With Guelph and London appearing ready to go toe-to-toe and Sarnia and the Soo off to hot starts, the OHL's Western Conference seems to have its share of contenders. And it's only October. Sure, it's early, but does anyone want to step up in the East? We're still waiting. Meantime, the league is still waiting for ticket sales to pick up in Cornwall and the lukewarm response to the Seaway Shootout to date is throwing cold water on hopes of a return of the Royals. And as always, your weekly Wraparound takes a look at each market and Farwell and Dan have a Prospect of the Week.

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We're back after an extended summer and we're too humble to say we're back better than ever, but we're definitely raring to go and we bring some sharp analysis to our first episode of the season (and Dan brings some sharp wit). Since it's a little late to get into full-blown predictions, we tell you who we like the most, the least, and just a little bit in each conference. Trust us, the answers will prove that we're not just looking at the early standings when sticking out our necks. Plus, your weekly Wraparound takes a look at every market, we highlight our Prospects of the Week, and we dive into the many impacts of the Tanner Adams trade that may have put the OHL in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

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The NHL draft was as bad as the OHL draft was good two weeks earlier. Maybe the OHL could offer the NHL some pointers? The disaster that was the production of one of the NHL's biggest moments, it was a big draft for the OHL with a near-record 47 players selected. Farwell and Dan have a slightly different take on the numbers, but there's no denying the OHL's showing.

Also this week, the NHL's signing window opens wider for CHL players, bringing it in line with the NCAA window. An email reminds us of the different paths players can take through the U18 draft, and Drew Bannister is back in the Soo. Plenty to discuss as we head into summer break, and plenty to think about over the off-season.

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All throughout the season, we've brought you a Prospect of the Week. This weekend, those prospects will hear their names called by NHL teams and there's a handful we're keeping a close eye on. Plus, the Storm strike again. Has GM George Burnett built a Memorial Cup contender in Guelph? And finally, enough talk. We know the OHL is going to expand, we know by how many teams, but where? Dan and Farwell have surveyed the land and bring you the most likely expansion sites.

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Kane Cloutier is your first overall pick in the 2026 OHL draft. Eight defensemen get taken in the first round, and the North Bay Battalion grab a goalie at #11. And Tanner Adams is a no-show, so now what? Some of the high level reviews from the OHL draft this past weekend, but let's be clear about this: the live draft was an absolute spectacle. So well done, and something that needs to remain as part of a league that wants to be taken seriously as the best place to develop. Farwell and Dan also have notes about the U18 draft and the Guelph Storm, who add more pieces as they shape a roster with hopes of winning a Memorial Cup as hosts. Plus, now that Niagara is moving on from Kris Barch, what's next behind the bench for the IceDogs?

The guys also answer your emails, which we continue to welcome at ohlpodcast(at)rogers.com. The OHL Podcast is supported by Draft Kings Sportsbook.

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Dozens of draft picks and more than a dozen players changed hands as the OHL trade window opened. Among the interesting stories are Brantford's attempts at a quick turnaround and the curse of being a captain in Niagara. Dan and Farwell break it down while trying to answer a modern OHL team's question -- how do you make up for players lost to the NCAA? Maybe it's time for compensatory OHL draft picks to make up for those losses. Or not...

What part of Ethan Belchetz's NCAA deal, Barrie's new buyer, or contract extensions in Sudbury did a prominent OHL reporter want to recall? Farwell and Dan have ideas, plus a look into the Inbox, a discussion of USHL expansion, and some news from the OHL combine that Attack fans will love to hear and Sting fans will frown at. And finally, if the OHL wants to prove it's all grown up, it should act that way by hosting a splashy live draft. Period.

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Lots to cover this week including, of course, a wrap from the Memorial Cup in Kelowna where the OHL won its third straight tournament title. And could anyone really touch the Kitchener Rangers this year? Plus, next year's tournament hosts -- the Guelph Storm -- get some bad news as defenseman Quinn Beauchesne bolts for the NCAA. If a guy is turning down a guaranteed opportunity to play in the Memorial Cup, what does this tell us about the CHL versus the NCAA? The winds of change also continue to blow through Niagara and Owen Sound, the Soo are planning some upgrades, the Brantford Bulldogs are looking for their next head coach, and Farwell and Dan have some thoughts about proposed changes to the Memorial Cup format. If league executives are listening, there's one proposed change that should be dismissed immediately.

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We're enjoying some time this week at the Memorial Cup and even as the tournament begins, we're hearing questions. The two most interesting stories involve where the tournament is being played and whether or not it needs a new format. Farwell and Dan dive into both discussions, along with a look at a new coach in Owen Sound and some chatter about how OHL teams will rebuild in the future. Is it really going to be a rebuild, or will teams just reload with players from other leagues? Engage in the conversation with us anytime by sending email to ohplodcast(at)rogers(dot)com.

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