The Barrie Colts didn’t have to go far to add the offensive help they were looking for with their first-round pick in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection Friday night at Kingston’s Slush Puppie Place.
With the 17th pick overall, the Colts reached into their own backyard to select Barrie Colts U16 AAA defenceman Lucas Matheson. The five-foot-10, 161-pound right-shot blueliner is an exceptional skater who recorded 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points in 34 games last season with the minor midget Colts.
“It’s so cool being able to wear this jersey again,” said Matheson of being selected by his hometown team. “I’ve been watching games before I could even remember, so it’s really cool being able to be that player that’s coming up and being on that ice that I’ve been watching guys play on.”
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The Colts were looking for someone who could bring offence, and Matheson is someone who possesses the elite tools to do exactly that.
“We’ve been lucky in the past,” said Colts general manager Marty Williamson of drafting high-octane offensive point men. “We’ve seen what Brandt Clarke could do for us, Kashawn (Aitcheson) this year. An offensive defenceman is a weapon that you have to have.
“We believe we absolutely have one of those, and now we got to fill in the other holes.”
The Oshawa Generals began the first in-person draft since 2000 by selecting Vaughan Kings centre Kane Cloutier with the first-overall pick. Cloutier is the son of former NHL goalie and Colts goalie coach Dan Cloutier.
The Erie Otters followed that by grabbing Detroit Little Caesars forward Colin Kennedy second overall. The Brampton Steelheads rounded out the top three selections by drafting Hill Academy forward Tanner Adams.
An elite puck mover in the mould of dynamic American defender Lane Hutson, Matheson has all the makings of a top power-play quarterback. The five-foot-10, 165-pound Barrie resident had his season end prematurely when he suffered a leg injury in the OMHA Championships, but that didn’t sway the Colts, who had made the playmaker a target if he was still available at their pick.
“We were pretty focused on him,” said Williamson. “We think he’s a modern-day defenceman, kind of like the Lane Hudsons of the world that can generate (offence). They play so well because they skate better than everybody.
“We’re big fans of Lucas, and he was pretty much our target for a long time.”
Matheson points to Hutson as a player he tries to pattern his game after.
“He’s someone I can resemble in a lot of ways, just his size,” said the 16-year-old. “His way of play as an elite offensive defenceman is someone I kind of model myself after.”
The draftee being an elite skater with outstanding edge work is perhaps no surprise considering his pedigree. His father, Paul Matheson, is the co-owner of the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie.
A certified NCCP National Coach, the older Matheson is also a skating development coach with both the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and the major junior Colts and has worked with several OHL players over his 25 years as a professional skating instructor.
“Obviously, he’s done a good job with Lucas, but Paul really didn’t go into this,” said Williamson of why they drafted Lucas. “His kid stood on his own, and his play this year kind of determined that we think he can instantly run a power play. He makes our forwards better, just the way he sees the ice, and he sees the game.
“I really believe he’s a modern defenceman. I would imagine Paul has helped him, but this kid has had a great year.”
Like most young players his age, Matheson will need to continue developing his game on the defensive side and mature physically. The more he watched the young defender play, one thing really stood out for Williamson.
“For me, it was his compete,” said the Colts GM, when asked what one intangible that stood out about Matheson. “This is a guy who competes on loose pucks. He does all that kind of stuff. I’ve watched him step up and make big hits. Yeah, we knew he was a good skater, but, for me, it was just how competitive he is.
“That’s what really started to draw me to him and keep watching him and ultimately pick him.”
Rounds two through 15 of the draft will begin Saturday morning.
The Colts will have to wait a little while before making their next pick. Barrie’s next selection won’t be until the fourth round (80th overall). They hold two picks in the fifth round, 87th and 91th overall, before holding single picks in rounds six through 11, where they will once again make two selections.
In all, Barrie will draft 16 players this weekend.
The Colts will focus on adding forwards over the next few rounds.
“I would think so,” said Williamson. “We have some options, and again we have to wait and see, but I would think we need to get a few forwards in there the next few picks for sure.”
ICE CHIPS
A total of 11 forwards, eight defencemen, and one goaltender were taken in the first round of the OHL Priority Selection.
Adams was the lone player not to step up to the podium after being selected. The talented forward from Timmins, who was projected to be the first pick overall, reportedly wants to play closer to home with the Sudbury Wolves.
Canadian men's national team veteran and former Generals star John Tavares announced the first overall selection for Oshawa, and 2026 Calder Trophy winner and Erie Otters graduate Matthew Schaefer announced the second overall pick. Later on, former Frontenacs head coach and general manager Doug Gilmour announced Kingston's 10th overall pick, Logan Prud'homme.
