Brayden Grima, Arjun Nanubhai headline standouts from 2025 Toronto Titans Early Bird Tournament

TORONTO, Ontario – The GTHL reigned supreme at the 2025 Toronto Titans Early Bird tournament. 

The high-octane Toronto Jr. Canadiens scored 48 goals in eight games and went undefeated, dispatching their GTHL rival Don Mills Flyers and Markham Majors in the quarter-finals and semifinals before defeating the Mississauga Senators in the championship game. 

Our Ontario youth scouts were on site to witness each exciting moment, documenting their thoughts and insights across the dozens of game reports available on EP player pages. 

With the U16 schedule now in full swing, the race is on to the 2026 OHL Priority Selection. In a wide-open draft class with no clear-cut first overall favourite, more than a few players got off to strong starts in their OHL draft seasons. While some teams could easily have had four or five players recognized for their efforts last week, in order to showcase as wide a range of players as possible, we had some tough choices to make. 

With that being said, here's an in-depth look at the players who impressed our scouts last week, plus a healthy list of well-deserved honourable mentions. 

Brayden Grima, F, Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16 (GTHL)

Brayden Grima made a strong first impression at the Titans tournament, finishing as the Jr. Canadiens' leading scorer. He dominated the round-robin, amassing four goals and 12 points in four games, and remained the driving force in the elimination rounds, leading his team again with four points (including two goals in the final) in four games. Grima’s scoring was no accident either; it was the direct result of his ability to penetrate the interior of the offensive zone.

He likes to operate from below the goal line, where he uses his frame to shield the puck before threading passes into the slot for open teammates. He replicates this playmaking threat from the half-wall, but here he also operates as a self-creator by curling off the wall or using his edges to cut sharply inside for a shot. His ability to disguise his intentions is another key weapon; by carrying the puck in his hip pocket and loading for a shot, he forces defenders to commit, opening up passing lanes against the grain. This manipulative skill extends to his off-puck movement, where he leverages the chaos of a just-made pass to find soft spots for a return pass, a strategy that paid off with his first goal in the championship game.

Grima’s inside-first mentality is supported by strong hockey sense. He understands that creating space is as valuable as skating into it, evidenced by subtle details like dropping the puck and driving through traffic to create space for his linemates. While not the fastest skater, he intelligently uses his body to extend possessions and outwait defenders. His tournament performance was a case study in how a player can dominate a scoresheet not just with raw skill, but with a systematic, determined approach to attacking the interior of the ice. – Kareem Ramadan

Arjun Nanubhai, F, Mississauga Senators U16 (GTHL)

Arjun Nanubhai was a driving force for his team, playing an instrumental role in their journey to the championship final. His value was never more evident than in the elimination rounds, where he was tied for the scoring lead with teammate Matthew Zilinski, with six points in four games. Nanubhai’s profile is highlighted by his playmaking and quickness. He possesses a fluid stride with good extension and quick three-step acceleration that allows him to create separation in transition and off the rush. A key to his development was his evolving approach as the tournament wore on; while initially relying on his speed to drive the wide lanes, he demonstrated a growing assertiveness in cutting inside to attack the interior, and implementing cut-backs to create pockets of space against tighter checking teams in the knockout rounds.

This expanding offensive dimension, combined with his natural playmaking instincts, makes him a multi-layered threat. He effectively disguises his intentions, often loading the puck as if to shoot before slipping a no-look feed into the space he created by selling the shot. He also creates deception on his wrist shot by changing the delivery of his release, showing the ability to two-touch the puck or pull the heel of his blade toward his inside skate to change the angle on the shot. 

This blend of projectable offensive tools and a well-rounded foundation is what makes Nanubhai such an intriguing prospect. His advanced passing, shooting deception, and elite skating provide the clear upside of a scoring forward, while his size, diligent defensive habits, and consistent compete level ensure a high floor as a valuable middle-six player. – Kareem Ramadan

Kash Kwajah, F, Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16 (GTHL)

​​While he may not have finished as Jr. Canadiens' leading scorer, Kash Kwajah solidified his status as their top prospect and a candidate for the highest-ranked forward in the OHL Draft in April. His game is characterized by a rare blend of elite-level skill and speed, making him a constant threat in the offensive zone. Kwajah can stickhandle in a phone booth and is one of the rare forwards that is capable of making plays while skating at top speed.

