For an American kid growing up, the dream of playing baseball, football, or basketball is often front and centre.
Ben Wilmott fell in love with another game. He knew it the moment he first laced up the skates and grabbed a stick. There was nothing else he wanted more than to play in the National Hockey League.
A dream that is expected to take a big step towards coming true when the Barrie Colts forward hears his name called this weekend at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft being held in Buffalo, N.Y.
“It’s been my dream since the start,” said the Long Valley, New Jersey resident, who enters the draft ranked 71st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. “Ever since I touched a hockey stick and put the skates on, it’s what I’ve longed to do for my life. Ever since I was a little kid, hockey has been what I wanted to do.
“I live and breathe it, so it’s a super cool opportunity, and I’m super excited to just enjoy the moment. I’m looking forward to a lot of work ahead to keep playing the game I love.”
Regardless of what NHL team drafts him, Wilmott knows it’s just another opportunity to keep working toward his goal.
“Getting drafted is one thing,” said the 19-year-old, who, after a strong regular season, racked up 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 20 games in helping lead the Colts to a berth in the OHL championship final against Kitchener. “It’s another stepping-stone to signing a contract and making a career out of it, so I’m super grateful that I’m in this position where I have the chance to go to the draft and see what happens. I’m honestly just grateful that this is just a whole opportunity in itself, and to be able to experience it and do it with my family and my friends is something you dream about.
“I’m super excited, and we’ll see what happens.”
For Colts head coach Dylan Smoskowitz, Wilmott is right where he should be.
“So much pride, so much excitement,” Smoskowitz said of what it will mean to see Wilmott realize his dreams this weekend. “I just want to give the kid a big hug. It’s such a great accomplishment for him and for his family, and for our organization.”
Smoskowitz said he has had pretty much every NHL team contact him about Wilmott leading up to this year’s draft and ask him about the player’s game. The message was the same for every team.
While not exceptional or world-class at one specific thing, Wilmott was really good at everything. And at the pro level, says the Barrie head coach, that holds so much value.
“To be a pro, you have to have size,” said Smoskowitz. “You have to be able to skate. You’ve got to play fearless, you’ve got to play smart. You’ve got to have good hands, have a good shot. Ben does everything, and on top of that, the skill, the willingness to compete, to battle. To get stick on pucks, to forecheck hard. To stand in front of the net and be able to withstand contact.
“Ben has all these things. That’s what made him successful here in Barrie, and those intangibles are the exact same things that will make him successful as a pro.”
Wilmott spent the previous season with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede, before signing with the London Knights as a free agent before the start of last season.
Moved to the Colts ahead of the OHL Trade Deadline in early January, the hardworking forward had an immediate impact with the Colts, recording 15 goals and 32 points in 29 games to help lead Barrie to a Central Division title and second-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
While Wilmott admits it wasn’t easy leaving London, the decision to join a contending team in Barrie was a mutual one and one that worked out just fine.
“I think the style of game in Barrie fit my game really well,” said Wilmott, who was born in Seattle, before moving to New Jersey when he was three years old. “From the trade deadline on, I think everyone jelled together so well, and I think that was such a big part of the success we had as a group, being so strong and everyone really buying in and doing what we needed to do to get the job done.
“It was such a special thing to see how the group clicked together and jelled.”
Barrie's News Delivered To Your Inbox
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Ontario Broadcasting, 431 Huronia Rd, Barrie, Ontario, CA, https://www.cobroadcasting.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
It was deep into the playoffs where Wilmott really put his game on display. When an injury in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final against the Belleville Bulls forced OHL playoff scoring leader Cole Beaudoin out for the remainder of the playoffs, Wilmott was handed his spot down the middle on the top line.
The versatile forward relished the more prominent role, helping Barrie rally from a 3-1 series deficit to advance to the OHL finals.
“It was a really cool opportunity that I got to have,” said Wilmott, who is committed to play at Ohio State University next season. “Obviously, it was really tough seeing Cole go down there, but we rallied around him and did it for him. Every time we put on that jersey and stepped on the ice, the one goal in mind was to win and do it for each other.
“That helped me find success in key moments, as well as my teammates finding success for each other. I think it was the bond we had together and doing what it takes to get the win every single night.”
While he’s not comparing Wilmott to Beaudoin, Smoskowitz said the top line didn’t miss a beat.
“The impressive thing with Ben is that when Cole went down, Ben stepped into that first-line centre role, playing against other teams’ best players, best shutdown defence, and our first line was not affected at all. That line continued to produce.
“Now, of course, by moving Ben up to the first line, you’re depth takes a hit, and I think that at the end that was kind of detrimental to us and eventually led to our downfall against Kitchener.”
Looking back on his decision to join the OHL, Wilmott believes it was the right move in helping his game and further improving his chances of getting drafted.
“I just want to say how grateful I am to have played in the OHL,” said the six-foot-one, 190-pound forward. “I played for two great organizations with London and Barrie. The time I had at both of those places was unreal. Personally, it was my favourite year of hockey I’ve had in such a long time.
“I’ve loved every part of the OHL and playing with the people I met and the experiences I got to go through. It was such a fun year, and I’m so happy it worked out the way it did.”
“He was everything and more,” said Smoskowitz of Wilmott’s performance in Barrie.
Whatever NHL team does select Wilmott, Smoskowitz believes they won’t be disappointed. He knows firsthand he’s ready and willing to do whatever any NHL club needs him to do.
“We’ve had some players in the past where you put them on the wing, and they come in your office and tell you that they are a centreman,” explained the Barrie coach. “You put them on the third line, and they come in your office and tell you they are a top six player. The only thing Ben Wilmott said in my office was, ‘How can I get better?’ That’s it. All he wanted to do was learn. He trusted the coaches. He trusted his teammates. He trusted the plan we had in place for him, and all that kid wanted to do was work his hardest and learn as much as he could.
“When I talk about a coach’s dreams, Ben Wilmott’s name is a name that comes up very quickly in my mind. He’s a coach’s dream to have as a player on his team.”
Wilmott will have his support system with him at this weekend’s draft, which kicks off with Round 1 on Friday night and the remaining six rounds on Saturday.
His father, Andrew, a former professional basketball player, mother, and younger brother Dylan will all be on hand at the draft.
The Colt was still deciding what suit he was going to wear.
“I have two in mind I’m thinking about wearing,” he said, adding a chuckle. Hopefully, everything goes well, and it looks good.”
Four other Colts could also hear their names called at this weekend’s NHL draft.
Winger Joe Salandra, a native of Pleasantville, N.Y., is ranked 152nd among North American skaters. Salandra had 12 goals and 38 points in 59 games in his rookie season.
“Joe is such a warrior,” said Smoskowitz. “You put him on a power play, and with his vision, his hockey sense and his skill, you want the plays running through Joe. As an opponent, you would hate to play against him. You’ve got to have your head up. He’s always going to swing by.
“He’s always going to finish his checks, and he’s a well-built kid, so when he finishes a check, he goes right through you.”
Barrie’s Justin Handsor is ranked 207th overall among North American skaters. The gritty blueliner, who played in the top prospects game, had four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 59 games this season.
“Talk about a kid who has worked for everything he has got so far,” said Smoskowitz.
Barrie goaltender Arvin Jaswal is ranked 18th overall among North American goalies. The six-foot-two, 178-pound rookie posted an impressive 18-3-2 record with a 2.45 goals against average and .922 save percentage in 24 games.
“Every single game Arvin went in, he just kept getting better, and more confident and smoother in his movements,” said Smoskowitz.
Veteran starter Ben Hrebik is ranked 31st on the NHL Central Scouting Rankings among North American goaltenders.
Hrebik was spectacular in Barrie’s run to the OHL finals, posting a 2.66 goals against average and .922 save percentage in 20 playoff games.
“I don’t care what anyone says, he was the best goalie in the OHL during the playoffs,” said Smoskowitz. “If we won the championship, he would have got that Wayne Gretzky award as playoff MVP. Any NHL team that got to see him in our long playoff run, they want that guy wearing their NHL jersey.”
