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Kitchener Rangers Replace Goaltender Of The Year With San Jose Sharks Prospect

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The Kitchener Rangers might have discovered their new goaltender to step in for the reigning Goaltender of the Year, Jackson Parsons.

On Thursday, the Rangers organization announced that they have signed Swiss netminder Christian Kirsch to an OHL Standard Player Agreement. 

The 6-foot-4, 201-pound netminder was drafted in the fourth round (116th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks are still in their rebuild and on the search for a goaltender they feel will be their starter for years to come. Is Kirsch the answer?

The Basel, Switzerland native was picked in the first round (44th overall) by Kitchener in the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Ottawa 67’s forward Kimi Korbler was the only Swiss forward in the OHL last season, and he is expected to return home to play for the EHC Kloten organization. 

Kitchener Rangers Announce Roster Changes For The 2025-26 Season, Two NHL Prospects Set To ReturnKitchener Rangers Announce Roster Changes For The 2025-26 Season, Two NHL Prospects Set To ReturnThe Kitchener Rangers announced updates to their roster regarding five of their players for the upcoming 2025-26 season. 

Kirsch recorded an 8-15-0 record with a 3.16 goals-against-average and a .912 save percentage for the Janesville Jets of the NAHL during the 2024-25 season. He also played three games in the USHL for the Green Bay Gamblers, but struggled in his appearances in the crease, posting a 5.09 goals-against-average and a .842 save percentage. 

The Gamblers traded Kirsch to the Chicago Steel in exchange for a Phase 2 seventh-round draft pick, and he was recently at their development camp. However, Rangers GM Mike McKenzie mentioned after drafting him earlier this month that Kirsch sounded very keen and excited to join Kitchener and play in the OHL next season. 

The Rangers roll into the 2025-26 season now with a one-two punch in the net with the Sharks prospect Kirsch and 2026 NHL draft-eligible Jason Schaubel. 

North Bay Battalion Sign Russian Import First-Round Pick North Bay Battalion Sign Russian Import First-Round Pick The import signings in the OHL continue, with another first-round pick from the 2025 CHL Import Draft committing. After the Niagara IceDogs were able to sign all three of their draft picks, the North Bay Battalion have joined in on the action. 

Although the 2008-born Schaubel didn’t perform poorly as the backup to Parsons last season, asking the kid to take on the role of a starter would’ve been a task, potentially setting him up for failure in a pivotal season of his career. 

Kirsch represented his country at the 2025 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship, recording a 3.52 goals-against-average and a .878 save percentage. He stopped 11-of-12 against Kazakhstan in Switzerland’s only win of the tournament, a victory that saved them from the relegation game. 

Kirsch becomes the eighth NHL-affiliated prospect on the Rangers’ roster for the 2025-26 season. There will be many NHL scouts watching Kitchener this season, tracking their players' development. 

(Top photo credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)

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Guelph Storm Add Size With New Imports; Both 2025 CHL Import Draft Selections SignedGuelph Storm Add Size With New Imports; Both 2025 CHL Import Draft Selections SignedThe Guelph Storm are looking to bounce back after a challenging season, where they finished second-last in the league with a record of 21-38-9. They also allowed the second-most goals against, with a total of 301. The organization is hopeful that their young players are prepared to improve, and they have provided additional support through the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Niagara IceDogs ForwardTampa Bay Lightning Sign Niagara IceDogs ForwardPorter Martone is reportedly leaving the OHL to join Michigan State University in the NCAA, but the Niagara IceDogs won't be losing one of their top six forwards, after he signed his entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday morning.  The Misiak Family Continues On In Erie; Otters Sign Younger Brother Of Chicago Blackhawks Prospect The Misiak Family Continues On In Erie; Otters Sign Younger Brother Of Chicago Blackhawks Prospect As older brother Martin heads out the door, younger brother Alex steps in to keep the fun going. The Misiak family in Erie carries on.
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Ottawa 67's Sign Both 2025 CHL Import Draft Picks Ondrej Ruml & Jasper Kuhta

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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' 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. 

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 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. 

