Kingston to host first in-person OHL draft in 25 years

The two-day event will go at Slush Puppie Place June 12 & 13, 2026.

For the first time in more than a quarter century, the Ontario Hockey League will hold an in-person player draft and it will be held in Kingston.

The league announced that the 2026 OHL Draft (or Priority Selection) will take place at Slush Puppie Place June 12 and 13, 2026.

The announcement was made during a news conference at the home of the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday.

OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford was joined by Frontenacs President Doug Springer and Megan Knott, CEO of Tourism Kingston.

Crawford says the league wanted this event to be a success and the Limestone City checked all the boxes.

Springer says he excited as to what the in-person will mean to the community.

The last time the OHL held an in-person draft was in 2000 in Mississauga. The draft has since gone to a virtual online one. 

Crawford says bringing back the in-person draft is another step in growing the league.

Springer says the event will bring all league and team executives to town in the same venue, something that couldn't be done in a virtual setting.

Plans are underway to welcome thousands of people to Kingston not only for the draft but also the events leading up to it. 

Knott says visitors can expect to see everything that Kingston has to offer come next spring.

Knott says the hospitality industry will especially benefit from the potential tourism dollars that will come to Kingston.

The draft is seen as a big event similar to Kingston hosting the Vanier Cup game in 2023 and 2024, and the Brier tournament in 2020.

Story by Ken Hashizume