Jack Pridham and the Kitchener Rangers won the 2026 OHL Championship, sweeping the Barrie Colts. The article discusses Pridham's development and potential next steps after his successful season.
Key points
Jack Pridham won the OHL Championship with the Kitchener Rangers.
The Rangers swept the Barrie Colts in the Championship Series.
Pridham's development and next steps are discussed.
Another Blackhawks prospect's season ended in the Conference Finals.
Speculation about trading up in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Mentioned in this story
Chicago BlackhawksJack Pridham
J. Ross Robertson CupKitchener RangersBarrie Colts
The 2026 Ontario Hockey League postseason officially wrapped up on Tuesday night, with Chicago Blackhawks forward prospect Jack Pridham and the Kitchener Rangers claiming the J. Ross Robertson Cup by way of a Championship Series sweep over the Barrie Colts.
Pridham proved this year that he made the correct decision by remaining in the OHL with the Rangers, but what’s the best next step for him to take in his development? More in the links for takeaways on Pridham’s postseason and where he’ll play in the 2026-27 campaign.
Also in Blackhawks news, one other top prospect had his season come to an end in the league’s Conference Finals on Tuesday. Plus, could GM Kyle Davidson trade up from No. 4 in the 2026 NHL Draft?
Around the league, the Golden Knights took a 3-2 series lead, Zach Benson came up clutch for Buffalo on his Birthday, while Canada has brought in reinforcements for the World Championship.
All that & more in the Daily!
Blackhawks Offseason, News & Trade Rumors
Chicago Hockey Now: Only one Blackhawks prospect will finish the 2025-26 season with a league title. Jack Pridham and the Kitchener Rangers won the OHL Championship Series with an impressive 16-2 postseason run. So, what’s next for Pridham? Will he turn professional or transition to NCAA hockey?
While Pridham and Kitchener won the OHL Championship, fellow Blackhawks prospect Mason West and the Fargo Force were eliminated from the USHL’s Clark Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. Fargo lost 3-2 to the Sioux Falls Stampede in a do-or-die Game 5 in the Western Conference Final. West tallied six points (2G, 4A) in nine postseason appearances. He’s set to play for the Michigan State Spartans in the NCAA next season.
Q&A
Who won the 2026 OHL Championship?
The Kitchener Rangers, led by Jack Pridham, won the 2026 OHL Championship.
What are the next steps for Jack Pridham after the OHL Championship?
The article explores potential next steps for Jack Pridham's development following his successful season with the Rangers.
Which team did the Kitchener Rangers defeat in the Championship Series?
The Kitchener Rangers defeated the Barrie Colts in the Championship Series.
Could the Chicago Blackhawks trade up in the 2026 NHL Draft?
Yes, there is speculation that Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson may consider trading up from the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
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Speaking of the Spartans, they received a commitment from 2026 NHL Draft prospect Ethan Belchetz for the 2026-27 campaign. Belchetz, who played alongside AJ Spellacy with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires this past season, is expected to be a top-20 selection this summer. Michigan State is going to be STACKED next year.
More CHN: ICYMI — more and more mock drafts from top writers and analysts in the industry have the Blackhawks selecting Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
More CHN: However, should the Blackhawks and GM Kyle Davidson feel that Stenberg won’t slide that far, there could be an opportunity to package assets together and move up the draft board. According to reports, the San Jose Sharks might have a legitimate interest in fielding offers for the No. 2 pick.
On this date in 2014, Patrick Kane scored the overtime winner in Game 6 of the second-round series against the Minnesota Wild, advancing the Blackhawks to the Western Conference Final. Simpler times. Would be fitting if Minnesota got eliminated by Colorado tonight, no?
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
NHL.com: In the first of two Stanley Cup Playoff games on Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres overcame some early adversity to defeat the Montreal Canadiens3-2 in Game 4 and even up the second-round series 2-2. Tage Thompson and Birthday Boy Zach Benson scored the final two goals of the game to erase a 2-1 deficit. Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves in his first start of the series.
Montreal Hockey Now: Power play struggles sunk the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 on home ice, where they had the chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Habs went just 1-for-7 on the man advantage against Buffalo on Tuesday.
Vegas Hockey Now: In the second game of the night, the Vegas Golden Knights clawed out a 3-2 overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 to grab a 3-2 series lead. Pavel Dorofeyev was responsible for two of the Knights’ three goals, including the overtime winner. Vegas can close out the series with a win in Game 6, which will be played in Anaheim.
Boston Hockey Now: The Boston Bruins have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs for quite some time now, but a ruling just came down on Tuesday from the NHL on Charlie McAvoy. The standout defenseman has been suspended for the first six games of the 2026-27 season for his gnarly slash on Zach Benson.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Hockey Canada announced on Tuesday that Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be participating in the 2026 IIHF World Championship after all. Will Crosby snatch the ‘C’ off Macklin Celebrini’s chest?
Philly Hockey Now: Can’t stop, won’t stop. Philadelphia Flyers forward Partone Martone’s season isn’t over just yet, as he was also added to Canada’s World Championship roster.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Don’t forget about Dawson! New Jersey Devils forward Dawson Mercer joined Crosby and Martone as a late addition to Canada’s squad in Switzerland.
Colorado Hockey Now: The NHL released its three finalists for the Jim Gregory Award, which is annually awarded to the league’s best general manager. Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland was joined by Pat Verbeek (Anaheim) and Bill Guerin (Minnesota) as the nominees.
ESPN: Another potential free agent has been taken off the market. The Columbus Blue Jackets signed forward Charlie Coyle to a six-year, $36 million contract extension on Tuesday. Coyle, 34, had 58 points (20G, 38A) in 82 games last season.
Daily Faceoff: So, where do the Flyers and former first-round pick Matvei Michkov go from here? Michkov was healthy scratched multiple times during the playoffs and spoke about the situation during his exit interview on Tuesday.
