Rangers select Braden Reilly with first-round draft pick
Posted Jun 13, 2026 06:01:28 AM.
Last Updated Jun 13, 2026 06:01:32 AM.
The Blueshirts have a new young blue-chip prospect at the conclusion of the 1st round of the 2026 OHL Entry Draft.
The Kitchener Rangers have selected Milton, ON native Braden Reilly with the 19th overall pick. The young two-way centreman arrives in Kitchener by way of the Toronto Marlboros U16 AAA program.
Reilly comes from OHL bloodlines, as his father Brant Reilly played two seasons of OHL hockey with the Peterborough Petes between 1996 and 1998. Brent featured in 59 games in those seasons.
While known for his defensive prowess as a former, Braden is no stranger to offensive production either, as he has scored a point-per-game in his last two seasons with the Toronto Marlboros, as well as the OHL Cup showcase tournament. In his most recent season at the U16 AAA level, he scored 15 goals and 18 assists, for a total of 33 points in 30 games.
Reilly referred to being selected by Kitchener as “a tremendous honour”, saying he went to a number of Rangers games at the Aud growing up as a kid. Now, he joins a retooling young core that the Rangers hope will rebuild the program after a number of top stars age out of OHL eligibility after the 2026 Memorial Cup run.
The last five first-round selections by the Rangers in the OHL draft were Kane Barch in 2025, Evan Headrick in 2024, Cameron Reid and Luca Romano in 2023, and Michael Hage in 2022.
Kitchener Rangers:
