The Barrie Colts will look to restock the stables when the OHL Priority Selection gets underway Friday.
The Colts hold the No. 18 pick overall and have a total of 18 selections, including two in each of the fifth, sixth, and eighth rounds, after acquiring fourth round (Kitchener) and fifth round (Sudbury) selections from the Ottawa 67’s for a third (Kingston) in 2026 and fifth in 2028.
“We have a pretty good plan for what we want,” said Colts’ general manager and head coach Marty Williamson. “Obviously the draft takes some ebbs and flows, but we feel pretty prepared that we’re going to get some pretty good hockey players into our organization.”
The Peterborough Petes have the first pick overall in the first round of the draft and are expected to take Ottawa Valley centre Kaden McGregor.
The Guelph Storm, Ottawa 67’s, Sarnia Sting and Owen Sound Attack round out the top five selections in a draft scouts are saying lacks big names but features a deeper talent pool.
“It’s not like superstars,” said Williamson. “There are really good players, but there’s a lot of them. We believe at pick No. 18 – the AA (rated) players went right into the third round – so you just kind of pick your poison at what you want.
“There’s a lot of good talent out there and I think we’ll get a good mix of it.”
The top local player expected to hear his name called Friday is expected to be Barrie Colts U16 AAA forward Brock Chitaroni.
The OHL draft kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight with Rounds 1 through 3 and continues Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. with Rounds 4 through 15.
The draft will be carried for free across the OHL’s YouTube, X, and Facebook channels in addition to OHL Live on CHL TV.
