The Ontario Hockey League hosts an annual tournament each season at Scotiabank Pond in North York, Ontario. This event features the best U16 teams in the province, along with a few American teams.

The event is called the OHL Cup. Throughout the week, the arena is packed with OHL scouts jotting down notes and evaluating the next wave of talent in the upcoming draft. This is the last chance for these players to make an impression as they enter their first year of draft eligibility. 

The 2025 OHL Cup begins on Monday, Mar. 24, with the three wildcard matchups kicking it off to decide the last three teams to make it into round-robin play. 

Some of the best players to play in the NHL have participated in the event. Connor McDavid holds the record for most goals at the event with 11 in 2012. He added eight assists for 19 points but couldn't beat Corey Perry's record of 20 points in 2001. 

Only one other player has tied Perry's record for most points in a single OHL Cup tournament, and that player is a projected top-three pick in the upcoming NHL draft. 

That said player is none other than Saginaw Spirit's exceptional status, first overall pick in the 2022 draft, Michael Misa, who set the record as a 14-year-old playing a year up in his age group. 

This season, there are no standout players projected to have exceptional status coming out of Ontario. After speaking with several scouts who have been observing this age group throughout the season, it is clear that no player has distinguished himself as the likely first-overall pick.

Below are ten players to watch at the upcoming tournament. They aim to lead their team to the ultimate trophy for a U16 player in Ontario and project as potential top-ten picks in the upcoming draft. Along with each player are quotes from the GM of the OJHL's Pickering Panthers and OHL scout for TheScout.ca, Sean Meyers, Ontario regional scout for PuckPreps, Jordan Malette, and an OHL scout. 

Charlie Murata is a projected top-three pick in the upcoming draft playing for the GTHL U16 AAA Champions, the Don Mills Flyers. All season long his name has been mentioned as the potential next recipient of the Jack Ferguson Award, awarded to the first overall draft pick. 

"Murata is the top player on the OHL Cup favorites, the Don Mills Flyers, bringing a really exciting package of physical tools, polished skating, and high-end playmaking. He controls the play every time he steps on the ice, managing the puck so well within the offensive zone, playing with patience to draw defenders out of position and slip pucks to the interior," said Jordan Malette.

"Murata was one of the most talked about prospects from his U15 year, and he lived up to the hype this season. He is a dynamic player who has no problem generating offense. I believe he will be in the mix for the first player off the board at this year’s OHL draft, and he will be a special player," said Sean Meyers

The U16 Alliance Champions belong to the Sun County Panthers and have been led all year long by their star forward Jaakko Wycisk. He played at the 2024 OHL Cup tournament with the Panthers as an underage player and suited up in one game in the OJHL for the Leamington Flyers, in which he recorded a goal. 

"Smartest player in the draft, super calculated player, vision is off the charts and he just makes other guys better and carries such a mature presence on the ice. Can come across as lazy, but he’s more calculated and poised, he always ends up in the right spots and he doesn’t over anticipate plays," said an OHL scout on Wycisk. 

"Wycisk offers another exciting package of physical tools and skating ability, maneuvering around the ice so effortlessly in his 6'0 frame. His ability to combine slick handling in motion and smart body positioning to protect the puck from defenders is at the core of his capability to win lanes to the net and spark offense for the Panthers," said Jordan Malette. 

"For teams looking for an offensive threat with size, Wycisk will be a great pick. He has been in the conversation for the first pick in this year’s draft most of the season. He had a great year with the Sun County Panthers of the Alliance, and consistently shows why he deserves to be a top pick. It will be interesting to see how high Wycisk goes in the draft," said Sean Meyers.

Forward Camryn Warren is one of the top players on the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, a team that suffered a massive upset at the hands of the Toronto Red Wings in the first round of the GTHL playoffs. JRC faces off against Ottawa Myers Automotive on Monday morning in a win-or-go-home wildcard match. A loss there would be shocking and a stacked JRC team would see their season end on a horrific note. 

"Camryn Warren plays with a non-stop motor, constantly pushing defenders on their heels and dictating the tempo every shift. There is no shortage of offensive skills in his toolkit as he is the primary creator for his squad, but the relentless go-go-go playstyle is the first thing you notice when you watch Warren and the Jr Canadiens," said Jordan Malette. 

"Warren is pure skill and creativity, he's an explosive skater and he creates by deception and manipulation of opposing defenders, projects as more of a winger at the OHL level," said an OHL scout. 

Kane Barch is the son of former NHL enforcer Krys Barch, who has been the Head Coach of his son's Lakers team since 2022. Kane Barch is seen as his team's top dog and was a key factor in their Silverstick tournament victory in November.

