South Porcupine’s Tanner Adams, who was selected 3rd overall in the 2026 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection by the Brampton Steelheads, suited up for three regular season games with the Timmins Rock last season, notching two assists. He has signed with the Rock for the upcoming season. Photo by THOMAS PERRY /The Daily Press
Brampton draft pick will be staying in the north, for now
Andrew Autio
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
One of the top junior hockey prospects in the province has signed with his hometown’s junior-A club, as it was announced on Thursday that Tanner Adams will join the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Hockey League (NOJHL) for the 2026-2027 season, despite some uncertainty surrounding his eventual playing destination.
Adams was the 3rd overall pick in the 2026 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection in June by the Brampton Steelheads.
The now 16 year-old product of South Porcupine, in the city’s east end, is a skilled centreman – listed at 6’1, and 200 pounds, who rocketed up the draft charts during a standout season with the Hill Academy, where he captained the Caledon-based private school’s under-16 squad.
He played in 52 regular season games, scoring 34 goals, and adding 54 assists, for 88 points. He added 6 goals in 4 games in the OHL Cup tournament.
Adams was also able to suit up for three regular season games with the NOJHL’s Rock as an affiliate player (known as an ‘AP’) where he picked up a pair of assists and impressed many with his ability to handle the increased physicality of the junior-A level at the age of 15 by doling out a number of thunderous bodychecks.
“That’s one of the key things about me, I like to play a physical game,” Adams told The Daily Press after a game in February.
“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,” he said of his stint with the club before returning to Hill Academy to finish the season.
After watching him play in the three regular season games, and having him around for a number of practices, then Rock head coach and general manager Brandon Perry was highly impressed.
“He is exceptional, probably the best player I have ever coached,” he said of Adams.
“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.”
Perry was named the new head coach of the Queen’s University Gaels men’s hockey program in July, his alma mater, and won’t be behind the bench in Timmins this season, so it will be up to new head coach Sheldon Reasbeck to incorporate Adams into his lineup this fall, as the Rock who were league runners-up last season, aim for the league title.
With all of this said, the Brampton Steelheads would also love to have Adams join their club this season. However, that seems highly unlikely at this point.
Adams had expressed the desire to play close to home, in the north, preferably with the Sudbury Wolves. The Wolves had the 5th overall pick in the draft, but Adams was selected by that point, and they chose Kash Kwajah, another highly skilled centre. Adams did not attend the draft, held in Kingston, in-person, and instead watched from home.
For the time being, he is a member of the Rock.
Dave Maloney, of Maloney & Thompson Sports Management, based in Guelph, is Adams’ agent. He told The Daily Press on Friday that the plan has been for Adams to play in the north all along.
“Tanner, if he’s not playing in the OHL, he wants to play for Timmins,” he said.
“He just doesn’t want to be playing in southern Ontario. He has no problem playing road games there obviously, he just doesn’t want to have his residence there. He wants to stick to his roots in the north, and this is what he has been consistent with since before the draft even happened.”
Maloney said the Rock organization welcomed them with open, and very receptive, arms.
“Obviously, Tanner is going to be a game breaker right away, and it’s exciting for the league. I’m really happy that he can have this opportunity.”
There is a trade window which runs from Sept. 1 to Sept. 15 where the Steelheads could ship Adams to another club, likely for a significant haul.
“Obviously, getting a trade is still a big priority, in the OHL, but if it takes all year, it’s not the end of the world, because he’s got a great spot there in Timmins,” said Maloney.
If the Steelheads don’t trade Adams by Sept. 15, he will become a permanent member of the Rock for the season. There is also trade window early in the new year, which ends at 3 p.m. on Jan. 10, 2027, where Adams could potentially be moved.
Maloney also confirmed that the preferred trade partner is still the Wolves, but conversations have transpired with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and the North Bay Battalion, the two other northern-based OHL franchises.
“At this point, it’s Sudbury. Those are two great organizations as well, and I’ve spoken to them as well, but I know that the family really wants Sudbury. There are some personal connections, and they have a family friend who is a billet, and they’d love Tanner to be there,” he said.
“They realize that, at some point in time, Tanner is going to have to spread his wings, but you know, he’s still a very young man, and this is what they want for their son.”
Maloney said this type of scenario isn’t exactly uncommon in the junior hockey world, where a player and their family might be apprehensive about moving to a club far from home, and asking for a trade option.
“It’s just, people aren’t used to it when someone asks to be on the Sudbury Wolves. That’s an uncommon thing. It’s usually another destination.”
Maloney said he is also not concerned about Adams’ development being harmed in any way by playing in the NOJHL.
“A lot of times, getting used to U-20 hockey is a good thing anyways. A lot of the players that got drafted high are going to have a hard time getting ice time in the OHL, even the first rounders. So the fact is that Tanner is in a good spot right now. We’d love to get a trade done, but this helps make it more palatable.”
He said that the Steelheads and Wolves have spoken, but no big developments were imminent at this time, and added that his client is very excited about playing in his hometown.
The Rock, who are slated to open their training camp on Aug. 24, were also thrilled with the addition.
“Tanner is one of the most highly touted young hockey players in the country, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to the Rock family,” said the team on their social media pages, announcing the signing.
