Brantford Bulldogs

Coming in at number eight after Mason West though, I have Marek Vynarczuk, 2024 first round pick, number 27 overall that year.

He's now 20 years old, as a winger, 6'1", right around 195 pounds, decent size, and spent the last four years playing in the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs, a program us Blackhawks fans are very familiar with at this point because of Nick Lardis, because of Vynarczuk, and also because of Parker Holmes, who, uh, [laughs] isn't quite held in the same breath as those first two guys I just mentioned, but is going to be back with Brantford again this season to kind of continue the lineage.

But Vynarczuk had a tremendous final year of junior hockey, led the Ontario Hockey League with 47 goals in 60 appearances, also had 82 points, which had him right around the top 10 in the league in that category, and is now turning pro.

Likely going to be opening up his pro career with the Rockford IceHogs down in the AHL.

Number three, Merrick Van Acker, the second first round pick for the Blackhawks in attendance at this prospect showcase, went 27th overall, nine picks after Sasha Boisvert in the 2024 NHL draft.

Like AJ Spellacy, spent the past four years playing in the Ontario Hockey League with the Brantford Bulldogs.

We've seen a couple of different Blackhawks prospects go through Brantford these last few years.

most recently with Parker Holmes, member of the 2025 draft class.

Still tallied, uh, 10 goals and 15 points, so scored at a 20 goal, 30 point pace as first year player who, um, a undersized guy, like I said, wasn't probably used in a role that he's been used to these last few years.

Scored 70 goals in 2024-25 in the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs, and then transitioned to the pro hockey level last, last year.

Played predominantly in the AHL up until the Connor Bedard injury, and the Blackhawks needed some more offensive support.

And I think with Bedard going to miss the start of the season again, we're probably gonna have Nick Lardis, I think, with his goal-scoring abilities, probably inside that top six, and bump Ryan Donato down probably a level in to, into that bottom six spot.

48 years old today.

Jay McKee, former NHL defenseman, coach of the Brantford Bulldogs last couple of years, few years.

is 49.

He actually left the organization.

He was the next big candidate to move up in the coaching universe.

He was in the Brantford Bulldogs before that.

The Hamilton Bulldogs, so it makes sense.

But yeah, he was rumored to join a few teams' assistant coaching staffs.

Maybe you view it as dominating and with good habits.

And Michael Babcock, not Mike Babcock, Mike's son, is going to be the head coach of the Brantford Bulldogs.

Yeah.

Do they view that as enough of a learning experience and growth opportunity to send him back? Or do they want hands-on, here's our opportunity to start to mold this young man? I don't

save all those things for later.

So our guest today, he is the director of communications and the play-by-play voice of the Brantford Bulldogs.

And with Dom Tiano was two-thirds of the best Bruins podcast ever.

He told me to say that.

What was that process like? And I know you can't go into much detail about the behind the scenes workings, but was it something like you approached Owen Sound or Owen Sound wasn't a place where he was willing to go and you talked to them about it? Was it...

colin wanting to come to brantford and you working out a a deal with owen sound uh tell us what you can about that

so a a little bit of everything uh colin was drafted originally by the owen sound attack smart move by owen sound because at the very least they get his rights and if he doesn't commit to go to owen sound then they're able to get uh they're able to get assets in return for the rights to the player Colin wanted to come to the Brantford Bulldogs.

Again, it goes back to the connections through agents, the history with the Bulldogs, knowing Gary Roberts is here, Zach Hyman is here, Spencer Hyman, Brian Burke.

But because he just brings that element of, you know, the art of the open ice hit and, and in today's modern day NHL and how he's able to execute it with perfection.

You know, coming off a strong season with, uh, the, uh, I'm gonna, I'm gonna make sure I get this right, the Brantford Bulldogs.

Yeah.

[laughs]