With the first week of training camp in the rearview mirror and the initial roster nearly cut in half, the Barrie Colts are beginning to take shape for the 2026-27 OHL season.
From a franchise-record high of 75 attendees invited to camp, General Manager Marty Williamson and his management and coaching staff have pared the group down to approximately 33 players. After watching the Colts split a pair of weekend exhibition games - edging the Brantford Bulldogs 4-3 before falling 6-4 to the Owen Sound Attack in a chippy affair - Williamson is already getting a clear read on his club’s identity.
“Probably the best comment I can make, I think we’re going to compete every night,” said Williamson. “I really like this group. I think we’ll play hard every night.”
“Then we’ll see how tough it is for us to score goals. That’s kind of the only question,” Williamson added. “I think these young guys are going to be rock solid on the back end, and with (Evan) Passmore, (Justin) Handsor, and these other guys sprinkled in with them, I’m excited for the year. I think we have a good group. I think we have good character.”
Williamson noted that discipline will be a crucial learning curve compared to past rosters.
“Last year, we could shoot ourselves in the foot sometimes, but we got enough talent to get out of it. This team can’t do that,” he said. Our emotions have to be in check. We want to play hard, but we can’t be taking dumb penalties.”
While scoring questions naturally arise with a younger group, Williamson sees internal candidates ready to step up, pointing to players like Dylan Tsherna and overagers Carter Lowe, and Luca Testa.
“You look at a Tsherna and Testa, they’ve been kind of behind guys, and they both have been very impressive for us,” said Williamson. “Lowe could have a big year, and my worries could be put away. The team might have six or seven 20-goal scorers, and if we can have that, then this is going to be a fun team.”
Williamson says he and his staff won’t wait long to bring down the number of players remaining at camp. The plan is to make more cuts after Monday’s exhibition game against the Sudbury Wolves.
“We want to get to our lineup,” he said. “We only really have Passmore going to pro camp, so it gives us three games to play a lineup that’s pretty close to what we’re going to play.”
Matheson and Mogull stand out early
Among the young players turning heads during the exhibition split, top blueline prospect Lucas Matheson stood out immediately, lighting the lamp three times and adding a pair of assists for five points in two games.
“He’s got special instincts, and it’s going to be a great development year for him so that he can really excel in the next couple of years,” Williamson said of this year’s 17th overall selection in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection. “He brings a lot of memories back for me of Brandt Clarke... I think we’re just seeing the start of where this kid can go.”
Despite a minor teaching moment against Owen Sound, Matheson showed remarkable resilience.
“He got burned tonight in a one-on-one for a goal, and then he comes back and scores a highlight goal,” Williamson noted. “I know down the road that one-on-one is going to be easy for him, and that kind of stuff, so I’m not too worried about those kinds of mistakes.”
“He’s got an extremely bright future, and we don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves,” Williamson added of his young star defenceman. “I thought he maybe slowed a little bit tonight on a back-to-back, and these are some of the things we’re going to see with younger players. We need to manage him. He’s a star down the road, and he’s very exciting.”
Forward Sebastian Mogull also made a strong impression up front. The six-foot-one, 185-pound right winger and native of Naples, FL. had a goal and an assist in the win over Brantford.
“Yeah, we’re really excited,” Williamson said. “It looks like he’s got playmaking ability, he sees the ice really well, and has a good build to him... He sure has been a nice early surprise.”
Hosting the preseason showcase
For the first time, Barrie hosted a mini four-team exhibition showcase at Sadlon Arena — a format Williamson found immensely beneficial for roster evaluation without the strain of early travel.
“It’s really good. The three teams, plus us, everybody gets a good look early at their guys,” Williamson said, noting positive feedback from visiting executives, including Brantford Bulldogs GM Spencer Hyman.
Given the solid turnout and the ability to test players in back-to-back game scenarios, the showcase could become a staple.
“I like it. I think it’s a good thing,” Williamson said. “We’ll have to talk to (owner) John Carese and see if we want to continue, but I think it’s a good thing.”
Roster jam at overage jobs and between the pipes
As the Colts head toward final cuts, two positional situations remain under the microscope: the overage (OA) roster limit and goaltending.
OHL teams are permitted to dress only three overagers per game, but Barrie currently features four veterans in Evan Passmore, Carter Lowe, Luca Testa, and Mason Wray.
“We could carry four for a while, or we’ll make the decision just to go to a trade,” Williamson explained, noting that Passmore will be attending an NHL pro camp shortly.
In net, the Colts are leaning on young netminders Hagan Bach and Nico Armellin to hold down the fort. Projected starter Arvin Jaswal continues his recovery from injury, while Belarusian goalie and Pittsburgh Penguins fifth-round NHL draft pick Matvei Nikonovich prepares for NHL rookie camp.
Both young netminders might be needed heading into the start of the regular season. Jaswal isn’t expected back for at least a month.
“The two young kids accounted themselves quite well,” Williamson said. “I thought Armellin was good... We think Bach’s going to continue to grow. If that’s what we’ve got to start with, I don’t have a problem with it.”
