There’ll be no secret formula or new radical systems when the Barrie Colts take to the ice this season.
The old adage that defence wins championships is fine by the Colts as they kick off their 2025-26 OHL season Saturday night against the Guelph Storm at Sadlon Arena.
While a large part of the offence has moved on in Beau Jelsma, Dalyn Wakely, Anthony Romani, Owen Van Steensel, and Riley Patterson – the group combined to score 117 of Barrie’s 250 goals last season – the Colts believe focusing on keeping the puck out of their own net will go a long way in helping them remain competitive in the Eastern Conference this season.
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“I don’t know if it’s all predicated on the scoring,” said head coach Dylan Smoskowitz when asked if the team’s success will rely on just how much they score. “You ask most coaches, defence wins championships. “We want to learn how not to lose games, instead of winning games. I feel like when you want to win games, you talk about your scoring and your offensive output, and those things.
“When you don’t want to lose games, you talk about the good habits and when to get pucks in deep. How to finish checks, how to play solid defensively. How to play the puck and how to stay disciplined. That’s what we’re focusing on right now. The goalscoring will take care of itself. We do have some creative players in our room here who are going to out there and put up their points, but our main message to the guys is taking care of the puck when it’s not on our sticks.”
A back end that features veteran goaltender Ben Hrebik and a defensive core led by New York Islanders’ 17th overall pick Kashawn Aitcheson, along with Ottawa Senators prospect Gabriel Eliasson, and New York Rangers 2025 pick Evan Passmore has the Colts believing they won’t have to rely on a high-scoring offence to win hockey games this season.
“That’s exactly it, and with Ben Hrebik and Arvin Jaswal so solid with their goaltending and Hagan Bach having a good camp, we feel our goaltending is set for not only today, but the future,” said Smoskowitz.
“Once we get our big three from (NHL) camp with Aitcheson, Eliasson, and Passmore, those are all guys that nobody wants to play against. You mix in the tenacity and compete in our forwards that want to get back, want to help our defence out, we’re going to be a tough team to score on.”
The Colts reached the conference finals last season before being swept by the Oshawa Generals, and while it’s a much younger lineup this season, Smoskowitz believes the talent is there to battle the Niagara IceDogs and North Bay Battalion for top spot in the Central Division.
“I don’t see why not,” said the former assistant coach, who replaces Marty Williamson behind the bench after Williamson was named the vice-president to go along with his general manager duties earlier this summer. “We have a really interesting blend of veterans with good older presence on the ice, mixed with some really exciting youth.
“I think the combination makes us a really interesting team, but once we get everyone back, and once we get going here and the guys get cooking, I don’t see why we can’t be a contender in the East.”
Here’s a look at the Colts by position:
GOALTENDING
Expect to be a backup, Hrebik instead played his way into an equal split with Sam Hillebrandt between the pipes and showed he could handle the No. 1 role when he finished third overall in the league with a sparkling .920 save percentage.
He'll be the clear starter when he returns from NHL camp with the Boston Bruins, though Jaswal has the confidence of the coaching staff.
“We don’t think Hrebik will be back with us to start the season, so Arvin is going to get to start some really important games for us,” said Smoskowitz. “It’s a real test and opportunity for him to build some confidence and establish himself as a clear-cut No. 2 at this point in his career.
“I think he can develop like Sam Hillebrandt did behind Ben West, and just like Ben Hrebik did behind Hillebrandt.”
DEFENCE
The Colts will lean heavily early on returnees Justin Handsor and Ethan Armstrong while Aitcheson, Eliasson, and Passmore are at their respective NHL camps.
“It’s huge for those guys who are up and coming,” Smoskowitz said of the early ice time available. “A couple of them will be forced to play big minutes, especially right off the bat, until these guys come back from camp.”
With Tristan Bertucci, Beau Akey, and Grayson Tiller gone, Aitcheson will be the leader on the back end after a standout season that resulted in the punishing defender setting the franchise record for goals by a defenceman with 26 and tying for the team lead in scoring with 59 points.
Aitcheson dominated at times, and yet Smoskowitz believes he’s only getting started.
“He’s that good. The last thing I said before, and I’ll say it again, the last thing you want to do with Kash is get in his way because that guy’s light is going to shine bright no matter where he goes,” said the Barrie bench boss. “You want to guide him and kind of direct him in a positive direction, but at the end of the day, Kash is going to be Kash, and he’s going to go out there and dominate the game.
