
Espanola via U18 Spitfires
Matthew Spencer is heading north to play junior hockey. The 2008 birth year forward, who played at the Under 18 level with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario in ’24-25, has signed with the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League ahead of the ’25-26 season.
Spitfires pick to the NOJHL
He is smart and skilled with blazing speed and prime potential. And Ty Dubreuil will be one of the youngest players in the Northern Jr. Hockey League come the looming ’25-26 season. Dubreuil, who was a 14th round pick by the Windsor Spitfires at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, has signed with the reigning NOJHL champion Sudbury Cubs, Hockey News Windsor has confirmed.
Gage Evans back in LaSalle
Sault Ste. Marie product Gage Evans has been reacquired by the LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League from the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Plum players in Brantford
A flock of frenzied fans who follow the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League figure to focus on a freight full of National Hockey League draft picks come the ’25-26 season.
Espanola works to recruit
Espanola Paper Kings are a small market team in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. But despite a northern location — Espanola is about 40 miles northwest of Sudbury — the Paper Kings have been able to recruit multiple players from other parts of Ontario and into New York ahead of the ’25-26 season.
Four OHL teams to regard
Okay, it is summer time and the living is easy. But for those with any sort of relationship with the Ontario Hockey League, we remind you that the restless hands of time are ticking towards the start of another season. So whether your OHL connect is up north in Sault Ste. Marie, into the southwestern Ontario region of Windsor, in the mid Michigan area of Flint, or where the Bulldogs bark in Brantford, we have words of (some) wisdom to write ahead of the ’25-26 season on four teams to watch.
Flint increases its net worth
Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have added a pair of proven puck stoppers to their pool of goalies. The recent additions to the Flint net are OHL veteran Mason Vaccari and 2025 National Hockey League draft pick Evgeny Prokhorov.
Import draft: 3 OHL teams
The three round, 2025 Canadian Hockey League import draft is in the books. And following is a Hockey News Windsor focus on three Ontario Hockey League teams — alphabetically, the Brantford Bulldogs, Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires — and what they were able to come away with from the recent CHL import draft.
Brantford Bulldogs have bite
Woof. Woof. There is fresh Ontario Hockey League ownership in Brantford led by Stuart Hyman and his sons Zach Hyman (of National Hockey League fame, in photo at left) and Spencer Hyman. All star head coach Jay McKee has a new three year contract. Not only that, the cast of players — old and young — has the Bulldogs set up rather well.
Summer breeze blows in Flint
Prevailing winds of seasonal change have been shifting through the Michigan based Ontario Hockey League town of Flint. In addition to multiple player signings of top 2025 draft picks and high end free agents and the acquisition of a veteran goalie, the Flint Firebirds have upgraded their coaching staff.
Windsor’s Makaric has Spirit
Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League has brought aboard the well prepared Kyle Makaric as a new assistant coach. A Windsor product, the 36-year old Makaric has an extensive coaching background.
NHL pick bolsters Brantford
First year general manager Spencer Hyman continues to build up the Brantford Bulldogs ahead of the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League season. Already projected to be a contender, the Bulldogs have been further bolstered via multiple off season acquisitions by Hyman, the latest being the signing of free agent defenseman Edison Engle, who was picked by the Winnipeg Jets in the sixth round of the recent National Hockey League draft.
OHL stars in NHL first round
Wow! The Ontario Hockey League issued its own statement of strength in the opening round of the 2025 National Hockey League Draft. To be sure, it was a plum performance by the OHL as no less than nine players were snapped up, including the first and second overall selections.
Ryder Boulton to Brantford
He is one of the toughest players in the Ontario Hockey League. And he is on his way to the Brantford Bulldogs via the London Knights.
Essex juniors via BioSteel
Area products Ethan O’Neil and Tomas Kniaziew will be staying within Essex County to continue their hockey development paths — and again as teammates — come the ’25-26 season.
Reyth Smith goes to the Dogs
Windsor product Reyth Smith is on the move in an off season Ontario Hockey League trade. The 6 foot 2, 175 pound forward with a 2007 birth date has been dealt by the North Bay Battalion to the Niagara IceDogs for a pair of future draft picks.
Flint a firm fit for free agent
He has hockey bloodlines that flow deep through his father and grand father. And 2008 birth year defenseman George Komadoski can potentially play the next three or four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League for the Flint Firebirds.
Frank Evola is off to Niagara
Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League are losing their trusted director of scouting to the rival Niagara IceDogs. Hockey News Windsor has learned that Frank Evola, who has been with the Spitfires since 2017, is headed to Niagara as its new general manager.
Flint Firebirds are 3 for 3
One. Two. Three. Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have now signed their top three picks from the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft — a forward, a defenseman, and a goalie.
Local options for Spits pick
Windsor product Luke St. John will most likely get to stay home — or close to it — for a ’25-26 season of development.
Net gain for OHL Firebirds
Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have signed young goalie Mason Courville as a potential heir apparent to workhorse veteran Nathan Day.
Flint firms up first rounder
Flint Firebirds have signed 2009 birth forward Charlie Murata to an Ontario Hockey League standard player agreement. Murata was taken by Flint with the eighth pick in the first round of the 2025 OHL priority selections draft from the Don Mills Flyers of the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
Late round long shots
There is a premise among those who have a real feel for the game that it does not matter what round a player is picked in a particular Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. Zeroing in on just two prime examples of late round OHL draft picks from the past few years who have advanced to regular duty and beyond are 2007 birth year defenseman Rylan Fellinger of the Flint Firebirds and 2004 birth year forward Noah Morneau of the Windsor Spitfires.
73’s off to league finals
What has been a 24 game spring playoff run for the Essex 73’s will continue into yet another round. The 73’s are off to the Provincial Jr. C Hockey League finals for the first time in 10 years.
Essex 73’s up 3-1 on NH
Karson Beuglet scored twice, Brogan Colquhoun made 27 saves and the Essex 73’s skated to a 3-2 win over the New Hamburg Firebirds in Game 4 of their Provincial Jr. C Hockey League semi final playoff series.
Essex takes series lead
A 3-1 road victory in Game 3 has given the Essex 73’s a 2-1 lead in their best of seven Provincial Jr. C Hockey League semi final series with the New Hamburg Firebirds.
Essex ties playoff series
Captain Gabriel Piccolo’s second period goal stood up as the game winner as the Essex 73’s evened their Provincial Jr. C Hockey League semi final series with the New Hamburg Firebirds at one game apiece.
Gibson gets game winner
Oshawa Generals have moved into the driver’s seat in their second round Ontario Hockey League playoff series with the Brantford Bulldogs. LaSalle product Andrew Gibson (in photo at left) scored the winning goal in Game 5 of the best of seven Eastern Conference semi final to give no. 4 seed Oshawa a 3-2 series lead over no. 1 seed Brantford.
Essex 73’s drop opener
New Hamburg Firebirds have taken a one game to none lead on the Essex 73’s in their Provincial Jr. C Hockey League semi final playoff set. …[read more]
Open camp in Espanola
Espanola is where defenseman Conor Walton, currently in his second season with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, developed during the ’22-23 campaign. And those same Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will be holding an open tryout camp on Saturday, April 26. …[read more]
Jr. Spits are OHL picks
Three players from the Windsor Jr. Spitfires of the Under 16 level Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario were picked at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. …[read more]