Breaking down the top HEO U16 performers in 2025-26 for the 2026 OHL Draft
It was a season of change in the HEO, but the one constant was how tight the competition was from puck drop to the final whistle, with the playoffs among the most back-and-forth in Ontario. The Eastern Ontario Wild took home the championship over the Ottawa Jr. 67s, and a record 4 HEO teams earned some form of OHL Cup representation.
With so much talent spread across the league, it’s no surprise that there are many names in the HEO worth attention for this year’s OHL Priority Selection.
Let’s take a look at a couple of players from each team who have made the biggest impact and look poised to take the next step in their hockey careers.
Brody Schulz, F, Ottawa Myers Automotive
Playing on a team that faced a ton of adversity to start the year, Brody Schulz stepped into a new role as the offensive catalyst for Ottawa Myers. He’s a classic skate-and-shoot style forward, but his ability to find attacking lanes and his fearlessness in pursuit impress.
This is particularly true when he tackles the middle of the ice, as he keeps his feet moving not only to keep his speed up, but to force defenders into awkward defending positions. While this style does lend itself to a lot of individual efforts, Schulz is no slouch when it comes to supporting his teammates in the defensive zone. Responsible at the net front and down low, that same off-puck effort also translates to his backchecking, as Schulz rarely lets a turnover go uncontested.
Schulz ended the season on quite a high note, scoring a point per game in his last 10 games, including five goals in the final two games of the season. That combination of scoring upside, as well as his solid B-game as a more defensive, team-centric forward, does lend to Schulz having some ability to work with that may entice a team to take a swing on him.
Emmett O’Neill, D, Ottawa Myers Automotive
Emmett O’Neill has flown under the radar for this year’s draft, but his production can’t be ignored. He was just outside of being top-five in scoring amongst HEO defenders, contributing to nearly 22% of Myers’ goals.
It’s easy to see how he’s attained those results, as O’Neill is among the league’s premier puck-movers. He plays a simple, direct, and tactical style, but not without the occasional spur of creative flair. He’s one of the best puck-carrying defencemen in the HEO and has been a mainstay on the power play, bringing value both as a passing and shooting threat.
O’Neill’s ability to slow the game down away from the puck earned him a call-up to the U18 team in the playoffs, and he didn’t miss a beat, contributing at both ends of the ice with his methodical game. Already on scouting radars, he was the top selection for the Kemptville 73’s at the CCHL Draft, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him picked by an OHL team at the draft.
Cole Krottner, RW, Ottawa Valley Titans
Cole Krottner was the Ottawa Valley Titans’ brain this season, bringing notable physicality and strong situational awareness to make himself a consistent counter-attacking threat.
What makes him such an effective player is how he leverages his strengths in a range of situations. He wins battles along the wall, reads routes and gets his stick into lanes, and initiates enough contact to separate his opponent from the puck before quickly finding ways to kickstart rushes through his own speed or by running a give-and-go with a teammate.
In the offensive zone, Krottner uses that same vision and anticipation to highlight his shooting ability. While his shot from range is a threat, his ability to creep down and get to the net as he looks for finishing opportunities has netted him more than his handful of grade-A chances. It also makes him a really tough player to contain on the power play. It wouldn’t be too difficult to see him land an OHL gig playing a similar net-front role, particularly if he can add some more proactivity and pace to his game.
Jacob Tysick, C, Ottawa Valley Titans
Krottner’s partner-in-crime, Jacob Tysick, is the muscle of the pair. Despite his much smaller build, Tysick’s game is all about placing opponents on their heels, thanks to a high motor that allows him to play at a pace that few players in the HEO can contend with.
Contrary to Krottner, who tends to let play come to him, Tysick is almost always the aggressor. This is particularly notable off-puck, where his skill set really shines as a relentless forechecker, dogmatic battler, and overall pest.
While this archetype of player is not without its representation in the HEO, what sets Tysick apart is his ability to build on his advantages. He's an equal part creator as he is a harbinger of chaos, and has a fantastic sense for improvising in the tough scenarios he lands in and turning them into positives.
A game-breaking talent that leaves him looking unbeatable in a way few players at this level can be, Tysick should easily be able to fill an energy role in an OHL lineup if he grows. He has established himself as a premier forward in the HEO and, given time, may provide massive value to a savvy enough team.
Innis Robinson, RW, Ottawa Jr. 67’s
Amid all of the highs and lows that the Jr. 67’s faced this season, Innis Robinson was Mr. Reliable for the squad. The team’s leading scorer did not miss a game the entire season and brought consistent 200-foot value to every shift.
He wore a couple of different hats in the process, starting the season as the primary do-it-all forward for the 67’s offence before transitioning into an offensive, play-driving force. Regardless of his role on any given night, Robinson’s value has always been in his shift-to-shift impact. He’s as competitive a player as they come, always engaged, keeping his feet active and planning his next play. His ability to catch opponents in their lulls and outwork them on the puck made him an extremely punishing player to line up against, and he regularly went end-to-end in games.
There’s a good well of skill for him to fall back on, too. High-end handling ability allows him to escape the perimeter and beat defenders as they set their feet to challenge him physically. While not likely to be a gamebreaker at the OHL level, he’s been one of the league’s most consistent players this season, and his versatility could give him top-nine upside.
