New general manager, new head coach – a new era of Niagara IceDogs hockey begins Friday night.
The IceDogs will open their 2026-27 campaign in Brantford, followed by their home opener Saturday against the Brampton Steelheads.
After a preseason that saw Niagara post a 2-2-2 record, the IceDogs are ready to turn the page and bring the excitement of regular-season hockey back to Niagara.
The IceDogs will play a 68-game schedule splitting 34 games at home and 34 games on the road.
“We are excited for the season to get started. We have a strong group and believe in the talent we have on our roster,” says OHL Senior Director of League Development Jason Diplock. “Fans should expect an exciting season, we hope to make Dog Country proud!”
The IceDogs have a crew of exciting, young players added to the roster for the upcoming season – including forwards Will Mullins and Stepan Stejskal – who each recorded four points in the preseason, as well as defenseman Tobias Kramer who just returned from the St. Louis Blues Rookie Camp.
Two other players including St. Catharines native in forward Noah Read (Anaheim Ducks) and off-season acquisition, forward, Layne Gallaher (New York Islanders) attended NHL rookie camps.
Along with the newcomers is a slew of veteran players – most notably forward Ryerson Edgar, who was one of the highest scoring first-year players in the OHL last season with 49 points (23 G, 26 A). He is coming off a memorable summer that saw him capture a gold medal with Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and he will be a player to watch as the 2026/2027 season gets underway and the 2027 NHL Entry Draft approaches.
With a blend of promising newcomers and returning talent, the IceDogs are ready to give fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the season ahead.
General Manager Dale DeGray traded forward Michael Tang to Barrie on Thursday receiving a 2028 fifth-round draft pick in return.
Here’s a look at the Niagara IceDogs season-opening roster:
Forwards:
Judd Knauft
Alex Hage
Carter Lewandowski
Wil McFadden
Finn Merrill
Ryerson Edgar
Reyth Smith
Jared Langdon
Chase Hull
Layne Gallacher
Will Mullins
Stepan Stejskal
Ivan Galiyanov
Noah Read
Defence:
Blake Munnings
Callum Cheynowski
Max Lappan
Sebastian Dell’Elce
Zack Naish
Christian Colosimo
Tobias Kramer
Liam Spencer
Blake Barnes
Goalies:
Vladislav Yermolenko
Connor Haffner
For more information on the team and tickets visit niagaraicedogs.net
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
