Meet the 2026-27 SportsKlub Orillia Ice Hockey teams
The Leprechauns, Ice Llamas, Cows and Knights are ready to hit the ice as SportsKlub begins another season of Friday night hockey in Orillia
The teams are set, the jerseys have numbers and another season of SportsKlub Orillia Ice Hockey is ready to begin.
Four teams will take the ice in 2026-27, with the Leprechauns, Ice Llamas, Cows and Knights making up this year's Friday night group.
Each roster features a mix of players ready to settle into new lineups, reconnect with familiar faces and create another season of memories on the ice.
Hamilton leads the Leprechauns
The Kutting Edge Leprechauns will head into the new season with Stephen Hamilton wearing the captain's “C” and Ian Hemming between the pipes.
Hamilton will be joined by Mitchell Webb, Nolan Inglis, Kirk Duffy, Victoria Turner, Anthony Turner, William Orr, Robert Vella, Javier Cappella and Chris Bonneville.
With the roster now set, the Leprechauns will get their first opportunity to see how the group comes together when the puck drops on the season next month.
Woolhouse captains the Ice Llamas
The defending back-to-back SportsKlub Arena Series Cup champion Ice Llamas return with Owen Woolhouse serving as captain and Trevor Hynes taking the goaltending duties.
Tim Hillson, Brittney Low, Emily Barnett, Emily Paolucci, Zachary Lim, Antoine Gagnon, Marty Hutchinson, Waseam Masri and Jason Doucet round out the lineup.
It's a group of 11 players who will get the chance to build chemistry together over the course of the SportsKlub Orillia Ice Hockey season.
Evans gets the “C” for the Cows
The Famous Archies Cows will be led by captain Tamara Evans, with Braeden Price getting the call in goal.
Joshua Buys, Jacob Hammill, Braeden Hammill, John Hammill, Ramy Kamal, Sean Hodgins, Austin Dyck, Thomas Davidson and Victor Tolgyessy complete the roster.
The expansion franchise is expected to make some noise this season with several returning faces rostered from last year's SportsKlub Arena Series.
Bremner takes the lead for the Knights
The fourth team entering the season will be the Knights, captained by Jesse Bremner with Calvin Hale in goal.
Quinn Vitums, Sergei Sergeew, Brayden Stillwell, Lauren Tanner, Dustin Cooper, William Blakely, Robert Blakely, Rob McMinn and Ryan Evans complete the Knights' lineup.
The expansion franchise aims to get off to a hot start next month.
Strong registration brings expanded format
The 2026-27 season will look a little different than SportsKlub originally planned — for a good reason.
SportsKlub initially announced a single Friday night ice time built around a rotating, gym-class-style format, with four teams playing a series of short three-minute games. But registration numbers came in higher than expected, giving organizers an opportunity to expand the program and add a second ice time.
Players will now hit the ice each Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Brian Orser Arena and 10:15 p.m. at Orillia Rotary Place, allowing all four teams to play each week.
Instead of the originally planned three-minute rotations, two teams will take the ice at a time for a 45-minute game.
The philosophy behind Friday Night Puck Around, however, hasn't changed.
Games will remain relaxed and non-contact, with an emphasis on getting plenty of time with the puck, making plays and enjoying a Friday night skate without the pressure that can come with traditional organized hockey.
The simplified equipment requirements announced when registration opened will also remain in place. Players are required to wear a CSA-approved hockey helmet, hockey gloves and skates, while using a hockey stick. Elbow pads and shin pads are optional, while traditional hockey pants and shoulder pads are left at home.
The games will also feature simplified rules designed to keep the action moving.
There will be no traditional offside stoppages. Instead, when a play goes offside, the attacking team must clear the offensive zone before attacking again.
When a goaltender covers the puck, the attacking team must also clear the zone, allowing play to restart without a faceoff. Faceoffs will instead take place following each goal.
The result is still what SportsKlub envisioned when Friday Night Puck Around was announced: relaxed hockey, fewer stoppages and a place for players of different skill and experience levels to enjoy the game together.
Friday nights are back
Over 40 players across four teams are set for the 2026-27 SportsKlub Orillia Ice Hockey season, with each team carrying 11 players and its own captain and goaltender.
Soon there will be goals to score, saves to make, standings to follow and plenty of moments worth talking about after the final buzzer.
But the new season starts with what SportsKlub is built around: having somewhere to go each week, playing the sport you enjoy and spending a Friday night with a group of people who make you want to come back the following week.
For the full season schedule, click here.
Follow the latest updates, highlights, and more, follow SportsKlub on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
SportsKlub players, friends and family are invited to the SportsKlub Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 7–11 p.m. at Barnfield Point Recreation Centre.
Throw on a costume, grab your teammates and come celebrate another SportsKlub season with music, food, a costume contest and one more night with the Klub.
Tickets are available now. Grab yours here.
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