Alexandre Saulnier, C, Ottawa Jr. 67’s
Despite limited game action this season, Alexandre Saulnier was one of HEO’s most impactful forwards. His 1.41 points-per-game pace landed him just under Krottner and Tysick in production despite playing in just over half the number of games.
At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Saulnier has an intimidating physical profile. There aren’t many players who can leverage that amount of size as well as he can. His innate tenacity demands more from defenders hoping to box him out, and he takes full advantage by playing with a ton of finesse. His ability to alternate between that skill and his physical game makes him a highly versatile option.
Saulnier has great playmaking vision and uses it to routinely move the puck right as pressure collapses on him. His toolkit makes him a very challenging player to defend, and likely the first HEO player to be selected on draft day. His size and skill combination give him top-six upside, and he has a reliable B-game and foundational ability to play a role further down a lineup, too.
His OHL Cup performance – six goals in four games – did a lot to legitimize the hype, landing him in a four-way tie for third-most goals scored, well above some of Ontario’s absolute best prospects. He’s one of the most OHL-translatable prospects in the entire HEO this season and has definitely established himself as one of, if not the best, players in the league.
Leo Hendriks, D, Eastern Ontario Wild
No player exemplified the Wild’s suffocating, controlled playstyle better than Leo Hendriks this season. He brings a high degree of adaptability to his shifts, never out of place and always in a position to meaningfully contribute and push play in the right direction.
He’s not a massive risk-taker compared to most puck-moving defencemen at this level, and as a result, isn’t the most dynamic play-driver, but he makes up for it with his consistency. Boasting strong vision, patience, and accuracy, he’s always able to find outlets, moving pucks up ice in a safe, effective manner.
That may not seem like much, but in a league where pressure is a constant obstacle to overcome, it’s worth even more. It’s not as if Hendriks is without offensive ability, either. His powerful shot is an underrated weapon, and he can quarterback the power play as well as any other top-pairing defencemen in the league.
It doesn’t take a ton of imagination to see Hendriks continue playing that style of hockey at higher levels, especially considering his physical profile. That relatively safe floor could be what carries him to a high selection on draft day – it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he were the first defender drafted out of the HEO.
Owen Stevens, D, Eastern Ontario Wild
If someone were to compete with Hendriks for that honour, it would probably be Owen Stevens. Though not quite as well-rounded as his teammate, he projects much more easily to a shutdown role. Similarly built players, Stevens separates himself by being a much more physically engaged player.
Off the rush, he stays disciplined, using his reach and wide frame to present himself as a wall to attackers. Once they send the puck past him, he closes the distance immediately with a well-placed engagement or quick pivot to intercept the dump-in.
Retrievals are right within his wheelhouse. He diffuses pressure with the boards and uses his shoulders to keep forecheckers guessing. That same physicality makes him a reliable protector in front of the crease, an essential role for the crash-and-bang style of the HEO. His offensive game won’t fly off the page, but 6-foot-2 defenders with mobility and physicality are always in high demand in the OHL. Those mature attributes will serve Stevens well at future levels, and he should have little issue reaching a shutdown defence role in the league.
Cameron Kealey, F, Upper Canada Cyclones
Cameron Kealey set himself apart from the rest of his 2010 Cyclones teammates this season. His contributions weren’t always visible on the scoreboard, but he was the driving force behind a lot of the Cyclones offence.
A remarkably intelligent player, he navigates the offensive zone with intent, composure and great levels of detail. He spaces himself away from defenders' sticks like a seasoned pro and has the explosiveness to exploit open space. The combination of these tools makes him a force in transition and the primary driver for this UCC team.
While the lack of game-breaking ability and size may leave Kealey in an uphill battle to make it as an impact OHLer, his compete level has done nothing but impress me from my first viewing of him. Perhaps he can stick around in the bottom end of a lineup as a high-energy checking forward with some secondary scoring potential. Some physical development will be required, but he’s not one I’d be quick about writing off.
Isaya Papineau, F, Upper Canada Cyclones
As a 2011-born, Isaya Papineau won’t be eligible until the 2027 OHL Priority Selection, but he was one of the best players on the entire HEO U16 circuit, and I felt he was deserving of recognition as a top performer this season.
Not only did Papineau lead the HEO in goals scored in the regular season (23 goals in 30 games), but he topped the league in the postseason as well (7 in 6). It’s easy to see how he’s found such early success – even at his current age, he’s one of the most refined athletes in the league.
Strong, fast, and full of energy, he not only pushes the pace but is a genuine wall to overcome. I was regularly impressed by his tenacity and ability to absorb all kinds of contact and punishment along the walls, pressure from opponents’ sticks, and still be able to break through defensive gaps.
Papineau seemed to only get more confident and comfortable with this style of game as the season dragged on, culminating in an OHL Cup performance that saw him find yet another gear. As he prepares for his OHL draft year, he’ll be looking to assert himself as one of the province’s best, and if this season was any indication, he’ll be a top prospect to watch.
Honourable Mentions: Alexandre Makaridze, Julian Melo, Tristan Gendron-Steele, Ben Schori, Jacob Laplante, Owen Marshall, Nate Cesario
