Here ‘n there in the OHL
A summer breeze of major movement is blowing through the Ontario Hockey League. Among the June activity is a new head coach in Sault Ste. Marie as well as signings of key incoming players to the OHL from the rival United States Hockey League, including ones by the Brantford Bulldogs and Windsor Spitfires.
Hounds Hire New Head Honcho. With his National Hockey League contract with the St. Louis Blues expiring at the end of June, Drew Bannister is returning to the Soo Greyhounds as their head coach effective July 1. Bannister previously coached the Greyhounds — who he won a Memorial Cup with as a defenseman in 1993 — from 2015 to 2018 and complied a standout record of 136-50-18. The Hounds won a round of the playoffs in each of Bannister’s first two seasons and made its all the way to the OHL finals in his third before losing to the Hamilton (now Brantford) Bulldogs. After leaving the Hounds, Bannister had several successful seasons as a head coach in the American Hockey League before making it to the NHL with St. Louis and coaching the Blues for parts of two seasons. Bannister more than he showed that he was capable of coaching in the NHL as he compiled a record of 39-31-6 with the Blues.
Jet Is Set To Soar In Brantford. Bulldogs general manager Spencer Hyman has confirmed the signing of highly regarded, 2008 birth year defenseman Jet Kwajah, who played in the USHL with the Madison Capitols in ’25-26. Originally a sixth round pick by Owen Sound at the 2024 OHL priority selections draft, Brantford obtained Kwajah’s rights in a blockbuster trade earlier this month that sent overage goalie Ryerson Leenders from the Bulldogs to the Attack. To be sure, Hyman as the GM in Brantford is setting the bar high on Kwajah. “We believe Jet has the ability to be one of the premier offensive defencemen in the OHL immediately,” relayed Hyman. “He is an elite skater, an exceptional puck mover, and possesses a high end shot that makes him a threat every time he touches the puck. What separates Jet is his offensive instincts and hockey sense … but he also has the ability to defend and impact the game in all three zones.”
Spitfires Ty One On. As we previously reported, Ty Bergeron will be crossing over from Michigan to Ontario to play for the Windsor Spitfires effective the ’26-27 season. A 2009 birth year forward, Bergeron was picked by the Spitfires in the third round of the 2025 OHL priority selections draft from the cross-border Detroit HoneyBaked program. Bergeron has opted to play with Windsor and the OHL after spending the ’25-26 season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. Bergeron skated in 71 games for Muskegon as a 16 year old rookie in ’25-26 and totalled eight goals, 16 assists, 24 points as one of the youngest players in the USHL. The Spitfires drafted Bergeron after a spectacular ’24-25 season with Detroit HoneyBaked in which he tallied 62 goals, 78 assists, 140 points in 90 games. Spitfires general manager Billy Bowler is high on Bergeron. “Ty is a complete player with high energy and compete,” relayed Bowler. “He plays a pro-style game, which is what we are about. This is a real big get for our program. Ty has a ton of upside.” Bergeron is a client of top notch player agent Eddie Mio, who is a Windsor native and former NHL goalie.
