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.
The 5 foot 8, 160 pound Smith was a standout for the North Bay Under 16 Trappers of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s Great North League in ’24-25.
A local North Bay product, Smith sniped 14 goals, 30 assists, 44 points in 30 regular season games for the U16 Trappers. He then added three assists in three playoff matches.
Marc Gagnon, who is the general manger of the NOJHL Paper Kings, is pumped to have signed Smith.
“We are very excited with the signing of Owen. I have seen him play numerous times last season and for Team NOHA and I know exactly what we are getting,” Gagnon relayed to Hockey News North. “He is a real good hockey player We will continue in helping with his development in one day realizing his goals of playing in the OHL for the Battalion.”