Hounds gain Carter George
Soo Greyhounds have brought in world class goalie Carter George from the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for seven future Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft picks.
…[read more]Raftis is a high ranking GM
There are reasons why — year in and year out — teams in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League combine for much better win-loss records than those clubs that make up the Eastern Conference.
…[read more]Brantford Alexanders: ’78-84
They were here for a good time, not a long time. To be sure, their history is one of modest length yet the Brantford Alexanders remain an iconic Ontario Hockey League franchise mainly because of the number of high performance players who wore their red-white-and-black jersey from 1978 to 1984.
…[read more]OHL Western world is wild
Buckle 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. Following are my three favourites in the Western Conference, with due respect to the Kitchener Rangers and London Knights.
…[read more]Evan Headrick traded to Erie
Garden River First Nation product Evan Headrick is getting a fresh start to his Ontario Hockey League career. Kitchener Rangers have dealt the 2008 birth year forward to the Erie Otters in exchange for overage (2005 birth year) forward Dylan Edwards.
…[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]Wheeler dealer GM Raftis
Relative to Ontario Hockey League general managers who are being noteworthy operative in the exchange market, Kyle Raftis of the Soo Greyhounds continues to make major moves ahead of the looming January 10 trade deadline. Raftis may not be quite as immersed as Spencer Hyman — the bustling rookie GM of the Eastern Conference powerhouse Brantford Bulldogs who has already acquired a pair of first round National Hockey League draft picks via the OHL trade route this season — but the Greyhound hockey boss has not been sitting idle either.
…[read more]NHL scout likes new Hound
A seasoned National Hockey League scout with ties to Sault Ste. Marie has good things to say about sizeable centre Colin Fitzgerald, who the Soo Greyhounds recently acquired in a major Ontario Hockey League trade with the Peterborough Petes.
…[read more]Ex-Hound 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]Greyhounds, Firebirds deal
Soo Greyhounds and Flint Firebirds have finalized a one for one trade involving two forwards who are former first round Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft picks.
…[read more]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.
…[read more]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.
…[read more]Flint is fired up for a reason
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.
…[read more]Okay, 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.
…[read more]Cole Dubowsky is traded
Seeking some grit and grind at the forward position, the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League have secured Sudbury product Cole Dubowsky from the Barrie Colts for a future 11th round draft pick.
…[read more]Hounds add athletic staffers
Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League have brought aboard both a physiotherapist and player performance specialist ahead of the looming ’25-26 season.
…[read more]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.
…[read more]On to a few good rivalries
The restless hands of time are ticking towards the start of the ’25-26 hockey season. And while little can be done about certain self absorbed, self serving minor hockey coaches and managers who treat the game as though it is a special sanctuary for them, their kids, their friends and their kids — at the expense of others — here’s to a good season ahead for all of the good folks of the game.
…[read more]Huckson heading to Flint
Free agent defenseman Colton Huckson — who has a late December, 2008 birth date — is slated to attend the upcoming Ontario Hockey League training camp of the Flint Firebirds. Mike Oliverio, who is the head scout for the OHL Firebirds, confirmed to Hockey News North that Huckson, who is a Sault Ste. Marie product, has been invited to Flint for next week’s camp.
…[read more]OHL award for Tim Lukenda
The Ontario Hockey League has singled out Soo Greyhounds president and governor Tim Lukenda as the inaugural recipient of the David Branch Leader of the Year award.
…[read more]NOJHL Cubs sign OHL pick
He is smart and skilled with blazing speed and plum potential. And Ty Dubreuil will be one of the youngest players in the Northern Ontario 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 North has confirmed.
…[read more]Paper Kings ink OHL pick
Owen Smith will continue his hockey development by staying up north. A 2009 birth year forward who was taken in the 11th round of the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft by the North Bay Battalion, Smith has signed with the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League ahead of the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]Mid July in Hound Town
The feedback that I have personally received relative to the Soo Greyhounds retaining John Dean with a new two year contract extension has not been at all flattering to the veteran head coach of the Red and White.
…[read more]Hounds extend John Dean
Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League have opted to retain veteran head coach John Dean via new two year contract. The deal extends through to, and including, the ’26-27 OHL season.
…[read more]Downturn of hockey up north
Once upon a time, teams in the Ontario Hockey League were all in on players from the north. And not just from the bigger northern communities of Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay and Timmins.
…[read more]Maple Leafs land Fellinger
The improbable story of Wawa born defenseman Rylan Fellinger continued at the 2025 National Hockey League draft. A distant 13th round pick by the Flint Firebirds from the Under 18 Soo Jr. Greyhounds at the 2023 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, Fellinger became the NHL property of the Toronto Maple Leafs when they took the 6 foot 4, 200 pound defenseman in the sixth round.
