{"time":1781317391832,"blocks":[{"id":"VWKX2DvBgr","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The first round of the 2026 OHL draft has now come and gone, with the event going back to in-person with Kingston being the host."}},{"id":"BGHpzcjI8A","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The first pick for every team has now been made, with the opening 20 picks being made."}},{"id":"PcS1f6tY5W","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Here's how everything shaped out on Friday night."}},{"id":"ELZbcROY79","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 1 - Oshawa: Kane Cloutier","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"zO47by0Wsr","type":"image","data":{"caption":"Kane Cloutier of the Vaughan Kings went first overall in the 2026 OHL draft. (Photo: Dan Hickling/OHL Images)","withBorder":false,"withBackground":false,"size":"full","alignment":"center","linkUrl":"","file":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7901d52f-4bc8-4f56-a5df-bd88b5cae7d3.jpeg","width":4182,"height":3345}}},{"id":"mNb02PFfM7","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The first pick, as rumoured, was Kane Cloutier of the Vaughan Kings. "}},{"id":"dRvW2viUkK","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The son of Dan Cloutier put up 58 (32+26) points in 33 games at the U16 AAA level, and should be an instant impact player in Oshawa's lineup."}},{"id":"12i0cvb0IL","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 2 - Erie: Colin Kennedy","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"HX0o0KtLZO","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The second pick is another centre, Colin Kennedy, out of the Little Caesers program. "}},{"id":"6rFhD81xpQ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Sault Ste. Marie native was dominant at the U16 AAA level, posting 24 goals and 12 assists in 20 games."}},{"id":"4Vhkd6DGEp","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 3 - Brampton: Tanner Adams","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"1LZAvOcyXV","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"This pick is where the controversy really starts. "}},{"id":"NJRecQs7C1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Adams has an argument to be the top prospect eligible in this draft, but he reportedly will only report to play with the Sudbury Wolves. "}},{"id":"1nAw0svyaZ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Steelheads decided it was worth it to take a crack at it, and either convince the player to play for them or figure out a trade and gain some assets that way."}},{"id":"NvAPUPqU35","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 4 - Sarnia: Adrian Sgro","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"ompc3KYafJ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The first blueliner off the board goes to Sarnia, with Vaughan Kings defenseman Adrian Sgro going off the board with pick four."}},{"id":"3urkcx106-","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Alliston native put up 31 points and 100 PIMs in 33 games as the captain as the Kings U16 AAA team in his draft year."}},{"id":"RtJNo1jRpO","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 5 - Sudbury: Kash Kwajah","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"i1m9oQ4uVa","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"With Adams off the board, the Wolves have pivoted to Kash Kwajah, the dynamic offensive talent out of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens program."}},{"id":"S8wHBzWSvT","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He put up 28 goals and 35 assists in 31 U16 AAA games during his draft year."}},{"id":"CdbLRa2fz-","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 6 - Saginaw: Drew Bate","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"LeMtJfTyo8","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It's another high-octane offensive centre off the board, with the Spirit taking Drew Bate from the London Jr. Knights."}},{"id":"TN8ylp01rw","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Union native scored 72 (34+38) points in 27 games in his draft year."}},{"id":"Lvo5xQXpqP","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 7 - Guelph: Declan McNally","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"2OT-Fzk6rr","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The next defender off the board is big Declan McNally, with the 6-foot-5 LaSalle native heading to the 2027 Memorial Cup host Guelph Storm."}},{"id":"l0OF5knclG","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He played his draft year with the Don Mills Flyers U16 group, scoring seven goals and 26 assists in 59 games."}},{"id":"qXRaur8sMC","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 8 - Owen Sound: Max Fransen","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"qhjOtiPUuu","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Attack take Max Fransen off the board with the eighth pick, with the Upper Canada College blueliner adding to the Owen Sound defence."}},{"id":"4Efs8ud8VW","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Toronto native will add some puck-moving ability to a back end that can always use some more."}},{"id":"lbMydNijjZ","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 9 - Niagara: Max Lappan","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"V7mHhbFQvE","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The streak of defensemen continues, with Lappan becoming the first American to be taken off the board."}},{"id":"dXBZmzdtyn","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The 6-foot-2 right shot captained the stacked Honeybaked program this past season, and will look to be an all-around beast of a blueliner in the OHL."}},{"id":"hkq--JFqCI","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 10 - Kingston: Logan Prud'homme","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"GJLb0IkF6Y","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It was, in no exaggeration, a MASSIVE pick for the host Frontenacs. Prud'homme is a 6-foot-7 centre, that if he develops right, could be an unbelievably tough player to handle in junior."}},{"id":"HU38s_tTR1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Ottawa native played for Upper Canada College in his draft season, and adds some nice skill to his massive frame."