Deep Thoughts • 15/09/2025
Sudbury Deep Thoughts OHL Preview
Deep Thoughts
Another hockey season is upon us and with the OHL season about to start, I thought I’d take a quick look at each Team and some questions and Players to keep an eye out for:
Eastern Conference
Central Division
North Bay Battalion: The Battalion have executed a classic “re-build” and as a Franchise, continue to understand when to sell and when to buy. They sold off the top scoring line in the OHL last year to acquire young assets and are poised for a big couple years.
Projected Central Division Finish: 1st Place
Player to Watch: Nathan McIvor; G
The Battalion continue to have a long string of excellent goaltending and McIvor will be important with a young group ahead of him
Burning Question: Are the Battalion too young to win the Central this year or will the young talent step up?
Niagara Icedogs: There was turnover on and off the ice with the Icedogs this summer with Kris Barch taking over as the Head Coach and Frank Evola going in as the GM and several players were moved out. This Team has excellent personnel so it will be interesting to see if everything can gel this year.
Projected Central Division Finish: 2ndPlace
Player to Watch: Ryan Roobroeck; LW
The big Winger is up for the 2026 NHL Draft and should easily be a top 10 pick and may slip into the top 5.
Burning Question: Can Kris Barch (former NHL Player) and his Coaching staff harness this talented group of Players despite none of them having coached a single game in the OHL except Goaltending Coach Ryan Ludzigturnover that includes nobody on the bench with 1 game of OHL Coaching?
Barrie Colts: The Barrie Colts have dominated the Central Division for a few years now and they took a hit with Players graduating and moving on, they will still challenge for the Division championship. Marty Williamson is the 7th winningest Coach of all time but his decision to leave the bench to focus on his GM duties means they have turned it over to one of the brightest young Coaches in the game in Dylan Smoskowitz
Projected Central Division Finish: 3rd Place
Player to Watch: Ben Hrebik, Goaltender
The excellence behind the bench in Barrie will continue with the underrated Ben Hrebik and NHL Teams will regret not selecting him in the 2025 NHL Draft
Burning Question: Can the Colts score enough to make up for the loss of the Players that generated over 125 goals last year?
Sudbury Wolves: In contrast to North Bay, Sudbury added at the 2025 Trade Deadline and kept Quinton Musty and added Henry Mews and Noah Roberts and they took their shot which is admirable but they delayed their rebuild. They still have the star duo Nathan Villeneuve and Kieron Walton up front and Scott Barney and his Staff showed last October (before Musty returned) how well they could play with a structured, hard working approach so we will see if they can match those results for the whole year.
Projected Central Division Finish: 4th Place
Player to Watch: Luca Blonda; RD
The first Defenseman selected in the 2024 OHL Priority selection has shown flashes of brilliance and reminds me of a former star Wolves defenseman, Kyle Copabianco
Burning Question: Can the Wolves get reliable goaltending from their current group or do they have to go out and find a solution from outside the Organization?
Brampton: The Steelheads have been the hardest hit of any of the CHL Teams with regard to the NCAA changes and Players leaving for southern Schools. Porter Martone had a chance to be the League MVP and Jack Ivancovic could have challenged Carter George for top Goaltender in the League but their loss to Schools in Michigan combined with traditional graduations of Players like Carter Rehkopf, Luke Misa and Angus MacDonnel mean it could be a tough season for the Fish.
Projected Central Division Finish: 5th Place
Player to Watch: Matei Stankoven; LC
The 38th Player taken in the Import Draft will be a key offensive catalyst for the gritty Steelheads & will make Teams that passed on him regret their decision
Burning Question: Can James Richmond find the pieces to rebuild the Steelheads on the fly and can his ability to make Players better through his Coaching be enough to get them into the playoffs?
East Division
Brantford Bulldogs: The Bulldogs surprised many by leading the Eastern Conference in points last year despite remaining relatively quiet at the Trade Deadline and the squad this year is the beneficiary of that patience because they have a fantastic Roster and a lot of assets to add more
Projected Eastern Division Finish: 1st Place
Player to Watch: Caleb Malhotra; LC
The Son of former NHL’er, Manny Malhotra (and nephew of NBA HOF’er Steve Nash) is highly touted for the 2026 NHL Draft and should have a big impact
Burning Question: The Bulldogs had a solid Roster and added star players like Sam McCue, Adam Benak, Caleb Maholtra and Vladimir Dravecky so how can they get everyone enough icetime?
Peterborough Petes: The Petes have struggled the last few years after shocking the League with a Championship in 2023 but they have stockpiled some good young talent and should make a big jump in the standings this year
Projected Finish: 2nd Place; Eastern Division
Player to Watch: Adam Novotny; LW
Novotny is a highly touted Prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft and should inject some offense and excitement into Rob Wilson’s crew
Burning Question: After trading away one of the best Goaltenders in Zach Bowen, can Easton Rye become a quality starter with a talented team in front of him?