He possesses that rare gravitational pull on the ice that draws multiple defenders toward him, and he uses this attention to his advantage, consistently finding the open linemates that the extra coverage creates. This unselfish, connective approach ultimately makes him a more dangerous goal-scorer, as defenses can never assume his intentions. Even with a habit of handling the puck out in front of his body—an area for refinement—he demonstrates advanced concepts, such as temporarily detaching from the puck so that he can accelerate into his next touch or use the brief window to lift the opponent's stick so that he cannot poke check the puck away.

He competes hard on every shift, and his desire to influence the game, both with and without the puck, is never in question. This work rate seemed to intensify as the tournament progressed, setting the tone for his team and culminating in clutch performances when it mattered most. Most notably in the semi-final shootout against the Markham Majors, where he coolly scored the goal that sent his team to the championship final. Kwajah is the type of player who you can build a team around because of his skill and his will to win. – Kareem Ramadan

Matthew Zilinski, F, Mississauga Senators U16 (GTHL)

It’s so rare to see a player as skilled as Matthew Zilinski be so willing to get their hands dirty. Zilinski’s playmaking ability, already being as advanced as it is, with how he can absorb and diffuse pressure or creatively engineer solutions or use his strong anticipatory skill, probably doesn’t need to place himself in these contested situations to be effective or rack up points, but he does it all the same. Zilinski doesn’t cut corners and earns every advantage he gets through hard work and determination. 

Once Zilinski is in an advantageous state, it’s all about finding opportunities to get the puck on net. While not afraid to take a chance himself, Zilinski’s patience tends to pay off as he quickly identifies open lanes to set up high-danger opportunities for teammates. In this tournament, these skills came together most commonly when Zilinski got really aggressive on the forecheck. Closing the distance, creating a quick turnover, getting strong protective body placement, and immediately looking to go low-to-high to a lagging teammate. It proved highly successful all tournament long, and even though the Senators fell to the Jr. Canadiens in the final, Zilinski continues to establish himself as one of the premier forwards Ontario has to offer. Expect the Senators to make it back to these big games shortly, with Zilinski among those leading the charge. – David Saad

Landon Roulston, F, Vaughan Kings U16 (GTHL) 

After playing up a year with the 2009s, and leaving the rival Toronto Marlboros organization for the Vaughan Kings for his true U16 season, Landon Roulston got off to a great start in his new threads. He was a focal point offensively in pretty much every game he played, registering five goals and 11 points across Vaughan’s six games played.

What stands out about Roulston’s game is how well he manages the puck, and seemingly always makes the right decisions. Given his size, reach and ability to protect the puck, many times in a game, the best way to manage the puck, especially in the neutral zone, is to skate through traffic and carry the puck into the offensive zone. With momentum gaining the offensive blue line, he pushed defenders deep in their zone and was able to manipulate their positioning when he had the space.

“When Ajax-Pickering got a lead early, Roulston kicked it into high gear, and took over the game in the second and third periods. He drove defenders back on their heels, and took the puck to the net with vengeance. He’s physically dominant for this age group, and has the skill to go with it, so this should be a pretty special year for the Vaughan winger. In the second, he just dominated stick position at the net and tallied a marker.” – Ben Jordan, September 27th, 2025

Roulston commanded so much attention when he got to middle ice that he drew defenders to him with ease. He showed the awareness to spread the puck to the flanks when there were open one-timer looks, or simply take the higher danger opportunity in the slot if the space provided itself. – Ben Jordan

Braden Reilly, F, Toronto Marlboros U16 (GTHL)

Heading into the Titans Early Bird and the beginning of the U16 season, Braden Reilly was a name that kept coming up with regards to his high-end offensive capabilities. After watching him this past week, those sentiments were definitely confirmed. He recorded five goals and 13 points in the Marlies' six games played, and looked the part of a high-end player at this age.

Throughout the week, it was evident that whether powerplay, or even strength, the Marlies' offence runs through Reilly. His powerful skating stride allowed him to create separation from defenders, and he proved to be extremely deadly in space.

“It became evident early in this game just what kind of individual skill Reilly possessed. He was able to transport the puck into the slot with a plethora of different moves. He did an amazing job maintaining possession and manipulating the defenders' feet while putting himself in dangerous situations, where he had many beautiful cross-ice feeds leading to grade-A chances for the Marlies. At the end of the second, he struck again, using a toe drag to shift the adjacent defender completely out of place and setting up a tap-in. I also noted that late in a game the Marlies were dominating, Reilly battled on pucks and showed his compete level until the final horn.” – Ben Jordan, September 27th, 2025

Reilly will be a massive piece of this Marlies team as they look to get back on top of the GTHL standings this year. They next drop the puck October 3rd, at home against the Mississauga Rebels. – Ben Jordan

Roman Vanacker, F, Brantford 99ers U16 (ALLIANCE)

It took little time for Roman Vanacker to establish himself as the 99ers' best player, even though Brantford did not advance to the playoff round. With six goals in four round robin games, Vanacker led his team in scoring by a wide margin, leveraging his impressive package of tools, vision, and physicality to impact on his shifts: 

"From the proactive contact while cycling down low to the intelligent off-puck positioning, he has that power forward style while playing at a slightly lower pace than some of his teammates. But Vanacker can turn on the jets when necessary -- on a rush where a defender conceded space to him, he dangled right through and headed straight for the net. Once his shot was stopped, he circled high to support at the point, and immediately forced a turnover by intercepting a breakout pass and kept the puck in the zone." – Lauren Kelly, September 23rd, 2025

Explosive first strides allowed Vanacker to dominate in transition, where baited and challenged defenders 1-on-1, took pucks to the inside, and unleashed his heavy, deceptive shot. Factor in his potential to add even more of a playmaking element, and Vanacker looked every part of a top prospect in this age group. – Lauren Kelly

Ryder Nobes, F, Markham Majors U16 (GTHL)

The Markham Majors' success in this tournament came largely via overall team depth, consistency, and two-way structure. No one exemplified this better on the team than Ryder Nobes. While neither the largest nor fastest player, Nobes was able to play a controlled and efficient two-way game down the middle of the ice, offering support for his teammates both during the breakouts and while breaking into the offensive zone. 

While Nobes is regarded as a strong two-way centre, racking up 11 points across seven tough games takes its fair share of skill too. One of Nobes’ strongest assets is his close quarters puck control: his ability to maintain control under pressure, make a quick move to free up his stick, and find an open teammate with space. Nobes was able to comfortably corall tough passes on his backhand or with his skates and rapidly fire off an accurate shot. Nobes keeps his momentum going across all three zones, constantly reading the play as it develops and finding open space to make himself an option where needed, often getting himself lost behind the coverage in the offensive zone. – Jagr van Brederode

Kyler Lauder, F, Central Ontario Wolves U16 (OMHA) 

Perhaps the most resilient team to make it out of the round robin was the Central Ontario Wolves, led by Kyler Lauder, who amassed a formidable 11 points across his team’s five games. When push came to shove, Lauder delivered for his team, including an electric game winning goal against the Marlies with one second on the clock, and a game-tying assist to clinch a spot in elimination play against the Titans with under 30 seconds to go.

Simply put, Lauder is dynamic with the puck once he gets his feet moving offensively. An equally skilled playmaker as he is goal scorer, Lauder plays at an extremely fast pace and processes the game at an even higher level.

“Lauder already has an elite combination of speed, pace, and skilled playmaking ability. It's rare for players to show so much deception and manipulation at this stage in their development, but Lauder already has those tools in his arsenal, delaying as the handler, drawing pressure, and then either passing off once he's fooled the defender into making a move or dangling right past them on his way to the net.” – Lauren Kelly, September 27th, 2025

Lauder oozes confidence in his play, attacking defenders off the rush 1-on-1 knowing he has the skill to deke right past them and cut towards the goal. He is comfortable making plays on his backhand and forehand at either end of the ice. Despite a smaller frame, Lauder engages physically in the forecheck and isn’t afraid to lay an open ice hit. A highly skilled forward, Lauder carries all the tools to continue to put up points and be a top player to watch as the season progresses. – Jagr van Brederode

Stefano Chiavetti, F, Guelph Jr. Gryphons U16 (OMHA) 

In a tournament often defined by standout statistics, Stefano Chiavetti emerged as a different kind of standout at the Titans Early Bird Tournament. His profile is unique, beginning with his physical stature; at 5'6" and 132 lbs, he was consistently one of the smallest players on the ice. This makes his impact all the more unique, as he does not rely on his size or high-end speed to control the game. His point total of two goals in four games does not immediately grab attention, but that figure must be contextualized by his team's performance, as Guelph failed to secure a win in the round robin and only managed nine goals in four games. On a team that struggled, Chiavetti’s value was not in filling the scoresheet, but in his intangible qualities.

What Chiavetti lacks in physical tools, he more than compensates for with a relentless motor and a competitive fire that is evident on every shift. He is the type of player who is a nuisance to play against, forechecking with tenacity and battling for every inch of ice against significantly larger opponents. After being leveled by Gavin Godick of the Don Mills Flyers, he responded by brushing himself off and scoring a goal on his next shift. Defensively, he exhibits mature habits by stopping and starting, tracking back in straight lines, and using his low center of gravity to get underneath opponents and cut off their hands.

Chiavetti’s profile is one of the more intriguing ones in the tournament. The current limitations in his strength and power are evident, but they are overshadowed by a hockey IQ and a compete level that cannot be taught. Coupled with a late November birthdate, this offers hope that significant physical development is still possible. – Kareem Ramadan

Adrian Sgro, D, Vaughan Kings U16 (GTHL) 

The Vaughan Kings were one of the favourites in the Titans tournament, so it came as a surprise when they were defeated in the quarter-finals by the Markham Majors. None of that, however, detracts from the tournament that Adrian Sgro had. As the Vaughan Kings' most heavily utilized player, Sgro shouldered top matchups at even strength and on both special teams, demonstrating a maturity and polish well beyond his years. Defensively, he is a nightmare for opposing forwards, using elite four-way mobility to mirror attackers, angle them into the boards, and separate them from the puck with precise stick checks or well-timed contact.

His game is defined by composure and courage. On defensive retrievals, he remains unfazed by pressure, effortlessly spinning off checks or skating past forecheckers to initiate breakouts. He also displays the fearlessness to absorb contact on the forecheck, pinning the puck along the wall to neutralize threats until support arrives. With the puck on his stick, Sgro becomes an offensive catalyst. He is a master at creating controlled zone exits with his skating and handling, often making opposing forwards look foolish as he evades their pressure with a blend of speed and edgework.

“Sgro logged heavy minutes in every situation, matching up against top opponents, quarterbacking the power play, and anchoring the penalty kill… What I found particularly impressive about Sgro’s offense is how he managed his aggression. He frequently used his skating and handling ability to create offense, but when there wasn’t a play to be made, he showed the maturity to punt possession and live to fight another shift.” – Kareem Ramadan, September 27th, 2025  

While comfortable leading the rush, he excels at moving the puck and immediately activating into the play, frequently shorting the zone on the weak side to become a scoring threat himself. This high-level offensive instinct translated directly to production, as he tallied eight points in the round-robin and added another two goals and three points in just two knockout games. In a tournament that ended too soon for his team, Sgro proved he possesses the complete toolkit of a premier two-way defenceman. – Kareem Ramadan

Drew Hulbert D, Don Mills Flyers U16 (GTHL)

Drew Hulbert is the leader of this Don Mills team in every sense of the word. He wears the “C” on his jersey, logs a ton of minutes in every situation, and is a constant communicator on the bench, and on the ice. What stands out about Hulbert, and what moves him from an honourable mention to a standout, is his calming presence in the defensive zone. He made so many plays under pressure, which got his team going north efficiently.