}},{"id":"Lk9VaSx-xv","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 11 - North Bay: Owen Loftus","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"-whMN5AyZf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The first goalie off the board is Owen Loftus, a Toronto native that played his draft year with the Don Mills Flyers."}},{"id":"8_oyhZv6dU","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"A technically solid goalie, Loftus projects to be a good starter at this level."}},{"id":"RG6jJ_md09","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 12 - Soo: Jaden Licastro","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"XUec3O7pKi","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The trend of defensemen keeps coming, with Jaden Licastro heading out to the Greyhounds."}},{"id":"WlOcCiP3iu","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The 6-foot-2 Toronto Marlboros captain will add some good two-way play to the Soo back end."}},{"id":"ORhDsP9dXR","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 13 - Peterborough: Landon Roulston","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"vcB-ZMB7Ks","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"A third Vaughan King is off the board, with Roulston being selcted by Peterborough."}},{"id":"RvEu3YoZlL","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Oakville-born centre put up 18 goals and 20 assists in 33 games at the U16 AAA level this past season."}},{"id":"Iuoc25JPgO","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 14 - London: Ryan Beaulieu","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"MEsI-QG-JO","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Another blueliner comes off the board, with the Knights taking Ryan Beaulieu, who played his draft year in London with the Jr. Knights program."}},{"id":"SiNCP68ifQ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Clearly, this is a player London knows well, and were happy to pick in the first round."}},{"id":"gPZnF37PLu","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 15 - Flint: Chase Schulberger","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"wZvSDrUNZV","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It's another blueliner off the board, and another interesting pick. American Chase Schulberger was seemingly going to play for the USNTDP next year, but considering this is a first-round pick, it seems as though the Firebirds are convinced he'll play for them."}},{"id":"jxRSaDObEP","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Quakertown, PA, native played last season with the Woodbridge Wolfpack program in the U.S., putting up 11 points in 15 games."}},{"id":"6Ilfo8Aqqh","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 16 - Windsor: Lauchlan Whelan","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"dgVZBYgQ1_","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Spits choose to go the route of a centre, which makes sense considering some of their impending departures up front."}},{"id":"uG3LuAfPNQ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"In Whelan, they get a two-way forward who can also score, one who scored 32 goals in 34 games with the Quinte Red Devils U16 AAA program."}},{"id":"88JTzU9lYo","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 17 - Barrie: Lucas Matheson","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"xjUqgMmr9V","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It's another blueliner off the board, and a hometown pick for the Colts. Matheson is a kid from Barrie, who developed in and captained the Colts U16 program, and is now a first-round pick of the OHL squad."}},{"id":"vG_c8RMWv6","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"That's as storybook a junior career as you can get, and the hometown kid will provide some puck moving and offensive flair to the back end."}},{"id":"cmjC5tHa7w","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 18 - Ottawa: Andrew Laurin","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"sE_0dbJMAj","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"In Laurin, the 67's get a big power forward winger, with the 6-foot-2 Kingston native adding some size and skill to Ottawa's forward group."}},{"id":"zOhDCnHTfC","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He played his draft year with the Quinte Red Devils, scoring 51 (26+25) points in 34 games."}},{"id":"ZrG2P-hZDv","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 19 - Kitchener: Braden Reilly","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"_ykDNfsrx-","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Memorial Cup champion Kitchener Rangers take another winger, with Braden Reilly joining the team."}},{"id":"JH7f8sd6jv","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Milton native put up 18 goals and 15 assists with the Toronto Marlboros last season at the U16 AAA level."}},{"id":"UBKZgIb-JV","type":"header","data":{"text":"Pick 20 - Bratnford: Aiden Kelly","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"y99halaCYg","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The final pick of the first round is another Little Caesers product, with Aiden Kelly heading out to the Bulldogs."}},{"id":"TBJ2R6psDk","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He'll fit in pretty well next year with a roster that seems to be very American-heavy from the outside."}},{"id":"9sZK6_t6fw","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Never want to miss out on any OHL news? Make sure to bookmark THN's OHL site."}},{"id":"egXzjfUu6Z","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Also follow @roryyarthur on X/Twitter for more updates."}},{"id":"YoFWKBIXpr","type":"header","data":{"text":"Read more ","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"m9FxHcOauN","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"OHL Transactions Recap: June 6"}},{"id":"BrallYGS7x","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Sarnia Inks Pair Of 2009-Born Forwards"}},{"id":"YUdAgtTtct","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"OHL Trade Recap: June 1-3"}},{"id":"oOhAlyKdEv","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Knights Add Anthony Thomas-Maroon, Son Of Pat, For 2026-27 Season"}},{"id":"XBl61s5fNa","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Sting Sign Top Import Pick Simon Katolicky"}}],"version":"2.31.6"}

Rory Arthur

roryarthur@THNN

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