Dates to circle for 2025-26 regular season

The London Knights celebrated their OHL championship by hoisting the Robertson Cup this past May and then capped off their historic season by securing a Memorial Cup victory to close out the 2024-25 season!

As we look ahead to a new year of action, here are some key dates to mark on the calendar for the 2025-26 OHL season.

1. #OHLOpeningWeek kicks off September 18th

The 2025-26 regular season begins onThursday, September 18, as the North Bay Battalion host the Oshawa Generals at7:00pm, while the Peterborough Petes welcome the Brampton Steelheads at7:05pm.

Opening Week continues with a full slate of home openers across the league:

  • Friday, Sept. 19: Eight teams open at home, including the London Knights with a banner-raising night (Brampton, Kitchener, Kingston, Sarnia, Sudbury, Guelph and Soo)
  • Saturday, Sept. 20: Five more teams hit home ice (Barrie, Brantford, Erie, Saginaw and Windsor)
  • Sunday, Sept. 21: Two more home openers (Niagara and Oshawa)
  • Sept. 26–28: Flint, Owen Sound and Ottawa round out home-opening festivities the following weekend

2. Attack, Battalion, Generals and Spitfires clash on Thanksgiving Monday

OHL fans can be thankful for hockey this Thanksgiving holiday as the Owen Sound Attack visit the North Bay Battalion and the Oshawa Generals travel to Windsor as they hit the ice for2:00pm on Monday October 14th. 

3. First-ever Rivalry Week starting October 16th

The action heats up this October as the first-ever OHL Rivalry Week highlights the league’s intense matchups in a four-day window of hard-hitting action. Rivalry Week brings battles, both divisional and in some cases cross-conference to the forefront with a schedule that OHL fans of all ages can look forward to. Matchups will feature a home-and-home between two familiar opponents and run fromThursday, October 16th through Sunday, October 19th, with a few other games, some of them between other rivals, dispersed throughout. List ofOHL Rivalry Week matchups by team.

4. Nine School-Day games on the schedule

Morning hockey returns with lots of School-Day Games throughout the year. 

  • Starts Wednesday, October 29 with three 10:30 AM matchups:
    • Brampton Steelheads at Ottawa 67’s
    • Sarnia Sting at Owen Sound Attack
    • Soo Greyhounds at Sudbury Wolves
  • Other dates include:
    • Nov. 5: Owen Sound Attack at Sarnia Sting (11:00 AM)
    • Nov. 12 & 19: Ottawa and Kingston swap home 10:30 AM games
    • Dec. 3: Guelph Storm at Brampton Steelheads (11:00 AM)
    • Feb. 5: Guelph Storm at Erie Otters (11:00 AM)
    • Mar. 4: Barrie Colts at Brampton Steelheads (11:00 AM)

5. Knights, Generals square off in OHL Championship rematch on December 19

After a hard-fought OHL Championship series rematch, the Memorial Cup champion London Knights and familiar foe Oshawa Generals will meet again onFriday, December 19 at Canada Life Place.

6. Teddy Bear Toss Games

One of the most anticipated traditions of the OHL season returns this winter as teams across the league prepare to host their annual Teddy Bear Toss games. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned to each organization’s schedule for updates on when their toss night will take place.

7. Second half starts following holiday break

Teams return from the Christmas break and jump right into action onSunday, December 28, with 18 OHL clubs hitting the ice in a busy day of competition.

8. Ringing in the New Year

  • New Year’s Eve (Dec.31), nine teams will host home games to close out the 2025 calendar year:
    • Kitchener Rangers at North Bay Battalion (1:00 PM)
    • Owen Sound Attack at Brampton Steelheads (2:00 PM)
    • Guelph Storm at Kingston Frontenacs (2:05 PM)
    • Saginaw Spirit at Windsor Spitfires (2:05 PM)
    • Sarnia Sting at London Knights (4:00 PM)
    • Flint Firebirds at Soo Greyhounds (4:07 PM)
    • Brantford Bulldogs at Erie Otters (6:00 PM)
    • Oshawa Generals at Niagara IceDogs (6:00 PM)
    • Sudbury Wolves at Barrie Colts (7:30 PM)
  • New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), four teams will kick off 2026:
    • Ottawa 67’s at Oshawa Generals (2:05 PM)
    • Kingston Frontenacs at Peterborough Petes (7:05 PM). 

9. Second OHL Top Prospects event slated for January

The second edition of the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game, presented by Enbridge Gas, takes place in Peterborough onWednesday, January 14, 2026. More special events will be announced in the fall.

10. Full Family Day schedule

Celebrate Family Day with hockey! All 20 OHL teams will be in action onMonday, February 16.

11. Season wraps up March 22

The 2025-26 OHL regular season wraps up on Sunday, March 22, featuring five games:

  • Brantford Steelheads at Brantford Bulldogs (2:00 PM)
  • Erie Otters at Niagara IceDogs (2:00 PM)
  • Sudbury Wolves at North Bay Battalion (2:00 PM)
  • Windsor Spitfires at Soo Greyhounds (2:07 PM)
  • Peterborough Petes at Oshawa Generals (6:05 PM)

The playoffs will follow, as teams battle for the 114th J. Ross Robertson Cup and a shot at the 2026 Memorial Cup, hosted next spring in Kelowna, British Columbia.

COMPLETE 2025-26 OHL REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE