Some familiar names were announced for the OHL’s U16 Top Prospects Showcase, which will take place on Jan. 13-14 in conjunction with the 2026 Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game.
Team Suzuki - #53, Evan Fitzgerald (Vaughan Kings, GTHL)
The GTHL’s Vaughan Kings forward Evan Fitzgerald is the younger brother of 2026 NHL draft-eligible prospect Colin Fitzgerald. Colin was just traded by his hometown Peterborough Petes to the Soo Greyhounds in what was a rather shocking move.
His younger brother Evan plays for one of the top teams in the GTHL U16 AAA circuit. Vaughan Kings went a perfect 4-0 in round robin play at last month’s 2025 Whitby Silver Stick tournament. Unfortunately, they lost in quadruple overtime in the quarterfinals to Upper Canada College. The Kings dropped from fourth to fifth in the OHL’s Week 3 OHL Cup rankings. At the 2025 Wendy Dufton Tournament in October, Fitzgerald recorded seven goals in four games.
Team Suzuki - #14, Roman Vanacker (Brantford 99ers, Alliance)
Roman Vanacker is indeed the younger brother of Chicago Blackhawks 2024 first-rounder and the OHL’s current leading goal-scorer, Marek Vanacker. Older brother Marek will be making the trip down to Niagara Falls this weekend, as he has just been added to Canada’s training camp roster for the World Juniors.
Roman is the offensive play driver for the Brantford 99ers in the Alliance U16 AAA division. When speaking with one OHL scout, they believe he could be a top ten pick in the 2026 draft. Vanacker leads his team in scoring with 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points in 14 games. At the 2025 Toronto Titans Early Bird Tournament earlier this year, he scored six goals in four games. On Nov. 26, the 15-year-old earned an AP callup to play for the Brantford Titans of the GOHL.
OHL U16 Top Prospects Showcase Rosters Announced
The rosters for the OHL U16 Top Prospects Showcase next month in Peterborough have been announced. 80 of the best 2010-born Ontario-based kids will compete, including one 2011-born player.
Team Suzuki - #33, Austin Bennett (Ottawa Myers Automotive, HEO)
Ottawa Myers Automotive goaltender Austin Bennett is the younger brother of Sudbury Wolves rookie Brayden Bennett, who was picked 11th overall by the OHL club in the 2025 draft. He’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds.
Bennett’s Ottawa Myers squad went 3-1 in round-robin play at the 2025 Wendy Dufton Tournament. Bennett recorded two of their three wins, posting a shutout in both games. According to GameSheetStats, Bennett has a 6-4-3 record with a goals-against-average of 2.74 this season.
Team Tavares - #92, Brayden Grima (Toronto Jr. Canadiens, GTHL)
The Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the GTHL took home the first big U16 event, winning the 2025 Toronto Titans Early Bird Tournament. They were led by forward Brayden Grima, who finished with the most points in the tournament with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in eight games.
Grima is the younger brother of five-year veteran OHL defenseman Nick Grima. Nick spent time playing for the Peterborough Petes, Sarnia Sting, and finished his career with the North Bay Battalion. After four years playing for the University of Toronto, he’s continued his playing career in the ECHL, where he currently plays for the Indy Fuel.
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