Oshawa Generals: The Generals are back to back Eastern Conference champions and still likely will have Ben Danford and Beckett Sennecke come back as 19 year olds but this could become a transition year for the Generals. If they6 move Danford and Sennecke, they will recoup huge assets and the Gens will be on their way to building another powerhouse.
Projected Eastern Division Finish: 3rd Place
Player to Watch: Brooks Rogowski; RW
The massive Winger was drafted out of High School hockey in Michigan and has the potential to be a Top 20 selection in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft
Burning Question: How long do they hang on to Danford and Sennecke before they send them to a contender or do they hang on to them and take another run in the East?
Ottawa 67’s: The 67’s are in the middle of a rebuild and have a lot of good young talent for Dave Cameron and Norm Milley to coach but it is tough to win in the OHL with young Players.
Projected Eastern Division Finish: 4th Place
Player to Watch: Kohyn Eshkawkogan; RD
The 2008 born, young stud Defenseman from Manitoulin Island was an invite to Team Canada’s Gretzky/Hlinka Camp and although he isn’t eligible to be drafted until 2027, he will be a huge part of the 67’s team this year.
Burning Question: TCan the Northern Ontario heagvily influenced Team with Cooper Foster, Eshkawkogan and 1st rounder Brock Chitaroni continue to get better and scare some Teams by the time the Playoffs roll around?
Kingston Frontenacs: Kory Cooper is the reigning GM of the Year in the OHL after making a number of shrewd moves last year but the graduation of stars like Quinton Burns, Ethan Hay, Joey Willis and Tomas Uronen mean that the burden will fall to young stars like Toronto Maple Leaf Draft pick, Tyler Hopkins and Calgary Flames Jacob Battaglia to try and help the Fronts return to the playoffs
Projected Eastern Division Finish: 5th Place
Player to Watch: Jacob Battaglia; LW
The Calgary Flame 2nd round pick could break the century mark in points and may be very attractive for a team looking to add at the deadline.
Burning Question: Troy Mann is one of the best Coaches in the OHL but can he establish enough structure to get the Fronts into the Playoffs after going all in last year?
Western Conference
Midwest Division
Kitchener Rangers: The Rangers are the favorites to win the bid to host the 2027 Memorial Cup and they are poised to have a big year with a lot of young talent that can return in 26/27 to host the National Championship
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 1st Place
Player to Watch: Evan Headrick; RW
The Garden River product missed most of his rookie season with an injury but the Rangers are excited to see whaqt this offensive magician can create in his sophomore season
Burning Question: How much do the Rangers try to add this year if they are contending in the West if they expect to host the Memorial Cup in 2027?
London Knights: It isn’t a typo that I expect the Knights to fail in their quest to win another Midwest title but even the mighty Knights have to re-tool at some point but don’t expect them to fall too far
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 2nd Place
Player to Watch: Logan Hawery; LC
The next in line of stars to come out of London will be Logan Hawery. Despite his size, the combination of his skill and the proven record of development by the Knights should see Hawery have a big year
Burning Question: Mark Hunter chose to go after some older Free Agents from the newly created NCAA path which counters what a lot of Teams did by going after young stars so will it work?
Guelph Storm: The Storm had a long season in 24/25 but they have some exciting young stars that Cory Stillman can work with to jump back into the playoff picture in the West
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 3rd Place
Player to Watch: Jett Luchanko; RC
Luchanko shocked the hockey world by sticking with the Philadelphia Flyers for the start of the 24/25 season but if he returns to the Storm, he has a chance to be the best Player in the OHL
Burning Question: How much can Cory Stillman get out of the young Storm team that is littered with 16 and 17 year olds in the very tough Western Conference?
Owen Sound Attack: The Attack have North Bay native Scott Wray behind the bench and the best trio of Goaltending Prospects in the OHL but the lack of Roster depth will be a challenge unless they add some players
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 4th Place
Player to Watch: Carter George; G
The best Goalie outside of the NHL will star for Canada at the World Junior Championships but he will have to be a star every night for the overmatched Attack
Burning Question: Does Dale Degray wait until the Trade Deadline to move Carter George and risk injury or does he move him sooner, like he did with Colby Barlow last year and open up the net for young stars Trenten Bennett and Matthew Koprowski?
Midwest Division
Kitchener Rangers: The Rangers are the favorites to win the bid to host the 2027 Memorial Cup and they are poised to have a big year with a lot of young talent that can return in 26/27 to host the National Championship
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 1st Place
Player to Watch: Evan Headrick; RW
The Garden River product missed most of his rookie season with an injury but the Rangers are excited to see what this offensive magician can create in his sophomore season
Burning Question: How much do the Rangers try to add this year if they are contending in the West if they expect to host the Memorial Cup in 2027?
