For Ontario Hockey League commissioner Bryan Crawford, his job comes with plenty of responsibilities, but one of the biggest is keeping an eye on the changing landscape of junior hockey

When I finalized my schedule from September 18th to 27th, I sighed to myself and invoked the line Danny Glover said in Lethal Weapon "I am too old for this s**t".

After being selected 24th overall in this summer's NHL draft, Adam Novotný rightfully has a ton of hype surrounding him headed into the 2026-27 Ontario Hockey League season. Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images Drafted out of Peterborough, Novotný scored 34 goals and 31 assists for 65 points with the Peterborough Petes in the 2025-26 season headed into the draft. Novotný put up 5 points in 5 games at the Hlinka-Gretzky last summer and followed that up with 3 points at the World Juniors

As the landscape of major junior hockey changes, affiliations between teams at different levels have become increasingly more valuable

Getty Images Forward Wyatt Johnston is becoming quite the household name in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars, leading the highest level of professional hockey in powerplay goals scored last 2025-26 season (27). However, the now 23-year-old Toronto, ON native, going into his fifth full NHL season, left quite the lasting legacy of accolades during his two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Windsor Spitfires; which in return has left an imprint on him

Photo courtesy of Tony Saxon/Guelph Today With OHL training camps wrapping up and exhibition season beginning, all 20 teams have expectations of some sort. Two teams at the opposite end of the expectation spectrum are the front running Guelph Storm and the perennially rebuilding Niagara IceDogs. They both have visions, but to say that they are drastically different might be an understatement. GUELPH STORM Ryan Roobroeck and Ethan Czata in their new Guelph Storm colours. Pho

Vince Neil Media photo Given his family history, one might think that A.J Foyt V would be more comfortable on the gridiron or at the speedway. Instead, the 15-year-old found his passion playing hockey. The 2010-born blueliner comes from one of the most recognizable sports families in the United States. He is the great-grandson of racing icon and Hall of Fame NASCAR driver A. J. Foyt, who also won the famed Indianapolis 500 four times (1961, 1964, 1967, and 1977) as an IndyCar

Natalie Shaver/OHL Images There is little that Liam Greentree hasn't accomplished with the Windsor Spitfires. He trails only Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler in all-time franchise scoring, ranking third in goals and assists with 148 goals, 180 assists, and 328 points in 241 games. With all that to his credit, the right winger would've liked nothing more than to close out his OHL career with a league championship. Although the Windsor Spitfires delivered their best campai

Logan Taylor/ OHL Images The Madhouse on Market Street has seen its share of playoff hockey since the Bulldogs franchise relocated to the Telephone City. After capturing the Hamilton Spectator Trophy and securing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, the Brantford Bulldogs have turned TD Civic Centre into one of the toughest buildings for opponents this postseason. "We've been very fortunate to have an incredible crowd here, incredible fan base," head coach Jay McKee sa

Natalie Shaver/OHL Images Jack Pridham is the latest member of the Kitchener Rangers to earn the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy as Overage Player of the Year. It continues a run of success in Kitchener marking the third straight season a Ranger has won the award, following goaltender Jackson Parsons and forward Matthew Sop. "It's definitely a good accomplishment," Pridham said. "Can't thank my teammates and coaching staff enough, and it's pretty cool to see the Rangers do that t

Guelph Storm As the Guelph Storm prepare to host next year’s Memorial Cup, rookie forward Layne Gallacher has become an important part of those plans. The 17-year-old was acquired in a trade that sent Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick Jett Luchanko to the Brantford Bulldogs. Since joining the Storm, Gallacher has six points in 12 games. He had five goals and seven assists in 21 contests with Brantford. Last season, Gallacher led the U18 Ajax/Pickering Raiders with 46 point

Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images For Kingston Frontenacs head coach Troy Mann, this season has been about continuing to set standards, trusting his team’s structure, and finding ways to stay competitive even when the offence hasn’t come easily. “We’ve really built this team from the back end out,” Mann said. “Offensively, it’s been a struggle at times, and I think that’s why we’ve had some losing streaks. We went through a nine-game stretch where we only scored 16 goals, and it’s t

Natalie Shaver/OHL Images Pierce Mbuyi arrived in Owen Sound with high expectations, and the 17-year-old winger has continued to deliver for the Attack after a record-setting rookie campaign. Taken seventh overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, Mbuyi made an immediate impact in his first season, earning the Emms Family Award as the OHL’s Rookie of the Year. This season, he's continued to establish himself as one of the league’s top young forwards. Mbuyi leads Owen Sound

Brandon Taylor / OHL Images Now in its second year, the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game has already become one of the premier scouting events for NHL executives. Several top draft-eligible players headline this year’s showcase at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, including Soo Greyhounds defenceman Chase Reid, Windsor Spitfires forward Ethan Belchetz, and Brantford Bulldogs centre Caleb Malhotra. All three were ranked in the top 10 on NHL Central Scouting’s midseason ra

Robert Lefebvre /OHL Images While the Kingston Frontenacs may lack the offensive firepower they had a season ago, head coach Troy Mann sees his young core trending in the right direction. Kingston scored the fifth-most goals in the league last year and went 40-20-5-3, reaching the second round of the playoffs. Much of Kingston’s offence from a season ago is gone. Cedrick Guindon and Ethan Hay have moved on to college, while Tuomas Uronen, Joey Willis, and top blueliners Quint

OHL Images Brantford Bulldogs defenceman Ben Danford will spend the next month on the international stage. The Madoc, Ontario native earned an invitation to Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, joining Bulldogs teammates Jake O’Brien, Jett Luchanko, and Marek Vanacker. Danford has previously represented Canada at the World U17 Championship and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. After the tournament, the 19-year-old will return

Brandon Caputo (@BCaputo_AGM) Vivid Eye Photography The Canadian Hockey League announced on Tuesday that Niagara IceDogs third-year...

Joel Vanderlaan Photo by Raine Hernandez/OHL Images It’s going to be a busy week for Kingston Frontenacs General Manager Kory Cooper, and...

Joel Vanderlaan @jovanderlaan Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images Even before he officially joined the Kingston Frontenacs, head coach...

Joel Vanderlaan @Joelvanderlaan Photo by Robert Lefebvre /OHL Images The Kingston Frontenacs have plenty of reasons to feel confident as...