With the opening month of the 2025–26 Ontario Hockey League season now behind us, OHL Writers are set to unveil their picks for the top forward, defenseman, and goaltender eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft for the month of September.
FORWARD OF THE MONTH: Caleb Malhotra, Brantford Bulldogs
It was quite the September for Malhotra as he scored 3 goals and added 5 assists and was a plus-8 in just three games. He had points in each of his games and had a 5-point night on 2 goals and 3 assists on September 27 in a 7-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves. Two of his goals were game winning goals.
Egor Barabanov of the Saginaw Spirit also earned consideration. Over four games, he tallied three goals and six assists with a plus-1 rating. Each outing was a multi-point effort, with his lone goalless performance coming on September 26 against the Niagara IceDogs. Barabanov is a draft re-entry.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH: Carson Woodall, Windsor Spitfires
Woodall is a draft re-entry defenseman now in his third full season with the Spitfires. He appeared in 5 games and had 7 assists – going without a point just once on September 29 against the Barrie Colts. On September 19 he had three assists in an 8-1 win over the Sarnia Sting and followed that up with two assists against the London Knights the next night in a 4-1 win.
Also considered was Kingston Frontenacs defenseman Vann Williamson, also a draft re-entry. Williamson posted 5 assists in 4 games that including 2 assists on opening night against the Ottawa 67’s.
GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH: Michael Newlove, Windsor Spitfires
Newlove was flawless in his two September starts, earning wins in both outings while boasting a stingy 1.00 goals-against average and an outstanding .966 save percentage. He kicked off the month on September 19 by turning aside 21 of 22 shots in a commanding 8–1 win over Sarnia, then backed it up with a 35-save performance on September 28, guiding his team to a 4–1 victory against the Oshawa Generals.
Newlove enters the 2026 draft as a re-entry after going undrafted in 2025. He saw limited action last season with the Spitfires, appearing in three games and posting a 2-0-0-0 record, along with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.
Also considered was another draft re-entry candidate, Ben Hrebik of the Barrie Colts. Hrebik went 0-1-0-1 and had 1.95 goals against average and a .950 save percentage. He stopped 50 of 51 shots he faced on September 25 yet lost 2-1 in a shootout. Two nights later he stopped 26 of 29 shots in a 3-1 loss to Windsor.
OHL Writers 