Another hockey season is upon us and with the OHL season about to start, I thought I’d take a quick look at each Team and some questions and Players to keep an eye out for:
Eastern Conference
Central Division
North Bay Battalion: The Battalion have executed a classic “re-build” and as a Franchise, continue to understand when to sell and when to buy. They sold off the top scoring line in the OHL last year to acquire young assets and are poised for a big couple years.
Projected Central Division Finish: 1st Place
Player to Watch: Nathan McIvor; G
The Battalion continue to have a long string of excellent goaltending and McIvor will be important with a young group ahead of him
Burning Question: Are the Battalion too young to win the Central this year or will the young talent step up?
Niagara Icedogs: There was turnover on and off the ice with the Icedogs this summer with Kris Barch taking over as the Head Coach and Frank Evola going in as the GM and several players were moved out. This Team has excellent personnel so it will be interesting to see if everything can gel this year.
Projected Central Division Finish: 2ndPlace
Player to Watch: Ryan Roobroeck; LW
The big Winger is up for the 2026 NHL Draft and should easily be a top 10 pick and may slip into the top 5.
Burning Question: Can Kris Barch (former NHL Player) and his Coaching staff harness this talented group of Players despite none of them having coached a single game in the OHL except Goaltending Coach Ryan Ludzigturnover that includes nobody on the bench with 1 game of OHL Coaching?
Barrie Colts: The Barrie Colts have dominated the Central Division for a few years now and they took a hit with Players graduating and moving on, they will still challenge for the Division championship. Marty Williamson is the 7th winningest Coach of all time but his decision to leave the bench to focus on his GM duties means they have turned it over to one of the brightest young Coaches in the game in Dylan Smoskowitz
Projected Central Division Finish: 3rd Place
Player to Watch: Ben Hrebik, Goaltender
The excellence behind the bench in Barrie will continue with the underrated Ben Hrebik and NHL Teams will regret not selecting him in the 2025 NHL Draft
Burning Question: Can the Colts score enough to make up for the loss of the Players that generated over 125 goals last year?
Sudbury Wolves: In contrast to North Bay, Sudbury added at the 2025 Trade Deadline and kept Quinton Musty and added Henry Mews and Noah Roberts and they took their shot which is admirable but they delayed their rebuild. They still have the star duo Nathan Villeneuve and Kieron Walton up front and Scott Barney and his Staff showed last October (before Musty returned) how well they could play with a structured, hard working approach so we will see if they can match those results for the whole year.
Projected Central Division Finish: 4th Place
Player to Watch: Luca Blonda; RD
The first Defenseman selected in the 2024 OHL Priority selection has shown flashes of brilliance and reminds me of a former star Wolves defenseman, Kyle Copabianco
Burning Question: Can the Wolves get reliable goaltending from their current group or do they have to go out and find a solution from outside the Organization?
Brampton: The Steelheads have been the hardest hit of any of the CHL Teams with regard to the NCAA changes and Players leaving for southern Schools. Porter Martone had a chance to be the League MVP and Jack Ivancovic could have challenged Carter George for top Goaltender in the League but their loss to Schools in Michigan combined with traditional graduations of Players like Carter Rehkopf, Luke Misa and Angus MacDonnel mean it could be a tough season for the Fish.
Projected Central Division Finish: 5th Place
Player to Watch: Matei Stankoven; LC
The 38th Player taken in the Import Draft will be a key offensive catalyst for the gritty Steelheads & will make Teams that passed on him regret their decision
Burning Question: Can James Richmond find the pieces to rebuild the Steelheads on the fly and can his ability to make Players better through his Coaching be enough to get them into the playoffs?
East Division
Brantford Bulldogs: The Bulldogs surprised many by leading the Eastern Conference in points last year despite remaining relatively quiet at the Trade Deadline and the squad this year is the beneficiary of that patience because they have a fantastic Roster and a lot of assets to add more
Projected Eastern Division Finish: 1st Place
Player to Watch: Caleb Malhotra; LC
The Son of former NHL’er, Manny Malhotra (and nephew of NBA HOF’er Steve Nash) is highly touted for the 2026 NHL Draft and should have a big impact
Burning Question: The Bulldogs had a solid Roster and added star players like Sam McCue, Adam Benak, Caleb Maholtra and Vladimir Dravecky so how can they get everyone enough icetime?
Peterborough Petes: The Petes have struggled the last few years after shocking the League with a Championship in 2023 but they have stockpiled some good young talent and should make a big jump in the standings this year
Projected Finish: 2nd Place; Eastern Division
Player to Watch: Adam Novotny; LW
Novotny is a highly touted Prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft and should inject some offense and excitement into Rob Wilson’s crew
Burning Question: After trading away one of the best Goaltenders in Zach Bowen, can Easton Rye become a quality starter with a talented team in front of him?
