Event logo unveiled, Championship Game to be played in OHL Brantford TD Civic Centre
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) is proud to announce that its new showcase event will be named the Zach Hyman OJHL Prospects Series. Hyman, a forward with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, played his entire junior career in the OJHL.
The Zach Hyman OJHL Prospects Series will put the spotlight on the top 2008- and 2009-born players from across the region. The event further reinforces the strategic direction of the OJHL to align with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and facilitate the development of players in taking the next step to play in the OHL. Additionally, the league unveiled the event’s logo and announced that the Zach Hyman OJHL Prospects Series Championship Game will be hosted in the home facility of the OHL Brantford Bulldogs, the beautiful TD Civic Centre.
“Zach’s success from OJHL standout to NCAA and now NHL star player is an inspiration to young hockey players across Ontario,” said Marty Savoy, OJHL Commissioner. “His commitment to the development of young players, combined with his on-ice achievement, provides an incredible example for young prospects. The Zach Hyman OJHL Prospects Series will provide a premier stage for the best young talent born in 2008 and 2009 to showcase their skills in front of scouts, coaches and local communities.”
Zach Hyman was an OJHL standout and CJHL Player of the Year who earned an NCAA Division I scholarship to the University of Michigan. Hyman enjoyed a distinguished collegiate career — finishing as a Hobey Baker Award finalist in his senior year — and has played in the NHL since 2016.
The OHL approved the transfer of ownership of the Brantford Bulldogs to Zach Hyman and his family last season, including brother Spencer Hyman and father Stuart Hyman. The Hyman family has a long-standing history with the OJHL: Stuart Hyman is the long-time governor of the Markham Royals and currently serves as Chair of the OJHL Board of Governors, while Spencer is a former player and coach.
“I’m thrilled to partner with the OJHL to create opportunities for young players,” said Zach Hyman. “The OJHL gave me the foundation to grow as a player and a person, and I want this Prospects Series to showcase talent, help players take the next step in their careers, and bring communities together. This initiative aligns with my family’s long-standing commitment to junior hockey — to the OJHL through our work with the league and now to the OHL in Brantford — and we’re focused on supporting development, education and exposure for these athletes. We can’t wait to see what this next generation accomplishes.”
The Zach Hyman OJHL Prospects Series will feature six teams competing in a round-robin format followed by the championship game. Selected players will be named to three teams representing OJHL East and three teams representing OJHL West. Following the round robin, the top two teams will advance to the championship game at the TD Civic Centre, hosted by the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs.
A preliminary list of participating prospects includes more than 90 players who have been drafted by Ontario Hockey League teams and players with NCAA Division I commitments, underscoring the depth of talent taking part in the Prospects Series.
The Zach Hyman OJHL Prospects Series schedule:
Nov. 4 Prospects Series East Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens, Trenton, ON 7:30
Nov. 11 Prospect Series East – Cobourg Community Centre. Cobourg, ON 12:30
Nov. 17 Prospects Series West – Milton Memorial Arena, Milton, ON 12:30
Dec. 2 Prospects Series East – Cobourg Community Centre, Cobourg, ON 7:30
Dec. 15 Prospects Series West – Milton Memorial Arena, Milton, ON 12:30
Dec. 29 Prospects Series West – Port Credit Memorial Arena, Mississauga, ON 7:30
Jan. 6 Prospect Series Championship – TD Civic Centre, Brantford, ON 7:30
About Zach Hyman
Zach Hyman was selected by the Florida Panthers in the fifth round (No. 123) in the 2010 NHL Draft after he had 75 points (35 goals, 40 assists) with Hamilton (now the Markham Royals) of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. In 2010-11, he was named the Canadian Junior A Player of the Year and RBC CJHL Player of the Year after he had 102 points (42 goals, 60 assists) in 43 games.
At the University of Michigan in 2014-15, Hyman led the Big Ten with 54 points (22 goals, 32 assists) in 37 games and was named a First Team All-America and a Hobey Baker Award finalist.
Following his career at Michigan, Hyman opted not to sign with the Panthers. Florida traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs on June 19, 2015, and four days later, Hyman signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Toronto.
Hyman set NHL career highs in goals (15), assists (25) and points (40) in 2017-18 while again playing in all 82 games. He finished second on the Maple Leafs with a plus-22 rating and had four points (one goal, three assists) in seven games in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After scoring 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 43 games for Toronto in 2020-21, he signed a seven-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers on July 28. Hyman became the seventh player in Oilers history to score 50 goals in a season on March 24, 2024. He also joined Brayden Point and Jonathan Cheechoo as players taken in the second round of later in the NHL Draft to score at least that many.
Now 33, Zach has scored 230 goals and added 213 assists in 653 NHL games.
Away from the ice, Hyman writes children’s books. His third, “The Magician’s Secret,” the story of a young boy who was enchanted by his grandfather’s stories, was released in May 2018.
About the OJHL – “League of Choice”
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is the largest Junior ‘A’ league operating under the auspices of the
Canadian Junior Hockey League with 24 member clubs. A proud member of the CJHL and Ontario Hockey Association, the OJHL was originally named the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and it was formed out of the Central Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in 1993-94. With a long and storied history of developing players for the next level, including U SPORTS, the NCAA, CHL, minor pro ranks and the NHL, the OJHL had more than 135 commitments in 2024-25, including 54 to NCAA Division 1 and 29 to the Ontario Hockey League. In addition, the OJHL had 39 OHL Affiliate Players who played 152 OHL games. Thirty-five OJHL alumni played in the NHL in 2025.
For more information on the Ontario Junior Hockey League, please visit www.ojhl.ca