“Hulbert controls play from the back-end, slowing the pace when his team needs to take care of the puck, and pushing the pace when his side is looking to break the game open. I also noticed how much he communicated with his teammates on the ice prior to faceoffs, and directed traffic out there. He showed the ability to wire the puck, and exit his zone swiftly. Both important qualities for a rearguard.” – Ben Jordan, September 25th, 2025

Reading his wingers' routes, and the ability to handle the puck with his head up, reading the play the entire time bought Hulbert lots of time in his own end to make sure exit passes were crisp, and accurate. He also timed his activations nicely, chipping in to keep offensive zone possessions alive when he could. Don Mills kicks off their regular season on October 3rd, before heading out to London on October 9th for the Wendy Dufton Memorial Tournament. - Ben Jordan

Jacob Tysick & Cole Krottner, F, Ottawa Valley Titans U16 (HEO) 

The dynamic duo of the Titans, Jacob Tysick and Cole Krottner, continue to prove themselves as some of the best the HEO has to offer. 

Krottner, the cog that makes the machine tick, continues to play some exquisite complimentary hockey. His off-puck routing and strong shot may be continually reaping results on the scoresheet, including getting Krottner near the top of the tournament’s scoring chart, but it’s his commitment to doing the dirty work that continues to separate him from his peers. His play away from the puck is marked with the information-gathering habits that make his tenacious style of play effective. Krottner serves as a fantastic enabler that brings a power-forward style game that is sure to draw attention as the year goes on.

If Krottner is the cog, then Tysick is the engine. Appropriately so, as there’s no rest for opponents and teammates alike when Tysick is on the ice. He’s an alacritous play-driver, always moving forward and never dialing back the pressure. While certainly skilled, Tysick’s commitment to being continuously informed and following that with effective decision-making makes him a constant joy to watch. That high level of engagement doesn’t disappear when Tysick is separated from the puck either, and his relentless forechecking is sure to make him a well-recognized annoyance to defenders across Ontario.

Together, Krottner and Tysick help the Titans identify as this snarly, intense, and generally annoying team to play against. Look forward to the year they have in store; it promises to create some surprise. – David Saad

Nathan Hewitt, F, Niagara North Stars U16 (OMHA) 

A modern day power-forward, Nathan Hewitt wears his heart on his sleeve and leads by example, demonstrating a tireless work ethic and hard-nosed playstyle. Hewitt’s play goes well beyond the scoresheet; however, he was still able to contribute an impressive five points across four games to go along with his relentless gameplay. 

“The heartbeat for this Niagara team, Nathan Hewitt lives for the physical side of the game while simultaneously playing a complete two-way game at center.. Hewitt's intensity, awareness, and agility make him a mainstay on the team's penalty kill unit, aggressively taking away the time and space of opponents without compromising his positioning.” – Jagr van Brederode, September 27th, 2025

Not just a bruising bully, Hewitt’s impressive skating allows him to play a reliable two-way game down the middle of the ice, sweeping low to aid his defenders in his own zone before joining the attack and hounding loose pucks. Hewitt’s strength on his feet allows him to not only dominate board battles but also gain offensive positioning in front of the net and during net drives, where most of his production came from during the tournament. – Jagr van Brederode

Honourable Mentions: Jakub Kuklinski (MISS), Kane Cloutier (VK), Lucas Matheson (BAR) Gavin Diemer (WSR), Haiden Humphries (GUE), Zidane Jasey (JRC), Nathan Slack (DMF), Anthony Peragine (JRC), Shane Roche (TMAR), Austin Pettey (QRD), Brody Brown (VK), Quintin de Ruiter (OVT), Brayden Barkic (DMF), Shea Huinink (APR), Andrew Laurin (QRD), Joseph Fenwick (TMAR), Robbie Knight (MISS), Cameron Hogg (BAR), Roman Shtefan (WSR), Alex Xu (JRC), Lauchlan Whelan (QRD), Kole Ahmad (MKW), Colton Lapierre (TRW), Konstantinos Housseas (TMAR), Liam Harrison (PBO)