Oshawa Generals: The Generals are back to back Eastern Conference champions and still likely will have Ben Danford and Beckett Sennecke come back as 19 year olds but this could become a transition year for the Generals. If they6 move Danford and Sennecke, they will recoup huge assets and the Gens will be on their way to building another powerhouse.
Projected Eastern Division Finish: 3rd Place
Player to Watch: Brooks Rogowski; RW
The massive Winger was drafted out of High School hockey in Michigan and has the potential to be a Top 20 selection in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft
Burning Question: How long do they hang on to Danford and Sennecke before they send them to a contender or do they hang on to them and take another run in the East?
Ottawa 67’s: The 67’s are in the middle of a rebuild and have a lot of good young talent for Dave Cameron and Norm Milley to coach but it is tough to win in the OHL with young Players.
Projected Eastern Division Finish: 4th Place
Player to Watch: Kohyn Eshkawkogan; RD
The 2008 born, young stud Defenseman from Manitoulin Island was an invite to Team Canada’s Gretzky/Hlinka Camp and although he isn’t eligible to be drafted until 2027, he will be a huge part of the 67’s team this year.
Burning Question: TCan the Northern Ontario heagvily influenced Team with Cooper Foster, Eshkawkogan and 1st rounder Brock Chitaroni continue to get better and scare some Teams by the time the Playoffs roll around?
Kingston Frontenacs: Kory Cooper is the reigning GM of the Year in the OHL after making a number of shrewd moves last year but the graduation of stars like Quinton Burns, Ethan Hay, Joey Willis and Tomas Uronen mean that the burden will fall to young stars like Toronto Maple Leaf Draft pick, Tyler Hopkins and Calgary Flames Jacob Battaglia to try and help the Fronts return to the playoffs
Projected Eastern Division Finish: 5th Place
Player to Watch: Jacob Battaglia; LW
The Calgary Flame 2nd round pick could break the century mark in points and may be very attractive for a team looking to add at the deadline.
Burning Question: Troy Mann is one of the best Coaches in the OHL but can he establish enough structure to get the Fronts into the Playoffs after going all in last year?
Western Conference
Midwest Division
Kitchener Rangers: The Rangers are the favorites to win the bid to host the 2027 Memorial Cup and they are poised to have a big year with a lot of young talent that can return in 26/27 to host the National Championship
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 1st Place
Player to Watch: Evan Headrick; RW
The Garden River product missed most of his rookie season with an injury but the Rangers are excited to see whaqt this offensive magician can create in his sophomore season
Burning Question: How much do the Rangers try to add this year if they are contending in the West if they expect to host the Memorial Cup in 2027?
London Knights: It isn’t a typo that I expect the Knights to fail in their quest to win another Midwest title but even the mighty Knights have to re-tool at some point but don’t expect them to fall too far
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 2nd Place
Player to Watch: Logan Hawery; LC
The next in line of stars to come out of London will be Logan Hawery. Despite his size, the combination of his skill and the proven record of development by the Knights should see Hawery have a big year
Burning Question: Mark Hunter chose to go after some older Free Agents from the newly created NCAA path which counters what a lot of Teams did by going after young stars so will it work?
Guelph Storm: The Storm had a long season in 24/25 but they have some exciting young stars that Cory Stillman can work with to jump back into the playoff picture in the West
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 3rd Place
Player to Watch: Jett Luchanko; RC
Luchanko shocked the hockey world by sticking with the Philadelphia Flyers for the start of the 24/25 season but if he returns to the Storm, he has a chance to be the best Player in the OHL
Burning Question: How much can Cory Stillman get out of the young Storm team that is littered with 16 and 17 year olds in the very tough Western Conference?
Owen Sound Attack: The Attack have North Bay native Scott Wray behind the bench and the best trio of Goaltending Prospects in the OHL but the lack of Roster depth will be a challenge unless they add some players
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 4th Place
Player to Watch: Carter George; G
The best Goalie outside of the NHL will star for Canada at the World Junior Championships but he will have to be a star every night for the overmatched Attack
Burning Question: Does Dale Degray wait until the Trade Deadline to move Carter George and risk injury or does he move him sooner, like he did with Colby Barlow last year and open up the net for young stars Trenten Bennett and Matthew Koprowski?
Midwest Division
Kitchener Rangers: The Rangers are the favorites to win the bid to host the 2027 Memorial Cup and they are poised to have a big year with a lot of young talent that can return in 26/27 to host the National Championship
Projected Midwest Division Finish: 1st Place
Player to Watch: Evan Headrick; RW
The Garden River product missed most of his rookie season with an injury but the Rangers are excited to see what this offensive magician can create in his sophomore season
Burning Question: How much do the Rangers try to add this year if they are contending in the West if they expect to host the Memorial Cup in 2027?
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