CHL Prospects 2025/26

[Reggie Dunlop]

Jacob Battaglia Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Axel Hurtig Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Hunter Laing Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Preseason games starting up this week.

[DuckSauce]

Hoping for a really big year for Battaglia!

[getbak]

So weird to only have 3 prospects in the CHL this year.

They're all still at the Flames camp, right?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by getbak

So weird to only have 3 prospects in the CHL this year.

They're all still at the Flames camp, right?

I haven't heard anything about any of them getting sent down, and Battaglia and Laing were at Saturday's practice, per Freeway.

[InternationalVillager]

Battaglia has been named Captain.

[Calgary Highlander]

Will Battaglia have much of a supporting cast in Kingston? Most of the Frontss top players were 19/20 last year. The only other NHL-drafted player on the roster is Leafs 3rd rounder Tyler Hopkins, so Battaglia might need to create more of his own offence than before.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1971724154761367608

[Sandman]

Sept.26th:

Battaglia gets 1g, 1a, and a +2 in a 5-4 SO loss to the Soo, in his season debut. He also had a game-high 7 shots on goal.

Laing was named 2nd star in a 5-3 win over Lethbridge, picking up 1g, 1a, and finishing even in his season debut.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Calgary Highlander

Will Battaglia have much of a supporting cast in Kingston? Most of the Frontss top players were 19/20 last year. The only other NHL-drafted player on the roster is Leafs 3rd rounder Tyler Hopkins, so Battaglia might need to create more of his own offence than before.

-Kingston's # 2 scorer from 2024-25, Tuomas Uronen (90 points) has joined the Henderson Siver Knights.

-Their 3rd-leading scorer, Cedric Guindon (85 points), has left for the U of Vermont.

-Their top D, Emil Pieniniemi (60 points), is gone to the Wilkes-Barre Penguins.

-Their 4th-leading scorer, Ethan Miedema (57 points), is now with the Guelph Storm.

-D Quinton Burns (49 points) is with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

-RW Gage Hayes (47 points) is attending the U of New Brunswick.

-RW Matthew Soto (34 points) will be with the Petes.

-LW Ben Pickell (24 points) will be with the Sarnia Sting.

-D Cal Uens (23 points) will be playing with Quebec of the QMJHL.

-C Joey Willis (18 points in 20 games) will be playing with Milwaukee (AHL).

-C Ethan Hay (18 points in 30 games) is now with the U of Miami.

Only 4 of the Frontenacs' top-16 will be back with the team: Battaglia, C Tyler Hopkins, D Maleek McGowan, and D Vann Williamson. They have some good replacements in C Andrew Kuzma (who didn't play any games last season with Penn State, but was a good USHL player the season prior), Slovakian star Tomas Pobezal, 17 year-old C Robin Kuzma (Andrew's brother), 16 year-old Nolan Snyder (who piled up 96 points in 62 games last season in 15U AAA), and Canucks 2025 draft-pick (3rd-round) Kieren Dervin. They still lost a LOT of talent, and may be a little hard-pressed for offense.

[Ba'alzamon]

I definitely elected to watch the wrong game yesterday lol. Instead of this, I went with a discombobulated Mace'o Phillips making his debut with the unbelievably inept Green Bay Gamblers.

[Sandman]

Sept.27th:

Hurtig had a pretty darn good season debut, with 1g, 2 PIM, and a +2 in a 6-3 win for the Hitmen over Edmonton.

Laing had no points, and was -2 (although he had a game-high 5 shots) in a 4-1 loss to the Tigers. 2gp/1g/1a/2pts,-1, 0 PIM.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1972365704356884799

[serratedmuffin]

I was at the Hitmen game the other day. Hurtig won every board battle with ease and was on the right side of the puck. I wish he was more punishing than he is but he could seriously hurt someone if he wanted to. His puck skills and decision making time could use some refinement but I thought he was solid from what I saw (only the first two periods).

[Sandman]

Sept.28th:

Battaglia was named 2nd-star in a 2-1 victory over North Bay, with 1g (even). 2gp/2g/1a/3pts,+2, 0 PIM.

[Sandman]

Oct.3rd:

Battaglia gets 1a, and a game-high 5 shots, in a 5-2 win over the Generals. 3gp/2g/2a/4pts,+2, 2 PIM.

Laing was first star in a 4-2 win over the Rebels, with 1g and a team-high 5 shots. 3gp/2g/1a/3pts,-2, 2 PIM.

[Sandman]

Oct.4th:

The Hitmen were trounced 7-1 by Medicine Hat, with Hurtig getting no points, and a -3 on the night. 2gp/1g/0a/1pt,-1, 2 PIM.

[Svartsengi]

Hunter Laing had 2 goals today for Saskatoon in a 6-3 win over Brandon. 4 goals and 1 assist in 4 games this season.

[Sandman]

Oct.5th:

Battaglia gets no points, and was even, in a 1-0 win over Erie. He was held to just 1 shot as well. 4gp/2g/2a/4pts,+2, 4 PIM.

[Sandman]

Oct.7th:

Laing gets 2a, and was +1 in a 6-1 win over Vancouver. 5gp/4g/4a/8pts,+3, 2 PIM. Laing's teammate David Lewandowski, who was an Oilers fourth-rounder this past summer, has 11 points in just 5 games. I wonder to what degree the talent in the CHL has been watered down with so many departures to the NCAA...

[Sandman]

Oct.9th:

Battaglia gets no points, and was a -2 in a 5-2 loss to the Petes. 5gp/2g/2a/4pts,even, 4 PIM.