Each autumn, the Ontario Hockey League renews its ancient promise: that somewhere in the arc of a season, young men will discover what they are made of, and a champion will be forged. This year, the London Knights carry the weight of defending a title while the Windsor Spitfires and Brantford Bulldogs rise with genuine ambition, even as shifting NCAA eligibility rules quietly redraw the boundaries of who plays where and why. The league itself is in motion — expanding, modernizing, tightening its standards — all in service of its enduring role as the world's foremost pathway to professional hoc
OHL 2025-26 Preview: Brantford, Windsor Favored But London Knights Remain Formidable
Reloading rather than rebuilding, but the window is narrower
Mark
So the Knights won it all last year with 55 wins. Why are people suddenly saying they might not repeat?
Mimi
They graduated a lot of offensive talent. Dale Hunter is coaching Canada's world juniors this winter, so he's split. They've got good pieces back—Sam O'Reilly is a dominant centre, Medvedev is a strong goalie—but replacing 55 wins' worth of scoring depth is hard.
Luke
But we should be careful here. The article says they're "reloading, not rebuilding." That's an optimistic read. We don't actually know if O'Reilly and the young forwards can carry the load.
Mark
What makes Windsor and Brantford the favorites?
Mimi
Windsor has Liam Greentree, Jack Nesbitt, Ethan Belchetz—multiple first-round NHL prospects. If Ilya Protas comes back, they've got a 50-goal scorer. Brantford has Jake O'Brien who should hit 100 points, Marek Vanacker with 45-goal potential, and they added Ryder Boulton, who's already won two OHL titles.
Luke
The big unknown for Windsor is whether Protas returns. That's not a small thing. And for Brantford, we're told Vanacker can score 45 if he stays healthy—but that's conditional. Injuries happen.
Mark
I keep hearing about the NCAA changing things. How much is that actually affecting the league?
Mimi
It's significant. Gavin McKenna left for a U.S. college, and other top prospects have followed. Teams are losing players they thought they'd have. It's forcing junior clubs to either improve their programs or watch stars leave.
Luke
The article says some of the best players have bolted, but it doesn't give us numbers. How many? Which teams lost the most? We know Brampton lost Porter Martone and Jack Ivankovic to Michigan State and Michigan, but the full picture isn't clear.
Mark
What's the deal with Kitchener and the 2027 Memorial Cup?
Mimi
They're a finalist to host it. So there's a strategic question: do they go all-in for a title this year, or do they preserve assets and build toward 2027 when they're the home team? It's a real tension.
Luke
That's interesting, but the article doesn't tell us how the team is actually thinking about it. Is management leaning one way? We don't know.
Mark
Is there anything else reshaping the league?
Mimi
Commissioner Bryan Crawford is pushing expansion, demanding better arenas, enforcing minimum standards. There are new rules on video review, slew-footing, faceoffs, goaltender delays. It's all aimed at keeping the OHL as the world's top pipeline to the NHL.
Luke
Those are administrative moves. They matter for the game's integrity, but they don't directly affect who wins the championship. The real story is the talent and the rosters.
Il Polso
- London's dynasty is under real pressure for the first time in years, with key scorers graduated and head coach Dale Hunter dividing his attention between the OHL and Canada's world junior program.
- Windsor's championship hopes hinge on a single uncertain variable: whether star winger Ilya Protas returns to the lineup, without whom their otherwise formidable offense carries a significant gap.
- Brantford has assembled a roster dense with NHL-drafted talent and a coach chasing his fifth straight winning season, making the Bulldogs perhaps the most complete threat to unseat London.
- The NCAA's new eligibility rules are pulling elite Canadian prospects southward — Gavin McKenna among them — forcing OHL franchises to compete harder for talent they once took for granted.
- Commissioner Bryan Crawford is simultaneously managing expansion ambitions, arena upgrade mandates, and new on-ice safety rules, all while defending the league's identity as the NHL's premier development pipeline.
Each autumn, the Ontario Hockey League renews its ancient promise: that somewhere in the arc of a season, young men will discover what they are made of, and a champion will be forged. This year, the London Knights carry the weight of defending a title while the Windsor Spitfires and Brantford Bulldogs rise with genuine ambition, even as shifting NCAA eligibility rules quietly redraw the boundaries of who plays where and why. The league itself is in motion — expanding, modernizing, tightening its standards — all in service of its enduring role as the world's foremost pathway to professional hockey.
The Ontario Hockey League's new season arrives with the defending champion London Knights facing their most credible challenge in years. Last season's 55-win, 112-point juggernaut has been thinned by graduation, and coach Dale Hunter — now in his 24th season — will share his winter between London and Canada's world junior bench. The Knights still have centre Sam O'Reilly, a Tampa Bay prospect, alongside young forwards Logan Hawery and Jaxon Cover, and Canucks goaltending prospect Aleksei Medvedev. But replacing the departed scoring depth is the organization's defining test.
Windsor and Brantford have stepped forward as the season's most compelling contenders. The Spitfires finished last year with 45 wins before a painful second-round exit, and return with Kings prospect Liam Greentree, Flyers first-rounder Jack Nesbitt, and 2024 first overall pick Ethan Belchetz leading the attack. The unresolved question is whether Capitals prospect Ilya Protas — a 50-goal, 124-point performer — will be in the lineup. Goaltending remains a competition between overager Joey Costanzo and rookie Michael Newlove.
Brantford brings its own star-laden roster under coach Jay McKee, who is chasing a fifth consecutive winning season. Kraken prospect Jake O'Brien is a 100-point candidate, Blackhawks first-rounder Marek Vanacker could reach 45 goals if healthy, and Czech import Adam Benak adds international skill. Former London Knight Ryder Boulton arrives with two OHL titles already in hand. The Bulldogs lost to Oshawa in last year's second round and are hungry to go further.
Kitchener, with 47 wins and 100 points last season, remains a force, though the departure of blue-chip forward Adam Valentini to Michigan complicates their calculus. The Rangers are also weighing whether to chase a title now or protect assets ahead of hosting the 2027 Memorial Cup. Guelph, meanwhile, is rebuilding quickly after missing the playoffs entirely, with sophomore goaltender Colin Ellsworth and second overall pick Jaakko Wycisk expected to accelerate the turnaround.
Beyond the standings, the league is navigating structural change. The NCAA's decision to welcome Canadian Hockey League players has opened a new exit door for elite prospects, with Gavin McKenna's college departure a prominent example. Commissioner Bryan Crawford is responding by raising arena standards, expanding video review, and addressing dangerous on-ice infractions — all while pressing forward with expansion plans. The mission, as ever, is to remain the world's most reliable pipeline to the NHL. Whether London can defend that championship, or whether Windsor or Brantford claims it, the season beginning this week will answer the question.
The Ontario Hockey League's championship race opens this week, and for the first time in years, the defending titleholder faces genuine competition. The London Knights won it all last season with 55 victories and 112 points, but the landscape has shifted. The Brantford Bulldogs and Windsor Spitfires have emerged as the favorites to reach the Memorial Cup in Kelowna next spring, and neither team is taking the crown for granted.
The Knights' path to repeating has grown steeper. Coach Dale Hunter, in his 24th season, will split his attention coaching Canada's world junior team this winter. More significantly, London graduated substantial offensive firepower from their championship roster. The team will lean on returning centre Sam O'Reilly, a Lightning prospect already dominant at the junior level, and a promising young forward pairing of Logan Hawery and Jaxon Cover. Goaltender Aleksei Medvedev, a Canucks prospect, anchors the crease. The question hanging over the organization is whether they can replace the graduated scoring depth. Hunter and general manager Mark Hunter have added another world junior gold medal to their ambitions, but reloading while defending a title is never simple.
Windsor finished last season with 45 wins and 96 points before a reverse sweep by Kitchener in the second round. The Spitfires have the offensive weaponry to contend. Liam Greentree, a Kings prospect, should produce at a high rate again. Jack Nesbitt, a Flyers first-rounder, and 2024 first overall pick Ethan Belchetz will put up significant numbers. AJ Spellacy, a Blackhawks prospect, adds depth. The critical variable is whether 50-goal, 124-point right wing Ilya Protas, a Capitals prospect, returns to the lineup. Goaltending remains unsettled, with overager Joey Costanzo and rookie Michael Newlove competing for starts. Coach Greg Walters, in his second season, has the pieces to lead the Western Conference.
Brantford, meanwhile, has built a roster with genuine star power. Jake O'Brien, a Kraken prospect, should eclipse 100 points. Marek Vanacker, a Blackhawks first-rounder, has the potential to score 45 goals if he stays healthy. Adam Benak, a Wild prospect and the second overall pick in the import draft, brings Czech skill. Ryder Boulton, a former London Knight, arrives with two OHL titles already on his resume. Coach Jay McKee is aiming for his fifth consecutive winning season. The Bulldogs finished last year with 44 wins and 93 points before losing to Oshawa in the second round. The question is whether the Hyman family's involvement will push the organization to new heights.
Kitchener Rangers, with 47 wins and 100 points last season, remain strong but face a different calculus. The team lost blue-chip forward Adam Valentini, who revoked his commitment and departed for Michigan. Defenseman Cameron Reid could score 20 from the back end. Centre Luke Ellinas, a Senators prospect, is a premier playmaker. Overager Jack Pridham, a Blackhawks prospect, should be one of the league's best veterans. The Rangers are also weighing whether to push for a championship this year or preserve assets for hosting the 2027 Memorial Cup at the Memorial Auditorium. Guelph Storm, the only other finalist for 2027 hosting duties, is poised to rise from a 21-win, 51-point season that saw them miss the playoffs entirely. Sophomore goaltender Colin Ellsworth posted a .964 goals-against average in the preseason. Jaakko Wycisk, the 2025 second overall pick and Alliance player of the year, will produce immediately. Overage captain Charlie Paquette scored 37 goals last year.
The NCAA's decision to open its ranks to Canadian Hockey League talent has reshaped roster construction across the league. Gavin McKenna's departure to a U.S. college has been followed by other top prospects bolting for American universities. Some of the league's best players have chosen that path, forcing junior teams to sharpen their programs or risk losing stars. League commissioner Bryan Crawford, in his second season, is pushing expansion while demanding clubs boost player experience and enforce minimum arena standards. New rules address expanded video review, dangerous infractions like slew-footing, faceoff violations, and goaltender delays. The overarching mission remains unchanged: serve as the world's premier pipeline to the NHL and develop the next generation of professional talent.
London's championship pedigree cannot be dismissed. The organization has built a culture of excellence under the Hunters, and reloading rather than rebuilding is the operative phrase. But the window for another title this year is narrower than it has been. Windsor and Brantford have the depth and star power to make serious runs. Kitchener remains formidable. The race that begins this week will test whether the Knights can adapt to a more competitive field or whether a new champion will emerge.
Citazioni salienti
It's never wise to bet against the perennial powerhouse, especially when Dale and Mark Hunter have added another world junior gold medal to their wish list— Preview analysis on London Knights
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