170 OHL Alumni Open the AHL Season, Led by Belleville's 16

The Ontario Hockey League says 170 of its graduates were named to opening night rosters across all 32 American Hockey League clubs as the AHL opened its 2026-27 season on Friday, Oct. 2. The AHL's 91st season has 32 teams playing 72 games apiece, with eight games on the opening night schedule, the earliest start date since 2009, and 30 games across the league's opening weekend.

The Belleville Senators, the Ottawa affiliate, lead all AHL clubs with 16 OHL alumni. The Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton) and Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) follow with 10 each, the Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle) and Hartford Wolf Pack (NY Rangers) have nine apiece, and the Texas Stars (Dallas) have eight.

On the OHL side, the London Knights lead all clubs with 29 alumni on AHL rosters. The Brantford Bulldogs franchise, counting its Hamilton Bulldogs and Belleville Bulls history, follows with 20, while the Oshawa Generals and Soo Greyhounds each have 18, the Kitchener Rangers have 17 and the Saginaw Spirit have 16. All 20 OHL franchises are represented.

The opening night spotlight in Belleville falls on a first meeting with a new club. The Hamilton Hammers, the new affiliate of the New York Islanders, begin their inaugural season with a visit to the Senators, and the two clubs combine for 20 OHL graduates.

The Hammers then visit the Toronto Marlies for the club's 2026 Calder Cup championship banner raising at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Oct. 3. The Marlies' roster includes seven OHL alumni.

The OHL published the full club-by-club list of alumni on 2026-27 AHL opening night rosters on Oct. 2. The list runs from the Abbotsford Canucks, who carry six, through the rest of the 32-club league.