Breaking down the top ALLIANCE U16 performers in 2025-26 for the 2026 OHL Draft

Now that the curtains have closed on another Alliance U16 AAA season and the London Jr. Knights have been crowned the league champions, it’s time to start looking back and exploring which draft-eligible players managed to do enough to earn the attention of our scouts. 

Five players in particular really turned our heads over the last eight months. Whether it was a highlight reel goal in a big-time spot or providing a constant threat of danger every time they stepped on the ice, these five players all displayed a high level of skill and projectability. 

Let’s dive into what made them so effective, and top prospects for the upcoming 2026 OHL Priority Selection in June.

Drew Bate, C, London Jr. Knights

First up, we can't start this article with anyone but the winner of the 2025-26 Alliance scoring title: Drew Bate. With a staggering 72 points (34 goals, 38 assists) in just 27 games, Bate shredded league competition this season and was a dynamic offensive threat every time he touched the ice. 

There’s not just one aspect of Bate’s game that makes him deadly; he is seemingly elite at almost all areas, stemming from the pace at which he plays and thinks the game. It's one thing to process plays at a high level, but to execute them at an even higher speed is what sets the good apart from the great. He attacks through the neutral zone with explosive acceleration, driving wide and cutting laterally through defenders with ease, while still showing the poise to slow the game down in key moments. 

In addition to pace, Bate is also highly skilled at both anticipating plays and manipulating his opponents. He is constantly scanning the ice, looking for gaps in defensive structure, and can retain an exceptional amount of information. You always wonder how the best goal scorers always seem to be open, and Bate’s ability to sneak past coverage into soft ice is no different. The video below–specifically his Silver Stick game against The Hill Academy in which he fueled a comeback with four third-period goals – demonstrates how Bate uses a combination of finding gaps in coverage, hands in tight, and speed to dominate the score sheet. 

Ultimately, what makes him so dangerous is the combination of elite hockey sense, pace, and skill. Bate doesn’t just make plays; he dictates them, consistently selecting the most strategically dangerous option and executing it before defenders can even react.

Roman Vanacker, C, Brantford 99ers

Power is the first word that comes to mind when discussing Roman Vanacker's game. Finishing just behind Bate in ALLIANCE scoring with 70 points (30 goals, 40 assists) in 30 games, Vanacker is a powerful, pace-driven offensive force who blends high-end skating with a relentless, attack-first mentality, making him one of the most formidable transition players in this class. He generates an explosive neutral zone attack through low, sturdy strides, pushing defenders back onto their heels before deceptively cutting through them. 

Unlike many players who rely on speed for flash but drift to the perimeter, Vanacker weaponizes his pace — relentlessly attacking inside lanes, driving the middle, and forcing breakdowns through contact, deception, and subtle manipulation of defensive gaps. What sets Vanacker apart, on top of all this, is his top-of-the-line finishing ability. When shooting, his strength allows him to generate force that, when combined with strong flexion in his stick, allows the puck to explode off of it. As you'll see in the last two clips below, Vanacker can use speed through the neutral zone and rip a shot at the top of the circles for a goal with ease. If the shot isn’t there, Vanacker is strong enough to put his shoulder down, get shift to his inside edges, and drive the front of the net.

The motor and physicality, combined with his ability to take over games on the scoresheet in key moments, allow Vanacker to profile as a physically assertive, high-tempo offensive driver whose blend of power, shooting ability, and opportunistic playmaking makes him a constant threat every time he touches the puck.

Declan McCotter, RW, Huron Perth Lakers 

I really like what I’ve seen from Declan McCotter over the course of the year. If you’re looking for a detail-oriented forward who plays with pace, gets in hard on the forecheck, and can score either off the rush or by creating space for himself around the net, then look no further. Through his team's 30 regular-season games, he combined 28 goals and 32 assists for 60 points, good for third in the league. 

McCotter constantly attacks with urgency, chaining crossovers and pushing wide through the neutral zone to back defenders off. He excels at shifting the puck away from the body to protect against sticks when cutting around defenders. His speed to the outside often draws the opposing team towards him, opening up space in the slot for him to hit the F2 or F3 skaters. He’s highly adaptable in possession, receiving difficult passes cleanly and transitioning seamlessly into attack mode, while also displaying a collection of slip passes, quick give-and-gos, and one-touch releases. 

A tough-to-contain player, McCotter’s offensive impact is driven just as much by his awareness as his skill. He consistently finds soft ice, supports the play effectively, and times his movements to become an option in dangerous areas. Though much of the highlight package below shows Declan creating chances off the rush, the majority of his goals this season came within 10 feet of the net (as seen in the diagram below). 

While his game is firmly rooted in pace, it’s his combination of control, hockey sense, and compete level that makes him lethal. McCotter doesn’t just play fast; he plays smart and with purpose, consistently putting himself in positions to impact the game at both ends of the ice.

Ryan Beaulieu, D, London Jr. Knights 

Ryan Beaulieu really saw his offensive game explode this season. He led all defencemen with 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 27 games, good for 11th in league scoring. This explosive offence continued to elevate into the playoffs, where he put up 19 points in 8 playoff games, and then 5 goals in 6 OHL Cup games. 

Beaulieu’s game is built around poise, lateral mobility, and his ability to create from the blue line. He consistently walks the line with confidence and control, using smooth inside edge movements, pump fakes, and subtle weight shifts to open shooting and passing lanes. He is gifted at manipulating defenders into opening up lanes and is among the best in the draft class at doing so. Hand in hand with Ryan’s line walking prowess is the strength and accuracy of his shot. He shifts his weight into the stick, getting good flexion, and times it perfectly to the opening of lanes to fire pinpoint shots towards the net. 

While his offensive skillset leads the way, Beaulieu complements it with steady defensive foundations. He remains composed under pressure on retrievals, absorbs contact to maintain possession, and uses his skating to evade forecheckers and move pucks both effectively and efficiently. He shows composure in transition, activating into space, carrying the puck up ice, and showing an ability to either drive wide with a strong outside-to-inside move, or stop up to create space and take the middle off the dot line. 

Levi Inch, G, Sarnia-Lambton Jr. Sting

Perhaps a hot take, but Levi Inch has been ALLIANCE’s best netminder this season. The stats support it: he posted the lowest GAA in the league at 1.28, but his dominance goes beyond the numbers. Standing at 5-foot-10, he’s a smaller goaltender, but he’s been able to find success thanks to his impressive combination of footwork, explosiveness, and play-reading. 

Most impressive is his control in his movement, not overshooting and remaining positional and square. Inch is specifically keen at stopping pucks down low, taking away the bottom of the net while staying composed in tight. Moving forward, he‘ll need to engage his hands a bit more and aim to maintain his depth when facing pressure. However, Inch looks like he’ll project well to the OHL with continued growth in his game and hopefully his frame.

Honourable Mentions

Rylan Da Costa, G, Huron-Perth Lakers

Roman Shtefan, F, Windsor Jr. Spitfires

Finley Butler, RW, London Jr. Knights

Emry Lowe, C, Brantford 99ers

Quinn Roberts, C, London Jr. Knights

Gavin Martin, F, Brantford 99ers

Ethan Bridges, LW, Huron-Perth Lakers

Ryan Salmoni, LW, London Jr. Knights

Kai Duquette, F, Sun County Panthers

Graham Littlejohn, LW, London Jr. Knights