2026 OHL Futures Camp Notebook: First overall looks to be up for grabs

ST. CATHARINES, Ontario – The Ontario Hockey League held the inaugural edition of its new showcase event, the OHL Futures Camp, at Ridley College this past weekend, providing one final opportunity for prospects hoping to hear their names called at the 2026 OHL Priority Selection.

The event featured 120 players divided across six teams, each named after six recent OHL stars, and brought together many of the top U16 prospects from Ontario and OHL draft-eligible players from the United States. Over the course of three days, players participated in testing, practices, and a series of scrimmages designed to evaluate both their talent and adaptability in a highly competitive environment.  

The opening day focused on preparation, featuring the off-ice testing, team practices and orientation sessions. The following two days shifted to game action with each team playing three contests – two on Saturday and one on Sunday. 

First overall up for grabs?

When a player receives exceptional status, the assumption is often that they will become the automatic choice to go first overall. However, with news emerging days before the event that Kade O’Rourke would not receive exceptional status to be eligible for this year's OHL draft, the race for the top selection suddenly felt far more open. (Of note: O'Rourke was still invited to Futures Camp and participated in both off-ice testing and scrimmages for Team Misa.)

The Oshawa Generals hold the first overall pick, and several names have emerged as potential candidates. Two notable absences from the event were Tanner Adams and Kane Cloutier, both of whom remain legitimate contenders to be selected first overall in June. 

Still, the showcase allowed three other high-end prospects to strengthen their case. 

Adrian Sgro, who may be the frontrunner if Oshawa opts to build from the backend, leads the pack. Sgro spent the season establishing himself as one of the premier defencemen in the age group, combining poise, mobility and activation ability into a highly projectable package. He displayed all of those traits throughout the weekend for Team Sennecke, while also adding a layer of competitiveness that caught the attention of everyone, including a spirited fight with Team Dickinson's Shayden Hintenberger during the second game of the event. 

Another player in the first overall conversation is Arjun Nanubhai. Ranked first overall on our midseason list, Nanubhai once again proved why he belongs near the top of the class. He excelled during the off-ice speed testing and translated that same explosiveness onto the ice through his pace, rush creation, and transition play. His highlight moment came Sunday, when he scored from an extremely difficult angle off a faceoff. Nanubhai also earned Player of the Game honours twice during the weekend as Team Dickinson's best player. 

Then there was the towering 6-foot-7 Logan Prud’homme, whose upside became increasingly apparent as the event progressed. Prud’homme delivered his best performance in the final game, recording a goal and two assists in Team Parekh's 8-1 victory over Team Dickinson while earning Player of the Game honours for his team. The combination of size, skill and finishing ability made him one of the most intriguing players at the showcase, particularly as his chemistry with linemate Landon Roulston – who will be a first-round selection in his own right – continued to grow.

Off-ice testing

One of the more fascinating elements of the event came away from the games themselves, as scouts had an opportunity to view how off-ice athletic testing translated to on-ice performance. 

No player embodied that connection more than Cole Guizzetti. Despite measuring in at just 5-foot-5.25, Guizzetti posted elite numbers in several speed and explosiveness categories, finishing first in the broad jump, first in the 30-metre sprint, and first in the countermovement jump for both height and peak power. Those athletic traits translated directly into game action, as Guizzetti has been praised all season for his incredible speed, pace and power in games. Playing alongside Kash Kwajah and Jakub Kuklinski on Team Schaefer, Guizzetti delivered one of the best performances of the weekend in his opening game, capping it off with an overtime winner on a dazzling one-on-one move to cement his status as a top prospect in front of everyone. 

Team Misa standout Jay Nimchonok's off-ice testing results reinforced the strengths already evident in his game. Nimchonok’s blend of physicality, mobility and defensive presence translated into strong all-around results across multiple categories in the testing. 

Meanwhile, Joshua Jodoin made his presence felt both physically and athletically. Playing on Team Dickinson, Jodoin participated in one of the two fights during the weekend and backed that competitiveness up with elite testing numbers. He finished within the top 25 percent in 16 of the 19 testing categories, a feat matched only by Team Sennecke's Miles Reilly, who was second in the weekend scoring. Reilly had a standout game in his second contest, highlighted by a four-goal, five-point performance in his second game. 

Another notable testing standout was Finley Butler. Measuring in at 6-foot-5.5, Butler stood out not for his size, but for how well he moved with it. His results in the countermovement jump and anaerobic bike test were among the best at the event, reinforcing the athletic upside attached to his profile and a clear avenue for his development on the ice. 

The OHL provided the results of the off-ice fitness testing for all 120 players here.

The race is on to June

Beyond the raw talent on display, the showcase provided insight into which players could adapt most effectively to unfamiliar circumstances in a short time. Players were placed on entirely new teams, given limited time to build little chemistry, and asked to perform immediately in front of scouts from across the OHL. 

That adaptability may ultimately become one of the most important takeaways from the weekend. Prospects such as Team Cowan's Jace Voortman elevated their stock by quickly adjusting to the pace and structure of the event while continuing to make noticeable impacts on the ice. Voortman, in particular, consistently took a lead in games through his physicality and play creation, ultimately finishing as the event’s leading scorer and forcing scouts to take a second look at his projection. 

More than anything, the showcase felt like a glimpse into the future – not only for the OHL, but for the players themselves. Many of these prospects will soon be moving on to the next level, competing in an even faster and more demanding environment as they continue their path toward junior hockey and beyond.