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)

Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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Niagara IceDogs Sign Exciting & Talented Top-10 Pick Ryerson EdgarNiagara IceDogs Sign Exciting & Talented Top-10 Pick Ryerson EdgarThe Niagara IceDogs are loaded with high-end talent at the forward position, and they just announced another significant commitment to their lineup for the 2025-26 season.  Saginaw Spirit Sign New No. 1 Goalie From Russia?Saginaw Spirit Sign New No. 1 Goalie From Russia?When there is an age restriction in a league like the OHL, where players grow too old and become ineligible to return, that can be a tough pill to swallow for organizations. And when that player is your starting goaltender, well, that makes matters even worse. London Knights Sign 2025 First-Rounder Alex CampeauLondon Knights Sign 2025 First-Rounder Alex CampeauThe London Knights have signed their 2025 first-round draft choice, Alex Campeau, to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. 
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No NCAA for Aleksei Medvedev: A Sigh of Relief for The London Knights & Their Fans

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Aleksei Medvedev will not be joining the NCAA, much to the relief of London Knights fans. His decision to forgo college hockey leaves the door open for him to continue his career in major junior hockey, maintaining the Knights' strong roster. 

Medvedev's prowess in between the pipes provided his team with stability last year during the regular season. He served as the backup in the playoffs to Austin Elliott, en route to another OHL Championship and Memorial Cup victory. 

Recently, there has been a lot to celebrate in the Medvedev household. The 6-foot-3 netminder signed his entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. The total value of his contract is $2.7 million with a cap hit of $923,333. He will also earn $97,500 as a signing bonus in all three years of his deal. 

With an entry-level contract in hand, London management and their fans don’t have to worry about their star goaltender heading to the NCAA. It’s a new landscape between the CHL and NCAA, and players from the CHL signing their entry-level contract will become a bigger deal now. 

Vancouver drafted Medvedev 47th overall in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft. He was the fourth goaltender off the board and the first from the OHL, beating out Brampton Steelheads’Jack Ivankovic (picked 58th overall by Nashville). 

Austin Elliott cannot return to the OHL due to having aged out of the league, meaning Medvedev will be the projected starter for London next season and is in for a significantly heavier workload.  

The Hockey News site editor Izzy Cheung had the opportunity to speak with Medvedev at Canucks development camp, where he spoke about his time in Russia before coming over to Canada at the age of 14, and how he’s had to work on his coordination as he continues to grow. 

Cheung’s piece can be found here. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Adam Novotny, Projected Top Prospect In The 2026 NHL Draft, Signs With Peterborough Petes 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.  Dale Hunter Named Canada World Juniors Head Coach Dale Hunter Named Canada World Juniors Head Coach After two consecutive disappointing fifth-place finishes at the World Junior Championships, where they lost to Czechia in the quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025, Hockey Canada needs to regain its dominance at the junior stage. 
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London Knights Sam O'Reilly Involved In NHL Trade Between Edmonton & Tampa Bay

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The OHL currently has a trade freeze in place so their players don’t have to worry about getting dealt to a new team while they enjoy their summer and off-season training. 

Now, the NHL isn’t operating in the same capacity as the OHL and one of the London Knights’ top players found out late Tuesday night that he has a new NHL team. 

Sam O’Reilly, 19, has been traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for the 2025 Hobey Baker Winner, Isaac Howard. It’s a one-for-one trade. Howard immediately signed his entry-level contract with his new NHL franchise, and the expectation is that he will slot into Edmonton’s top-nine forward corps next season. 

Howard had told Lightning management that he wasn’t going to sign with them. He was drafted in the first round, 31st overall, in the 2022 NHL draft by them. Tampa ships off the highly skilled, offensive-minded winger in return for a defensive center specialist. 

The Michigan State Spartan forward is more NHL-ready, but O'Reilly's playstyle, consistency, and reliability have scouts saying he has more potential to be an everyday NHLer for a longer span than Howard. 

O’Reilly is coming off his second year with the Knights in the OHL, winning back-to-back OHL Championships and a Memorial Cup victory. He set career highs in goals (28) and points (71), and was a +80 in 79 combined regular season and playoff games. He was the last pick of the first round (32nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. 

The Toronto, Ontario native was one of the OHL’s best defensive forwards last season. However, with Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey making their way to the professional ranks, O’Reilly will need to be more of a leader offensively next season in London.  

Also, good news for Knights fans, he has already signed his entry-level contract, making him ineligible to play in the NCAA.