OHL draft picks in Espanola
North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League is again counting on the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to develop young prospects. Two of North Bay’s 2010 birth year picks from the 2026 OHL priority selections draft — defensemen Tayden Smith and forward Carter Trudell — have signed with Espanola for the ’26-27 NOJHL season.
• The 6 foot, 175 pound Smith was taken by North Bay from the Under 16 level Sudbury Jr. Wolves of the Great North Hockey League in the 11th round of this year’s OHL priority selections draft. Smith had eight goals, 21 assists, 29 points in 34 Great North games with the Jr. Wolves in ’25-26 en route to being named the Northern Ontario Hockey Association player of the year for his age group.
• As for Trudell, the 6 foot, 175 pound skater was picked by North Bay from the Under 16 level Windsor Jr. Spitfires of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario in the 12th round of this year’s OHL draft. Trudell stood out for the Jr. Spitfires in ’25-26 with 32 goals, 23 assists, 55 points in 54 games. Notably, Trudell is a son of Brett Trudell, who was a third round pick by the Soo Greyhounds from the Chatham Maroons at the 2000 OHL draft. A dependable right winger, the elder Trudell was later a Memorial Cup champion with the Guelph Storm in 2004. He sparked the Storm to the OHL playoff championship that year with 13 goals in 22 games.
• Using the NOJHL Paper Kings for player development worked out well for the OHL Battalion in ’25-26 as 2025 draft pick Owen Smith won the NOJHL rookie of the year award for Espanola. A skilled forward, Smith was a sensation for the Paper Kings with 25 goals, 37 assists, 62 points in 55 games, regular season and playoffs included.
