‘I am a big-bodied, strong playmaking forward with good hockey sense and vision on the ice, who likes to use my size as an advantage’
The biggest showcase tournament before the Ontario Hockey League Draft is fast approaching.
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association sends an All-Star team of its best U16 AAA players annually.
This season, four North Bay U16 Trappers were selected, including forwards Reed Sauve, Aidan Duchesne, Seth Verbiwski and Trey Bigelow.
The four Trappers will join Team NOHA for the event in Toronto, which goes from March 30 to April 4.
Bigelow, a New Liskeard product, had 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 36 games for the Trappers, who missed out on the Great North U18 AAA Playoffs.
“I understood coming into the league as a U16 team, it would be a tough season competing against older players, so I just played my game and played to the best of my ability to support my team,” explained Bigelow.
See related: Four Trappers named to Team NOHA
At 6’0″ and over 160 pounds, Bigelow was more physically ready to play against those older, more mature players in the Great North U18 League.
“I am a big-bodied, strong playmaking forward with good hockey sense and vision on the ice, who likes to use my size as an advantage,” said Bigelow describing his game.
Bigelow, who was also affiliated with the Iroquois Falls Storm of the NOJHL, says he looks up to a North Bay Battalion rookie as one of his role models.
“I’d have to say I look up to Camryn Warren from the Battalion,” said Bigelow.
“He’s great at making plays and has a high hockey IQ.Connor McDavid from the NHL. He’s got speed, great hands, he’s just all around great,”
Team NOHA had a detailed evaluation process that started early in the 2025-26 season. Bigelow is flattered to have made the team.
“It’s truly an honour making the Team NOHA to play in the OHL Cup to represent my team and especially my home town, New Liskeard,” said Bigelow.
This off-season, the OHL has made a rule change and is now holding the draft event in mid-June for the first in-person draft since 2000.
Kingston will host the draft on June 12 and 13. That’s a few months after the traditional online draft, which has been taking place in April.
“I haven’t really thought about it much,” said Bigelow about the pressure of playing in front of scouts.
“I just keep playing my game, setting up plays and trying to use my body to help put my team at an advantage offensively, and push myself to continuously improve as a great defensive forward.”
Bigelow also gave a shout-out to the coaches who helped him get to this point.
“l’d like to take this opportunity to obviously thank all my Temiskaming Shores Minor Hockey coaches, but more recently Coach Simon, Coach Al and Coach Jeff Mancini from the U16 Trappers for believing in me.”
