The Ontario Hockey League’s 2025-26 season is already shaping up to be one for the books, with the Guelph Storm and Erie Otters both launching their training camps amid a swirl of fresh faces, shifting strategies, and high hopes. As the late August sun lingers over southern Ontario and northwestern Pennsylvania, the Sleeman Centre and Erie Insurance Arena are buzzing with the energy of young prospects, battle-tested veterans, and coaching staffs eager to turn the page on last season’s dramas.
For the Guelph Storm, Monday, August 25, 2025, marked the official kickoff of training camp, drawing an impressive 74 players to the Sleeman Centre. The group included a mix of current roster members, potential prospects, and ambitious free agents—all vying for a coveted spot on the team. The players were promptly divided into four squads: Team Red, Team Black, Team White, and Team Gold, setting the stage for a series of lively scrimmages that would give coaches and fans an early glimpse of the team’s depth and chemistry.
“It’s always exciting to see the new guys mix in with the returning players,” remarked a team official as families and fans settled in for the first games of camp. And the action didn’t disappoint. In the opening scrimmage, Team Red edged out Team White with a 4-3 victory, thanks to goals from Thompson, Tronoski, and a pair from Pape. On the other side, Dion and Paquette (who notched two goals) kept Team White in the hunt until the final horn.
The second scrimmage saw Team Black narrowly defeat Team Gold, 5-4. Wycisk led the charge for Team Black with two goals, while Miedema, Rossi, and Stevens each chipped in one. Team Gold’s attack was paced by McLean, who found the net twice, with Serlin and Taylor also lighting the lamp. For fans in attendance, these games offered a taste of the competition and hunger that define the early days of camp.
The Storm’s training camp schedule is packed, with scrimmages set for August 26th and 27th, culminating in a final tune-up on August 28th. But it’s not just about internal competition—the pre-season slate is equally demanding. Guelph will face off against Brampton, Brantford, and Oshawa in a series of games running from August 29th through September 12th. Individual game tickets are already on sale, and the excitement is palpable as supporters anticipate the first puck drop of the new campaign.
Not to be outdone, the Erie Otters entered their own training camp on August 25th with a sense of determination—and more than a little relief—after a 2024-25 season that was, by all accounts, tumultuous. The franchise endured the passing of its owner, a behind-the-scenes coaching change, and devastating injuries to key players. Kris Mallette, who took over as head coach on February 11, 2025, after the firing of Stan Butler, is eager for a fresh start but isn’t letting his guard down.
“I probably barked (at the players) a little more than I’d like to,” Mallette admitted during a candid media session following the camp’s opening scrimmage. “That’s something I don’t want to have to do as much this year. I want to try and stay happy, but I did get wound up this morning.”
Mallette’s intensity is understandable. The Otters’ roster is undergoing a sea change, with several notable departures and a wave of new arrivals. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who suffered a broken collarbone last December, made headlines as the first overall pick in the June 2025 NHL draft by the New York Islanders—the first Otter to receive that honor since Connor McDavid in 2015. Forward Carey Terrance, whose season ended prematurely after a frightening injury on February 14, 2025, is now preparing to attend the New York Rangers’ training camp after being acquired in a June trade from the Anaheim Ducks.
The exodus doesn’t end there. Winger Malcolm Spence opted to join the Michigan Wolverines, taking advantage of a November 2024 rule change that allows OHL players to compete at the NCAA level. This shift is already reshaping how teams like Erie build their rosters. General Manager Dave Brown put it plainly: “We’re in a new way of building teams. Previously, the (only) way of building teams was through your draft picks. Now, that’s going to change. We don’t know when we’re going to lose players, so we’ve got to be prepared to have an influx of free agents.”
Brown’s words are more than just talk. Erie has moved quickly to bring in new talent, including free agent defenseman Tristen Trevino, a Robert Morris University commit, and center Jake Murray, the team’s first-round pick in April’s OHL priority selection draft. Oliver Turner, another recent signing, is expected to skate for Colgate University in the fall of 2026, underscoring the fluid nature of OHL rosters in this new era.
Despite the upheaval, Mallette remains optimistic about the group he has assembled. “The most exciting part for me right now is having this group from the start (of this season),” he said. “We have good nucleus of guys who are coming back with some of the younger guys (who were drafted). It’s good to be able to have implemented some things in the middle of last season, but there are things I’d like to change this year. It’s nice to be able to do that right off the bat.”
All eyes are now on the Otters’ upcoming exhibition games and their season opener on September 19, 2025, at Guelph—a matchup that promises to be a litmus test for both teams’ revamped lineups. The following night, Erie will host Kitchener for their home opener, marking their first return to Erie Insurance Arena since being swept by the London Knights in the Western Conference semifinals last spring.
For both the Guelph Storm and Erie Otters, these early days of training camp are about more than just evaluating talent—they’re about forging new identities and setting the tone for a season filled with promise and uncertainty. With ticket sales brisk and anticipation mounting, fans are already dreaming of what the future holds. Whether it’s the Storm’s deep pool of prospects or the Otters’ bold new approach to roster construction, the OHL’s 2025-26 season is off to a roaring start.
As the preseason unfolds and the regular season looms, one thing is certain: the journey for these teams has only just begun, and every shift on the ice will matter. Stay tuned—this year, anything could happen.