“He’s going to put his life on the line to get the two points, and that’s what we love most about him.”
The Colts are excited about rookies Cole Emerton and Teague Vader. Bigger roles for Armstrong and Handsor and locking down ice time for the pair of youngsters, is one of the main reasons the club moved veteran Grayson Tiller to Niagara.
Emerton, a third-round pick in 2024, had a goal and four assists in six preseason games.
“The best thing about Cole is he’s really, really coachable,” said Smoskowitz. “He wants to learn. He soaks up information, whether it’s the (defensive) coach talking to him or the power-play coach talking to him, and for a smaller guy, he has an extremely high compete, and an engine on him.”
FORWARDS
Cole Beaudoin (Utah) and Emil Hemming (Dallas) are both expected to return from their NHL camps, and the two veterans will be counted on heavily to help fill the offensive void with the departure of offensive stalwarts like Jelsma, Romani, and Wakely.
“When you are a 19-year-old first-round pick who gets sent back to the OHL, it’s so much more than your point production,” explained Smoskowitz. “There’s so much more of how these guys affect the game on a nightly basis. They’re bigger, they’re stronger. They play at such a pace where they’re a little bit away from being on an NHL ice surface playing with Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, and the best players in the world.
“When we get them back and play them against 16- and 17-year-olds, there’s a massive expectation that comes along with it. To get these guys back in our lineup, whether it’s putting points on the board or playing defence or hard hockey the proper way, these are the guys you want to lead the charge. The day we get those guys back, it’s a good day for the Barrie Colts.”
The Colts added veterans Alex Assadourian from Niagara and Calvin Crombie from Hamilton to help up front.
Assadourian recorded 42 goals and 127 points in 215 games and the Colts are hoping the overager can stay healthy and produce the type offence they believe he can.
“He can be our natural point guy,” said Smoskowitz. “The puck seems to always find him. He finds good spots on the ice. The last game he had four points, and that’s a good way for him to end the preseason and go into the regular season on a high.
“When we’re talking about putting points on the board and games that are more high scoring, we’ll definitely be looking towards Alex to be producing for us.”
The Colts added grit with Crombie, but Smoskowitz believes the physical winger can add more offence than the six goals he had last season with the Bulldogs.
“Cal is heart and soul. He’s pedal to the medal 24/7, whether it’s an exhibition game, playoff game, or practice day,” he said. “He’s our pace car out there. He sets the tone on a daily basis for us.
“I would definitely not underestimate his offensive ability. He finds his spots on the ice. He just wills himself to get there, and he wills that puck to the back of the net. Whatever he lacks in God-given talent and natural ability, he more than makes up for it with will and compete.”
The Colts will also need returnees Carter Lowe, Brad Gardiner, and Bode Stewart to play a bigger role on offence.
The six-foot-three, 215-pound Lowe had a career-high 16 goals last season and will play a much bigger role on the power play this season.
“Our power play guy has done a great job with him,” said the head coach. “He’s probably one of the better guys in the Ontario Hockey League in terms of being a net-front guy and taking the goalie’s eyes away. It’s a position that Carter has really accepted that role and has put in really serious time in perfecting it.”
Stewart had a disappointing six goals in 65 games last season, but after working out all summer, he arrived at training camp with 30 pounds of extra muscle on his six-foot-one frame.
“Bode’s whole life, he’s really struggled to put on weight,” explained Smoskowitz. “This summer, he put his mind to it, reached out and had a lot of people in his corner, and he came back 30 pounds heavier. The expectation on Bode is high. It’s an expectation he puts on himself.
“I just think a breakout year is on the horizon for a kid like Bode Stewart with how much sacrifice, dedication, and consistency goes into a summer that he put on 30 pounds of muscle and came back still fast and much stronger. I’m very excited to see what Bode can offer for this team.”
Rookie forwards Eamon Edgar and Joe Salandra are coming off outstanding camps and look like future top producers in the future.
Edgar, a 2025 second-round selection, has drawn comparisons to former franchise standout and former Winnipeg Jet Bryan Little. Smoskowitz said the “coolest” thing for him is that they will have at least three full seasons to work with Edgar, who doesn’t turn 16 until November.