…[read more]OHL stars in NHL 1st round
Wow! The Ontario Hockey League issued its own statement of strength in the opening round of the 2025 National Hockey League Draft.
…[read more]Martone an NHL 1st rounder
Philadelphia Flyers have made 6 foot 3, 210 pound power forward Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League a first round National Hockey League draft pick. Philadelphia took the October 26, 2006 birth year skater with the sixth overall pick of the 2025 NHL draft.
…[read more]Martin an NHL 1st rounder
Nashville Predators have made hard working Soo Greyhounds forward Brady Martin a first round draft selection. Nashville took the 2007 birth year skater with the fifth overall pick of the 2025 National Hockey League draft.
…[read more]Building it up in Brantford
There is new Ontario Hockey League ownership in Brantford led by Stuart Hyman and his sons Zach Hyman and Spencer Hyman. All star head coach Jay McKee has a new three year contract. There is lineup strength from standout goalie Ryerson Leenders to defenseman Owen Protz to proven forwards Sam McCue, Marek Vanacker and budding superstar Jake O’Brien, not to mention up and coming spark plug Nik Rossetto.
…[read more]Another Greyhound signing
Soo Greyhounds have inked their second first round pick from the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft in American-born forward Ryan Kaczynski.
…[read more]Brett Rossetto is a Steel
Hamilton Steel of the Under 15 AAA level of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association has signed 2011 birth year standout Brett Rossetto away from the U15 AAA Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association.
…[read more]Flint inks first round pick
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.
…[read more]Overcoming the odds
There is a premise among those who have a feel for the game that it does not matter what round a player is picked in a particular Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Hounds take Gavin Killoran
He is a developing forward who turned a productive season with the Soo Under 18 Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League into becoming an Ontario Hockey League supplemental draft pick of his hometown Soo Greyhounds.
…[read more]NOHA falls far behind
It was the worst showing ever by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association as only five players from the NOHA’s Great North Under 18 Hockey League were picked at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Soo boy to Owen Sound
Center Adam Pszeniczny of the Soo Under 16 Jr. Greyhounds has become the first player from the Northern Ontario Hockey Association to be picked at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Chitaroni a top OHL pick
Northern boy Brock Chitaroni has become the property of the Ottawa 67’s who took the skilled centre in the first round, third overall, of the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Prospects of the Great North
On average, there are 12 to 15 players from the Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s Great North league who become picks every year at the annual Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]NHL deal for Flint goalie
Workhorse goalie Nathan Day of the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League has signed an entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.
…[read more]Hounds in a dog fight
It is like playoffs before the actual playoffs. As in three teams — the Soo Greyhounds, Owen Sound Attack and Sarnia Sting — are in a frantic race for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]New to OHL 70 goal club
Nick Lardis of the Brantford Bulldogs has become the first Ontario Hockey League player to score 70 goals in a season since John Tavares — now of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League — did so back in the 2006-2007 campaign as a member of the Oshawa Generals.
…[read more]Spirit of the LSSU Lakers
There will sometime soon be a significant Memorial Cup presence at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Forward Calem Mangone and goalie Andrew Oke from the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League will take their considerable experience — that includes being key components on the 2024 Canadian Hockey League national championship team — to the LSSU Lakers effective the 2025-2026 Central Collegiate Hockey Association season.
…[read more]Faces of the OHL races
There is a sundry of races for playoff seedings in both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference of a uniform, balanced Ontario Hockey League. And there are faces who could be major difference makers down the stretch of the ’24-25 OHL season into the playoffs.
…[read more]Milestone for Mangone
An improbable story continues. Sault Ste. Marie product Calem Mangone has achieved a significant landmark as a fourth year forward with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Be-leaf in Anthony Stolarz
David Maciuk recalls the time when he had to beg a tier two junior hockey team to sign little known goalie Anthony Stolarz. Now 31 years of age and a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 6 foot 6 Stolarz has since forged a lengthy National Hockey League career as the quintessential backup goalie.
…[read more]Rossetto feels the roar
He is small but smart. He has speed to go with skill. And up against players who are anywhere between one and four years older than him has been part of the adjustment for 2008 birth year forward Nik Rossetto, a promising Sault Ste. Marie product and rookie skater with the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Whiz kid Wicklander
Brantford Bulldogs have a potential steal of an Ontario Hockey League draft pick prospect in their possession in the person of forward Kaden Wicklander of the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]NOJHL czar was OHL star
He is tried, tested and true to his northern Ontario roots. Over time, he has gone from star player in the major junior ranks to a long serving commissioner of a reputable junior A hockey league. And Rob Mazzuca has done so by staying close to home.
…[read more]