Mississauga – The Ontario Junior Hockey League is front and centre on the national stage once again. The Canadian Junior Hockey League unveiled its six finalists for the 2025-26 Top Defenceman Award on Wednesday with OJHL Top Defenseman Reid Forster of the Burlington Cougars tops on the list.
Forster’s season wasn’t just strong—it was dominant within the OJHL and impactful on a national scale.
The Cambridge, Ont., native led all OJHL defencemen in scoring, posting 54 points in 54 games while finishing among the league’s top 20 overall in assists with 42. In his second season with Burlington, Forster also embraced a leadership role as team captain, anchoring the Cougars on and off the ice.
A 2022 draft pick of the Peterborough Petes, Forster combined high-end puck movement with consistency and poise, earning a spot on the OJHL All-Star Team and now, recognition among the very best blueliners across the country.
Forster’s nomination reinforces the OJHL’s reputation as a premier development league for elite defencemen. His ability to drive offence while maintaining reliability in all situations reflects the league’s emphasis on producing complete, next-level players.
Across the CJHL, five other standout defencemen were also named finalists:
- Simon Mullen (Summerside, MHL): A high-scoring blueliner who piled up 68 points and quarterbacked one of the league’s most dangerous power plays.
- Mathys Laurent (Rockland, CCHL): A captain and all-situations defender who led CCHL defencemen in scoring while committing to Concordia University.
- Spencer Horgan (Greater Sudbury, NOJHL): The NOJHL’s all-time leading defenceman scorer, adding another dominant 72-point campaign.
- Thomas Ries (Yorkton, SJHL): A two-way force with a +33 rating and international experience with Team Canada West.
- Quentin Bourne (Whitecourt, AJHL): The AJHL’s top defenceman and a key piece of a league-best power play.
While the CJHL award recognizes excellence across nine leagues, Forster’s inclusion highlights the strength of the OJHL pipeline. His performance this season not only set the standard within the league but proved he can compete with—and stand alongside—the top junior A defencemen in Canada.
As the national awards approach, the OJHL will be watching closely, with one of its own firmly in the spotlight.