“We have his first two years and then his NHL draft year in year three,” he explained. “As many puck-touches as he gets this year and whatever opportunities he gets his way, to understand it’s just the beginning with this kid.
“He has such a long road here in Barrie, and I’m sure by year two he’ll be a fan favourite, and by year three he’ll be one of the best players in the whole league.”
One of three talented rookie American forwards to join the team along with William Schneid and Nicholas Desiderio, Salandra sparkled in the preseason with four goals and six points in five games.
His transition, says Smoskowitz, has been pretty seamless and impressive to say the least.
“His goal in the last game of the preseason, where he had that quick little wrist shot, I just kind of looked at my staff, and went ‘Oh, my God! This guy might score 50 goals for us this year with that kind of release,” said the coach.
“Above that, another student of the game. Just a high, high character and integrity kid. He works his butt off every single day. He’s the first guy in here to ask for extra video. You can just tell right away, you meet a kid like Joe and it’s ‘this guy is going to be successful, whether it’s hockey or beyond hockey. We’re very fortunate to have him here in Barrie.”
Smoskowitz knows his young group will need some time to develop, but the talent is there.
“Anything worthwhile, just takes time,” he said ahead of his OHL head coaching debut. “So, there’s no rush from the coaching staff or management. It’s just making sure guys are doing the right things every day. I tell the guys, let’s not talk about championships and playoffs in September. Just talk about winning the day.
“You just talk about winning the day. You wake up tomorrow, then just focus on winning that day. Take things one step, one day at a time, but understand that everyone is pulling in the right direction. Making sure they are doing the right stuff on and off the ice and we’ll be OK.”
ICE CHIPS
The Colts will be hosting a meet and greet at 6:30 p.m. outside the west entrance. Select players, along with Charlie and Carly Horse will be on hand to greet fans.
BARRIE COLTS AT THE STARTING GATE
SEASON OPENER
Guelph Storm vs Colts at Sadlon Arena on Saturday night. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
WHO’S OUT
Sam Hillebrandt, Tristan Bertucci, Beau Akey, Grayson Tiller, Anthony Romani, Owen Van Steensel, Dalyn Wakely, Beau Jelsma, Riley Patterson, Cole Dubowsky, Michael Derbidge.
WHO’S IN
Nicolas Desiderio, Alex Assadourian, William Schneid, Calvin Crombie, Joe Salandra, Eamon Edgar, Luc Gauvreau, Teague Vader, Cole Emerton, Jack Pollock.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
COLE EMERTON
Rookie blueliner’s dad, Chris, played for Colts’ Jr. B Sutherland Cup team in the early 1990s. Coming off an impressive camp and showed he has all the makings of being a team quarterback in the future.
“There’s still a ton he needs to learn in order for him to do what he did at the minor hockey level, but if there’s any kid who is capable of learning it and taking his teachings and applying it in a game role, it’s Cole,” said Smoskowitz.
JONAH MCCORMICK
The six-foot-two, 200-pound Kingston native has all the makings of a true power forward. Played four games (three in playoffs) last season. Is a fitness buff.
“You look at this kid off the ice, he looks like he’s 30 years old with how many muscles he has,” said head coach Dylan Smoskowitz. “Add another summer and a full season, and in his NHL draft year this guy might be unstoppable. He’s just going to be an absolute nightmare for defencemen going back for pucks and forechecking.”
WILLIAM SCHNEID
Rookie forward is a native of Camillus, New York.
“Every day that goes by, you can see the improvement with Will,” said Smoskowitz. “He’s soft spoken and a real student of the game and another guy who is always doing reps after practice and putting in the work. You can really tell it’s paying off for him. The only thing we talked about after each game was how much better Will was and as a coach that’s all you can ask for.”
PREDICTIONS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Brantford Bulldogs
2. Barrie Colts
3. Niagara IceDogs
4. Kingston Frontenacs
5. North Bay Battalion
6. Peterborough Petes
7. Ottawa 67’s
8. Sudbury Wolves
9. Oshawa Generals
10. Brampton Steelheads
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Kitchener Rangers
2. Windsor Spitfires
3. London Knights
4. Soo Greyhounds
5. Guelph Storm
6. Sarnia Sting
7. Owen Sound Attack
8. Flint Firebirds
9. Erie Otters
