Overview
- The OHL moved its Priority Selection back to a live, in-arena format in Kingston after roughly 25 years of remote drafts, recreating an NHL-style presentation for prospects.
- Several first-round choices differed from public scouting lists, with Oshawa taking Kane Cloutier at the top and Erie selecting Colin Kennedy unexpectedly high.
- North Bay’s decision to draft goaltender Owen Loftus in the first round was notable because consensus rankings had placed him much lower.
- The first round was regionally weighted with 17 Ontario players and three Americans and featured theatrical moments such as Kingston’s tall pick being announced by Doug Gilmour.
- The draft will resume the next morning for the second round and will run across two days to fill roughly 300 available junior-roster spots.