"Kane is a creative and brilliant playmaker, seemingly always able to read the play correctly, spot the gap in the defense, and create a scoring chance. He's not the biggest guy on the ice, but Barch plays a pesky brand, constantly applying pressure on the forecheck and freeing up pucks," said Jordan Malette.

"Barch might be the hardest working player in the draft, the son of Krys Barch has a lot of elements of his dad's competitiveness, but has a lethal shot and vision to go with it," said an OHL scout. 

The Toronto Titans lost in the championship final to the Don Mills Flyers and it wouldn't be surprising if both teams meet up again in the OHL Cup finals. The Titans are led by Max Delisle, the younger brother of Owen Sound Attack forward Tristan Delisle. 

"A strong & powerful two-way center that drives the top line for the powerhouse Toronto Titans. There's no shortage of offensive output, mainly in his playmaking, but the primary value is in the details: smart positional play, winning battles, and linking plays together to transition pucks up ice," said Jordan Malette.

"Delisle is very projectable, plays a mature two-way game, and has superb vision," said an OHL scout. 

Here's another younger brother of a current OHL player. The U16 Barrie Colts' number-one forward Brock Chitaroni is the younger brother of Sudbury Wolves' forward Hudson Chitaroni. Brock was at the tournament last year playing a year up with the Colts where he registered three points in five games. 

"Chitaroni has an excellent motor, he never stops moving his feet and he has a junior-level shot," said an OHL scout. 

"An incredibly explosive skater who can gain steps on defenders with just a few powerful strides. Almost once a shift, Brock will explode through the neutral zone, blazing by defenders trying to close him down and spark a rush chance, relying on his tactical handling to navigate to the scoring areas," said Jordan Malette. 

"Chitaroni spent his U15 year playing with the U16 Barrie Colts. We saw him play and develop on a team that featured 3 2024 OHL first-round picks. This year, Chitaroni was not only the best player on his team, but one of the best players in the OMHA. He showed great growth this season and his ability to contribute for Barrie at both ends of the ice was noticeable. I believe he is likely a first-round pick, and has a chance to go in the top 10," said Sean Meyers.

Kaden McGregor drives the bus for the U16 HEO Champions, the Ottawa Valley Titans. He led his team in goals (38) and points (82) in 29 games during the regular season, adding 11 goals and 24 points in nine playoff games, according to eliteprospects.com. 

"Kaden McGregor is the heart and soul of a strong Ottawa Valley team, always finding himself in the middle of their offense, as evidenced by the staggering 82 points in 29 games this season. He is a threat to snipe from anywhere, can play make from down low & off the cycle, and just offers a high-end offensive package," said Jordan Malette.

The Toronto Red Wings made a remarkable comeback in the playoffs, overcoming a 4-0 series deficit to upset JRC 6-4 in their series victory.

They also achieved a significant win against the Detroit Little Caesars American team at the Silverstick tournament. However, they finished as runners-up, losing 3-2 in the championship game to Huron-Perth in overtime. Their top player is forward Brenner Lammens. 

"Lammens is the nastiest player in the class, plays a Tkachuk style of game, and constantly gets under the skin of opponents, but he also creates at a high level," said an OHL scout.

"Lammens is an in-your-face style power forward, playing on the edge and never shying away from physical play. He protects the puck well with his frame and can be deadly within the offensive zone, leading the Toronto Red Wings on the scoresheet most games," said Jordan Malette. 

Ryerson Edgar led his York Simcoe Express squad to an impressive second-place finish at the OMHA Championships. He led his team in goals with 33 in 32 regular season games and even played three games of Jr. A hockey in the OJHL for the Collingwood Blues this season. 

"Edgar is the captain of the York Simcoe Express and will be a great selection for a team looking for a responsible two-way forward, who is one of the top point producers in the OMHA. He produced at almost a 2-point-per-game pace this year and gave the opposition trouble whenever he was on the ice. He played a few games of Junior A hockey this year with the Collingwood Blues and did not look out of place. He is ready to make the jump to the OHL and I believe he should be a top 10 pick," said Sean Meyers.

"In terms of raw technical abilities, Ryerson is at the top of the class. He can explode up and down the ice, shift any direction in the blink of an eye, all while handling the puck seamlessly, giving Edgar all the tools to turn defenders inside out and win lanes to the net," said Jordan Malette.

Another member from the JRC team who has impressed scouts all year and projects as a first-rounder is the sharpshooter Keaton Ardagh. 

"Ardagh has the potential to be a 40+ goal scorer at the OHL level if he reaches his potential, lethal shot, needs to round out his game though," said an OHL scout.

"One of the premier goal scorers in the class, he finds space well in the offensive zone and when he gets his opportunities he can pick the corners with his lethal wrist shot. There is a layer of playmaking in his toolbox, but goal-scoring is always the selling point to me with Ardagh," said Jordan Malette.