-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Training camps for the OHL are set to begin in about a month. Teams have been actively signing import players over the past two to three weeks. However, several teams have not yet signed their 2025 first-round draft picks, including two players from the top five. Hockey Canada recently conducted their U17 summer development camp, [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/30-ohl-players-heading-to-canada-s-u17-summer-development-camp] which featured four of the five players who remained unsigned. Will we see these players sign their OHL scholarships in the coming weeks, or are they having commitment issues? 30 OHL Players Heading To Canada's U17 Summer Development Camp [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c1d21277-b31b-4425-9701-e1aff30d1d38.webp] 30 OHL Players Heading To Canada's U17 Summer Development Camp Hockey Canada has revealed the rosters for its <a href="https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/mens-camp-rosters-set-2025-26-poe">U17 and U18 Selection/Development Summer Camps</a>. As anticipated, the OHL is strongly represented, contributing 50 players to the 119 invited in total. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/30-ohl-players-heading-to-canada-s-u17-summer-development-camp] C, KADEN MCGREGOR - PETERBOROUGH PETES - 1ST OVERALL The first name on this list is the most surprising. The Peterborough Petes selected forward Kaden McGregor first overall [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/peterborough-take-kaden-mcgregor-with-first-overall-pick] after a dominant season in Eastern Ontario in the HEO league and impressing at the 2025 OHL Cup. He wasn’t seen as a lock to go first overall until his play at the OHL Cup solidified it, but what’s the holdup, and why hasn’t he signed yet? The Braeside, Ontario native has an ultra-competitive attitude and a desire for winning. He hates to lose, and his competitiveness will be a positive addition to a Petes team that is looking to get out from the bottom of the table. For reference, Matthew Schaefer [https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/matthew-schaefer-wants-to-stick-with-new-york-islanders-i-want-to-be-in-that-opening-night-roster-1.2337584]— first overall pick in 2023 — signed his contract on May 20, 2023, while Ethan Belchetz [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/spitfires-first-overall-pick-ethan-belchetz-wears-61-and-models-his-game-after-rick-nash] — first overall pick in 2024 — signed on May 4, 2024. Adam Novotny, Projected Top Prospect In The 2026 NHL Draft, Signs With Peterborough Petes [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/77402ded-3a90-4299-b858-0261b7b2ed83.webp] Adam Novotny, Projected Top Prospect In The 2026 NHL Draft, Signs With Peterborough Petes Last season, one of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ohl">OHL’s</a> top performers came from the 2024 CHL Import Draft. <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/players/ilya-protas-with-the-help-of-older-brother-aliaksei-ready-to-show-the-capitals-what-he-can-do">Ilya Protas</a> was selected third overall by the <a href="https://chl.ca/ohl-spitfires/">Windsor Spitfires</a>. He formed an unstoppable duo with <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/the-ohls-deadliest-duo-ilya-protas-and-liam-greentree">Liam Greentree</a>, scoring 50 goals and 124 points in the regular season. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/adam-novotny-projected-top-prospect-in-the-2026-nhl-draft-signs-with-peterborough-petes] To be three months past the draft and the first overall selection remaining unsigned seems a little worrisome. However, McGregor spoke at the Hockey Canada camp this past week regarding how excited he is to play in front of the Petes faithful. “The fans are definitely unreal. I’ve seen lots of videos, dating back to their championship season (2023), and I’d like to bring that back to Peterborough,” said McGregor. LW, BRENNER LAMMENS - SARNIA STING - 4TH OVERALL The second player in the top five who remains without an OHL contract is Sarnia Sting’s fourth-overall selection, Brenner Lammens [https://chl.ca/ohl-sting/article/getting-to-know-brenner-lammens-2025-first-round-pick-interview/]. Lammens, 15, doesn’t turn 16 until Sept. 13. Sarnia plays a pre-season [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/ohl-releases-2025-pre-season-schedule-kitchener-rangers-host-labor-day-weekend-showcase] game the day before his birthday, against the Peterborough Petes. Hopefully, the No. 1 overall pick and No. 4 overall pick are signed and face off against each other that day. The physical power forward from Langton, Ontario won’t be intimidated when he jumps into the league. He has a mean demeanor in his playstyle, finishing checks, getting involved in battles, and making plays in tight areas. As Sting GM Dylan Seca has mentioned, [https://www.theobserver.ca/sports/local-sports/sarnia-sting-land-hard-nosed-skilled-centre-brenner-lammens-in-ohl-draft] “We think he’s the type that you win with.” Sarnia has already signed second-round picks Kaden Aucoin [https://chl.ca/ohl/article/sting-sign-american-blueliner-kaden-aucoin/] and Sarvir Jaworski [https://chl.ca/ohl/article/sting-sign-second-round-selection-sarvir-jaworski/]. Why haven’t they put pen to paper with their new budding young star? Lammens should slot in nicely to the team’s third line and play alongside newly acquired veteran Jack Van Volsen [https://chl.ca/ohl-sting/article/sarnia-sting-acquire-forward-jack-van-volsen-in-trade-with-brampton-steelheads/]. Another One Bites The Dust; Porter Martone Expected To Leave The OHL For Michigan State University [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fa566641-09d9-40c4-acf5-d8634dd02b57.webp] Another One Bites The Dust; Porter Martone Expected To Leave The OHL For Michigan State University OHL fans, specifically supporters of the Brampton Steelheads, woke up to some unfortunate news on Monday. Another elite OHL player is potentially leaving the league to play in the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/what-does-the-ncaa-ruling-mean-for-ohl-players">NCAA</a> for the 2025-26 season. