The Ottawa 67's open the season in Kingston. Andrew Laurin, their first-round pick in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, regularly attended Frontenacs games while growing up.

The Ottawa 67’s season opener in Kingston on Sunday will conjure up fond, if slightly twisted, memories for the team’s youngest player.

It will be a homecoming for Andrew Laurin, the 67’s first-round pick (18th overall) in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, who was born in “K-Town” and regularly attended Frontenacs games while growing up.

This time, the 6-foot-1, 176-pound right-winger will be playing for the team he most often remembers coming out of the visitors’ dressing room at Leon’s Centre, before it officially became known as Slush Puppie Place early in 2024.

“That’s all I wanted to do … go to the rink and watch the Fronts play,” said Laurin, who turned 16 on April 9. “Most of the time it was against Ottawa, just because of the season rivalry and playing them eight times a year. When we had our preseason game at Slush Puppie (Aug. 30), it was very nostalgic, going out for warmups and seeing the Fronts logo on the sweaters on the other end of the ice.

“But yeah, it’s definitely exciting, kind of like a dream come true to be able to participate and play games in this league. It’s kind of everything I wanted, and for the first regular-season game to be against Kingston, it’s very special.”

It's definitely exciting, kind of like a dream come true to be able to participate and play games in this league

He was prolific offensively with the Quinte Red Devils OMHA Under 15 and Under 16 AAA teams the past two years, recording 51 goals and 105 points over a combined 62 regular-season games.

But he also grew up watching and trying to emulate the styles of Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson, a couple of bruising NHL veteran right-wingers who can score while also imposing their will.

“I’d say I’m a power forward with skill,” said Laurin. “I love to play offence. I love to generate opportunities in the O-zone, and I can create them off the rush, too. But defence leads to offence, so being good in the D-zone is also something I take pride in. Being able to get out of the zone quickly, and when the puck comes up my wall, I want to make sure I get it out every time. I think just playing hard in all three zones is something I take pride in.

“(Wilson and Anderson) are two guys that bring energy to their team in the big moments, and both guys are big, right-hand shots, play physical, and the playoff hockey kind of fits their style of game.”

The 67’s coaching staff has been pleasantly surprised with the maturity of a kid who wasn’t old enough to drive a little more than five months ago.

“He has tools that you can’t teach,” said 67’s assistant coach Norm Milley. “When we drafted him, our GM and scouts were explaining the player to us, and we were all excited. When he came to camp, the first thing I noticed was his compete level. In practice, it didn’t matter who he was going against. In the games, he always wanted to be first on puck. He didn’t shy away from physicality. And his skill … he has an elite shot. His release is real quick, it’s accurate, and he has vision. He sees the ice real well.

“The biggest thing is he’s also coachable. When he asks you questions, he asks good questions. He doesn’t just ask a question to try to break the ice with the coach. He asks a legit question. And when you give him an answer, he thinks about it and he talks to you about that answer.

“So, he brings a lot. He has a big package for his game, and we’re pretty excited to see where his development can go.”

Head coach Dave Cameron allows players to dictate their own ice time.

“With Dave, there’s no real age limit,” said Milley. “If you’re playing well, you’re gonna play. I’m sure it’s going to take some time … Dave usually says it takes 10 to 15 games to get a feel for a player, and every player is gonna play. We play four lines, and if you’re playing well, you may move up in the lineup. We’ll wait and see how that plays out.”

The coaching staff does see a lot of promise in a line that features Laurin, 16-year-old left-winger Colby Coombe and 17-year-old centre Reid Hayes.

“We talked about that the other day … that line, in a year or two, could be dominant,” said Milley. “Just the way they’re holding on to pucks, they’re big bodies, they compete. They look to make plays. They hold their ice. They’re responsible. They’re coachable. That line has been real exciting for us.”

There’s definitely an adjustment in stepping up a level, playing with and against guys up to four years older than him, and living away from home for the first time.

“It’s been really good, just getting to know all the guys,” he said. “I think it’s what I expected, but it’s also been a change (from minor hockey), so it’s taking some getting used to. The practices are much higher-paced, and the guys on the team, we’re all buddies and stuff, but I think every one of us wants to get better. Everyone’s more competitive in practice. There’s less joking around, and it’s a lot more business.”

He also doesn’t feel overwhelmed by expectations on him as a top pick.

“I think you kind of get in your head if you’re not performing the way you feel (you should),” said Laurin. “But at the end of the day, you also need to realize that you’re playing against men, and you’re not playing against boys anymore. So there’s, you set different expectations than you would in minor hockey, but I’d say there’s not really pressure. It’s kind of just more excitement and knowing who you are and why you were picked so high, and then just kind of do what you do best.”

And one of those things is putting the puck in the net, which he managed to do in a 4-3 pre-season loss to, yes, the Kingston Frontenacs.

“Although it’s not your first regular-season goal, just scoring at this level definitely lifts some weight off your shoulders,” he said. “After scoring that goal, I felt more confident, felt like I had more poise with the puck and being able to make plays, which is who I am. I love making plays, rather than just going end-to-end and scoring.”

Laurin has set no goals in terms of his offensive production as an OHL rookie. He just wants to play hard and smart, develop momentum that leads to scoring chances.

“Play the right way,” he said.

But scoring a goal in his first game, in his hometown … well, of course that would be sweet.

“Yeah,” he said. “It would be.”