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

The 2025-26 OMHA U16 season offered a little bit of everything: a competitive regular season, followed by high-stakes playoff hockey. 

There was a notable blend of parity among the top programs in each division, alongside impressive offensive production across the league, making for must-watch matchups every week.

Positioning in the standings remained fluid throughout the year, particularly in the OMHA West. The Quinte Red Devils, Barrie Colts, and Ajax-Pickering Raiders each finished the season with 26 wins, and the York Simcoe Express were directly behind them with 25. 

The Central Ontario Wolves set the pace offensively with a division-leading 166 goals, showcasing their elite firepower. However, their high-risk style of play saw them concede an abundance of goals as well, almost doubling the goals against allowed by the Express, who parlayed that defensive structure into a finals appearance.

In the OMHA East, the Credit River Capitals established a lead early in the year and never looked back, finishing the season with 29 wins and a ridiculous plus-113 goal differential en route to the OMHA championship. Still, the division remained competitive, with the Niagara North Stars, Oakville Rangers, and Burlington Eagles all posting 20-plus win seasons to keep the campaign interesting.

High-end talent was evident on nearly every roster this year. Players like Henri Packalen (Peterborough Petes) and Brody Latimer (North Shore Whitecaps) displayed impressive tools and individual production even when their teams fell short of the final goal. And within the top teams in the standings, numerous prospects showcased an elite skillset, elevated compete level, and exciting potential to OHL teams all year long.

Here are the players who stood out most during our coverage this season and will likely be high selections at the 2026 OHL Priority Selection.

Evan Bannister, C, Credit River Capitals

OMHA Player of the Year Evan Bannister exceeded all expectations this season. As the Capitals' captain, he not only led Credit River to the OMHA Championship while playing all situations, but also paced the league in scoring with 38 goals in 33 games. 

A hard-nosed centre, Bannister plays a powerful 200-foot game and has a natural knack for finding the back of the net. Throughout the OMHA playoffs and into the OHL Cup, Bannister continually displayed his pro-style game. He seemingly hit everything that moved, attacked the low slot with his stick open for a pass, and showcased his heavy release often, manipulating his release while maintaining pinpoint accuracy to beat goalies clean. 

While primarily a high-volume shooter, Bannister continued to evolve as a playmaker as the season progressed. He used his goal-scoring reputation to aggressively sell shots before dishing to an open teammate. Bannister exhibits a well-rounded game that gives him a strong foundation as a prospect. A physically mature centre with elite goal-scoring prowess, Bannister will be a welcome addition to any OHL team in the upcoming draft.

Kyler Lauder, LW/C, Central Ontario Wolves

One of the most exciting players in the upcoming draft, Kyler Lauder, combines immense puck skills with elite pace and high-end offensive IQ, making him a scoring threat every time he touches the ice. 

A transition monster, Lauder excelled off the rush during the season, utilizing his breakaway speed and shifty edgework to beat defenders in a variety of ways before unleashing a dangerous curl and drag release. Lauder is at his best when he is able to gain speed around the ice and work quick give-and-go plays with his linemates, prioritizing direct looks to the dangerous areas of the ice. 

Lauder closes gaps in the offensive zone aggressively with his explosive acceleration before darting toward the slot for a quick counterattack. He does not require much time or space to get his release off, which carries an impressive combination of velocity and accuracy. Equally dangerous as a playmaker and shooter, Lauder constantly keeps his head up, scanning the ice and displaying impressive vision to find teammates either at the back post within the offensive zone, or behind the defenders for a stretch pass on the breakout.

One of the top offensive talents in his age group, Lauder possesses all the tools required to take the next step forward and become a legitimate scoring top-six winger in the OHL.

Lauchlan Whelan, C, Quinte Red Devils

The driving force behind the Red Devils' offence, Lauchlan Whelan, led by example this season. The captain showcased a fundamentally strong two-way game complemented by breakaway speed and top-tier puck skills. 

A natural centre, Whelan understands his positional role expertly and never seems to be caught out of position in the defensive zone. He supports his defencemen well in the corners, maintaining defensive positioning on the puck before providing an outlet through the middle of the ice for consistent zone exits with possession.

Offensively, Whelan reads opposing breakouts with ease and supports the forecheck masterfully as the F3, leading to aggressive interceptions and extended zone time or counterattack opportunities for his line. While not the largest player on the ice, Whelan still exhibits strong physical traits that should carry over to the next level. He initiates contact in puck battles, excels at using his body to protect the puck off the rush, and is not afraid to drive the net to create a scoring chance. 

Whelan’s high-effort playstyle, combined with all these tools, allowed him to log big minutes for his club this past season in all situations, becoming a mainstay on Quinte’s top penalty kill unit while simultaneously running the main power play off the left wall. Expect Whelan's name to be called early at the draft. 

Lucas Matheson, RD, Barrie Colts

Perhaps the most exciting defender to watch in the OMHA this season, Lucas Matheson kept defenders and fans on their toes as he shimmied around the blue line, directly creating dangerous scoring chances within the offensive zone. 

Matheson’s lateral agility and deception at the line are his bread and butter. He is constantly opening and closing his hips, feinting left before going right, leaving opposing wingers behind him and dangerous slot chances ahead of him. Matheson naturally joins the breakout and utilizes timely activations within the offensive zone, rarely overstaying his welcome down low before rotating back to his defensive position. As the offensive zone cycle progresses, Matheson is constantly scanning the play and coverage as it develops, keeping his feet moving to ensure he remains a passing option for his forwards. 

Not just an offensive threat, Matheson is reliable when covering the slot in his defensive end, consistently makes crisp breakout passes, and brings a physical edge to his game. He has play-driving potential in the OHL. 

Kayden Kelly, LW, Markham Waxers

One of the more intriguing prospects coming out of the OMHA this season is Kayden Kelly, who was able to finish top 10 in points per game on a Markham Waxers team that finished sixth in the East. 

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 179 pounds, Kelly physically stands out from the other players in this article; however, his gameplay is not purely based on his size and strength. Instead, Kelly’s size is an added benefit to his blazing speed and legitimate goal-scoring release. 

Kelly plays a high-pace game that allows him to excel in transition, where he often finds a way to get a step behind defenders and burn past them for a scoring chance. Kelly possesses impressive lateral agility as well, which he uses to accelerate off the boards towards the slot, creating a better shooting angle. His release is dangerously quick, and he's capable of generating immense power even when the release point is not ideal. 

His overall game is still quite raw, but he continued to improve as the season progressed, and it will continue to trend upward as he develops as a prospect. Kelly’s unique combination of size, elite speed, and a dangerous release is why he is such an interesting prospect to keep an eye on for the upcoming OHL draft.