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/another-one-bites-the-dust-porter-martone-expected-to-leave-the-ohl-for-michigan-state-university] C, ALEKS KULEMIN - KINGSTON FRONTENACS - 9TH OVERALL The third player on the list is forward Aleks Kulemin, the ninth overall pick of the Kingston Frontenacs [https://chl.ca/ohl-frontenacs/video/aleks-kulemin-and-matthew-henderson-are-the-newest-members-of-the-kingston-frontenacs/]. He is the son of former Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs] forward Nikolai Kulemin. Last season, Aleks played for the top-ranked Don Mills Flyers in the GTHL. Unfortunately, he faced challenges during the OHL Cup due to an injury. Of course, the young man still has plenty of room to grow into his 6-foot-2 frame, but the Russian center is a beast along the boards for his age, possessing excellent puck protection skills utilizing his big frame. He’ll be able to hold his own as a 16-year-old in the OHL. Kingston signed their 17th overall pick, Matthew Henderson [https://chl.ca/ohl/article/frontenacs-sign-first-round-pick-matthew-henderson/], last month, and eighth-rounder Nolan Snyder [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/kingston-frontenacs-sign-ncaa-bound-goaltender-talented-american-forward] signed just over a week ago. Now it's time to sign their young forward star. Kingston Frontenacs Sign NCAA-Bound Goaltender & Talented American Forward [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/669e25bf-a607-4048-a0f2-186ac4583379.webp] Kingston Frontenacs Sign NCAA-Bound Goaltender & Talented American Forward In the past week, the Kingston Frontenacs made several signings, including a potential starting goaltender and a promising 2009-born American forward drafted in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/kingston-frontenacs-sign-ncaa-bound-goaltender-talented-american-forward] LHD, DAVID BUCHMAN - BRANTFORD BULLDOGS - 20TH OVERALL The third defenseman taken in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, David Buchman, has yet to sign with the Brantford Bulldogs, although the team has been busy this summer with a couple of trades and 18-year-old American signings. Brantford’s blueline has a lot of question marks heading into the 2025-26 season. Tomas Hamara and Tommy Budnick won’t be back, being 2004-borns. The club made three selections in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, so Adam Jiricek may not return. Will Lucas Moore be back for his OA year? And with Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets] prospect Edison Engle [https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-sign-ohio-state-commit-edison-engle/] in the fold, who will round out the team’s third pair? Is Buchman worried that he may not have a consistent role on the team in 2025-26? Splitting the season between Jr. A or Jr. B and the OHL wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for his development, however. 20 OHL Players Named To Canada's U18 Summer Selection Camp In Preparation For The 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/522a3110-f150-4174-b095-feb407a56df9.webp] 20 OHL Players Named To Canada's U18 Summer Selection Camp In Preparation For The 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Hockey Canada has revealed the rosters for its <a href="https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/mens-camp-rosters-set-2025-26-poe">U17 and U18 Selection/Development Summer Camps</a>. As anticipated, the OHL is strongly represented, contributing 50 players to the 119 invited in total. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/20-ohl-players-named-to-canada-s-u18-summer-selection-camp-in-preparation-for-the-2025-hlinka-gretzky-cup] LW, KANE BARCH - KITCHENER RANGERS - 22ND OVERALL The last player on the list isn’t a surprise. Kane Barch, the son of new Niagara IceDogs head coach Krys Barch [https://chl.ca/ohl-icedogs/article/icedogs-name-krys-barch-head-coach/], was taken as the second-last pick of the first round by Kitchener, even though they knew he was being considered for the United States National Team Development Program. Barch, 16, is expected to play for the U.S. National U17 Team in the upcoming season. It would come as a complete shock if he decommitted and signed with the Rangers. Now, it doesn’t mean that he won’t join them in the future. Kitchener’s recruiting skills are among the best in the OHL. Never count them out. After all, they did just get the top 2026 NHL draft prospect, Adam Valentini [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/rangers-sign-university-of-michigan-commit], to commit. (Top photo credit: Josh Mailloux/OHL Images) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. Latest OHL News: Kitchener Rangers Replace Goaltender Of The Year With San Jose Sharks Prospect [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/3aed81c8-94a1-4d5c-ac80-68820810bcf1.webp] Kitchener Rangers Replace Goaltender Of The Year With San Jose Sharks Prospect The Kitchener Rangers might have discovered their new goaltender to step in for the reigning <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/otters-announce-staffing-changes">Goaltender of the Year, Jackson Parsons</a>. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/kitchener-rangers-replace-goaltender-of-the-year-with-san-jose-sharks-prospect] Guelph Storm Add Size With New Imports; Both 2025 CHL Import Draft Selections Signed [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/665408e9-c73d-44a3-af48-fcd48d4fa803.webp] Guelph Storm Add Size With New Imports; Both 2025 CHL Import Draft Selections Signed The <a href="https://chl.ca/ohl-storm/">Guelph Storm</a> are looking to bounce back after a challenging season, where they finished second-last in the league with a record of 21-38-9. They also allowed the second-most goals against, with a total of 301. The organization is hopeful that their young players are prepared to improve, and they have provided additional support through the 2025 CHL Import Draft. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/guelph-storm-add-size-with-new-imports-both-2025-chl-import-draft-selections-signed] North Bay Battalion Sign Russian Import First-Round Pick [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7a2c5d7d-0ac5-4ccc-9b7c-2256972646bf.webp] North Bay Battalion Sign Russian Import First-Round Pick The import signings in the OHL continue, with another first-round pick from the 2025 CHL Import Draft committing. After the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/niagara-icedogs-import-player-roster-finalized-sign-third-pick-from-the-2025-chl-import-draft">Niagara IceDogs were able to sign all three of their draft picks</a>, the North Bay Battalion have joined in on the action. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/north-bay-battalion-sign-russian-import-first-round-pick]
