‘He is exceptional, probably the best player I have ever coached’ — Timmins Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
While most of his Hill Academy U16 ‘AAA’ Prep teammates were enjoying a relaxing Family Day long weekend with friends and family, Tanner Adams spent his break trying to help the Timmins Rock snap out of their current slump.
A pair of overtime losses and a regulation setback aside, Rock fans had an opportunity to see just why scouts expect Adams, who won’t turn 16 until June 3, to be chosen in the Top 10 picks during the 2026 OHL Priority Selection at the Slush Puppie Place in Kingston, June 12-13.
In fact, Breakaway Prospects currently has Adams ranked No. 1, ahead of fellow forward Logan Prud’homme, of Upper Canada College, and Vaughan Kings blue-liner Adrian Sgro.
The 6-1 and 190-pound right-shot forward, who calls Porcupine home, got in three games for the Rock on the weekend, setting up a pair of goals and spending eight minutes in the penalty box.
That performance should help solidify Adams’ status among the best prospects heading into his draft year.
“It was awesome, very exciting,” he said, when asked what it was like to participate in a pair of road games with the Rock and then play in front of 1,264 fans at the McIntyre Arena, on Family Day.
“There were a lot of great learning opportunities and the guys just made me feel like family, right away, so it was just awesome, a very good experience.”
Speaking of family, Adams did not get to spend too much time with his actual family over the long weekend due to his busy on-ice schedule, but at least they got to see him play.
“My whole family was here today watching me play, my parents and my sister, my grandparents,” he said.
Even though he is just 15 years old, Adams brought an element of physicality Rock fans really enjoyed — especially against a heated rival like the Hearst Lumberjacks.
“That’s one of the key things about me, I like to play a physical game,” he said. “I bring more to the table that what I showed, but it is what it is.”
Adams’ game combines that physicality with elite skill, a package that has OHL scouts drooling in anticipation of him reaching that next level.
“I love the game (of hockey), it’s my life,” he said, while noting he spent more time with his Rock teammates than his family during the Family Day long weekend.
Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry understands why OHL scouts are so enamored with Adams’ game.
“He is exceptional, probably the best player I have ever coached,” he said. “He is just a physical specimen. He is big, he is strong, he is physical and he plays the game the right way. He is hard on his stick. He is good on face-offs. And, obviously, he has high-end skill level to go with all of that.
“He is a great person and he is a great kid, first and foremost. He is super special. He has an incredibly bright future and we are just incredibly lucky to be a small part of his journey.”
Adams (26 goals, 38 assists and 64 points in 42 games) and his Hill Academy U16 ‘AAA’ Prep teammates have been enjoying a solid 2025-26 campaign, one that has seen them produce a record of 34-19-1.
“We have a hell of a team and we have been doing pretty good,” he said, describing a season he hopes will culminated with an OHL Cup championship.
“It is going to be a great tournament and hopefully we can win that cup, but we will see how it goes.”
Moving so far away from home is not something that is easy to do, especially at such a young age, but Adams feels it was something he needed to do in order to reach the next stage of his hockey career.
“It has been an amazing decision for me,” he said.
Hill Academy had produced dozens of players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League over the years, including former Toronto Maple Leafs and current Las Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner.
Adams is heading back to join Hill Academy, but he will be closely watching the progress of the Rock as they attempt to bust out of their current slump and go on what they are hoping will be a long and successful playoff run.
“For sure, 100 percent, I will be keeping an eye on these guys,” he said.
Being a highly ranked OHL prospect can put a lot of pressure on any player, but Adams hasn’t had any difficulty dealing with it.
“I just try to focus on what’s in my control, ignore all that outside attention and just play my game,” he said.
As the overall OHL standings currently sit, the Oshawa Generals have the worst record and would therefore have the top pick, followed by the Erie Otters, Sarnia Sting, Brampton Steelheads, Owen Sound Attack, Sudbury Wolves, Saginaw Spirit, Guelph Storm, Kingston Frontenacs and Niagara IceDogs.
“I just want to play in the OHL next year, that’s all,” Adams said, when asked if he had a preference as to which team will draft him in June.
Adams does not have a favourite OHL team he cheers for, at least not one he is willing to admit to publically with a reporter holding a tape recorder in his face.
In fact he wouldn’t even provide much of a hint when asked about preferred geography in terms of his next team — northern Ontario, southern Ontario, the United States?
“I would be happy to go anywhere,” he said. “Obviously, a team in the north would be awesome, because it would be close to home, but anywhere would be good.”
Adams and his Hill Academy U16 ‘AAA’ Prep teammates will be back in action, on Friday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUDijnEXtXA
