Rangers add 13 young prospects in rest of OHL Draft
Posted Jun 14, 2026 06:34:12 AM.
Last Updated Jun 15, 2026 03:23:42 PM.
The Kitchener Rangers family grew by 13 on the second day of the 2026 OHL Entry Draft.
A new crop of young players born in 2010 was selected by the Rangers to add to a retooling young core that looks to continue the momentum of the 2026 OHL and Memorial Cup championships.
Their first Day 2 pick was Peterborough, Ont., forward Evan Fitzgerald of the Vaughan Kings U16 AAA program. The centreman is the younger brother of Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forward Colin Fitzgerald scored a point per game at the U16 level in 2025-26.
With their third-round pick acquired from the Flint Firebirds, Kitchener selected right-winger Gavin Martin. The Brantford, Ont., native plays for his hometown Brantford 99ers U16 AAA team, and already measures in at a lofty 6′, 2″ tall. In 11 playoff games in his most recent season, he registered four goals and nine assists for 13 points.
The first defenceman selected was Keaton Van Spronsen of the London Jr. Knights. Another hometown player, the right-shot defenseman has already shown a high offensive ceiling from the blueline, racking up 25 points in 25 regular season games for London.
The first of two goalies selected by Kitchener was Bryan Schwartz, a 5’9″ goaltender from Monroe Township, N.J. He was the second consecutive New Jersey native selected after defender Caden Yale was taken the round before.
The most well-known name added to Kitchener’s roster was Nathan Pavelski, son of legendary former NHL player Joe Pavelski. Joe scored over 1200 points between the regular season and playoffs in his 18 seasons, primarily for the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. Nathan had been previously coached by his father for the Madison Capitals of Madison, WI.
Here is the complete list of Rangers selections in the 2026 OHL Entry Draft:
- 1st Round (19th Overall): C Braden Reilly of the Toronto Marlboros U16 AAA
- 2nd Round (41st Overall): C Evan Fitzgerald of the Vaughan Kings U16 AAA
- 3rd Round (56th Overall): RW Gavin Martin of the Brantford 99ers U16 AAA
- 6th Round (105th Overall): D Keaton Van Spronsen of the London Jr. Knights U16 AAA
- 6th Round (120th Overall): RW George Majic of the Upper Canada College Blues U16
- 7th Round (124th Overall): D Caden Yale of the Bishop Kearneys 15’s
- 8th Round (153rd Overall): G Bryan Schwartz of the Philadelphia HC 15’s
- 9th Round (180th Overall): RW Nathan Pavelski of the Madison Capitols 15’s
- 10th Round (185th Overall): LW Michael Pacek of the Toronto Marlboros U16 AAA
- 11th Round (220th Overall): C Cooper Cote of Elgin-Middlesex Canucks U16 AAA
- 12th Round (240th Overall): G Garrett Rupp of the Bishop Kearney Selects 15’s
- 13th Round (260th Overall): D Evan Miller of the Chicago Mission 15’s
- 14th Round (280th Overall): D Taylor Van De Ven of the Sun County Panthers U16 AAA
- 15th Round (300th Overall): RW Carson Vukelich of the Brantford 99ers U16 AAA
Kitchener Rangers:
