OHL teams have been taking advantage of the new rule change, which allows them to carry three import players on their rosters instead of two. Oshawa and Saginaw have each acquired a Russian goalie for next season, selected from the 2025 CHL Import Draft.
You can add the Ottawa 67’s to the list. They have signed both of their draft picks from the recent import draft ─ Ondrej Ruml and Jasper Kuhta.
Oshawa Generals' "Crease Battle" Next Season Adds A Third Member; Russian Import Goaltender Signs With TeamThe Oshawa Generals haven’t had to worry about not knowing who their guy was in the crease when they needed a big win. A significant reason why the organization has advanced to consecutive OHL Finals is due to the goaltender they have had in the net, Jacob Oster.
Finnish forward Jasper Kuhta was the first of the two to sign with the organization back on July 11. He was their second-round pick, 72nd overall, earlier this month and had a very productive season last year back home in Finland.
Import forward Jasper Kuhta has signed an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team.
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) July 11, 2025
Welcome to #CapitalTerritory, Jasper!
🗞️ | https://t.co/q1V1IsosXDpic.twitter.com/idrSpd9JKa
Kuhta finished second in goals (18) and points (43) in 38 games for HIFK U20 in the U20 SM-sarja. He even played eight games in the top Finnish league Liiga for HIFK last season.
“His top attribute is his IQ and anticipation. He’s intelligent but not dynamic. He has a good understanding of how plays are developing around him on both sides of the puck,” said Aaron Vickers from FC Hockey.
EliteProspects also wrote the following on his player page:
“Kuhta is a crafty finisher, particularly from closer distances, but also from the right half wall on the power play. He’s got a capable one-touch release, but can also beat goalies from his backhand. Outside of the scoring, he brings value as a reliable two-way supporter who facilitates others down the middle, keeps track of his assignments, and can use his 6-foot-2 frame along the wall when required.”
Adam Novotny, Projected Top Prospect In The 2026 NHL Draft, Signs With Peterborough Petes Last season, one of the OHL’s top performers came from the 2024 CHL Import Draft. Ilya Protas was selected third overall by the Windsor Spitfires. He formed an unstoppable duo with Liam Greentree, scoring 50 goals and 124 points in the regular season.
Kuhta just went through his first year of NHL draft eligibility. He went undrafted despite being ranked 47th amongst European Skates by NHL Central Scouting. But with his success at the U20 level in Finland, he should be able to immediately jump into a top-nine contributing role for Ottawa next season, and get looked at as an overage draftee for the 2026 NHL Draft.
Then, on Wednesday afternoon, the 67’s announced the signing of their eighth overall selection from the 2025 import draft, Ondrej Ruml.
Import defenceman Ondřej Ruml has signed an Ontario Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team.
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) July 16, 2025
Welcome to #CapitalTerritory, Ondřej!
🗞️ | https://t.co/0lNPOptNH4pic.twitter.com/B0e7CUWnwt
The Czech defenseman is a 2008-born and entering his NHL draft year. Ruml played the majority of the 2024-25 season in the Czechia U17 league for HC Dynamo Paradubice U17, where he led all defensemen in points with 40 in 41 games. Additionally, he put up nine assists and ten points in seven playoff games.
Ruml represented his country at the U17 World Hockey Challenge last November, where he recorded one assist in four games. We will see if he can crack the Czechia lineup for the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament.
It is a crowded blueline for the 67’s heading into the 2025-26 season. There’s no guarantee Ruml will be a full-time player for them, and the six-foot, 168-pound left-shot defenseman will have to beat out a few others who already have OHL games under their belt with Ottawa.
(Top photo credit: Ondrej Ruml - Ronald Hansel, Junior Hockey & Jasper Kuhta - All Over Press)
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