The Saginaw Spirit selected center Drew Bate with the sixth overall pick in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection on June 12. Hailing from Union, Ontario, Bate joins the Spirit after an impressive stint with the London Jr. Knights U16 AAA, where he showcased his scoring abilities with a total of 72 points in just 27 games. Spirit GM Dave Drinkill expressed excitement about Bate's competitive nature and offensive mindset, noting that players like him are crucial for success in the league. Bate鈥檚 postseason performance further solidified his reputation, leading his team in playoff scoring.

By the Numbers
  • Bate scored 72 points (34G-38A) in 27 regular season games with the London Jr. Knights.
  • In the playoffs, he led with 7G-14A (21 points) in 8 games and had 7G-6A (13 points) in 6 games at the OHL Cup.
State of Play
  • The OHL Priority Selection continues with rounds 2-15 on June 13 at 9:00am.
  • Previous first-round selections by Saginaw highlight a trend of strong picks, with Bate being the highest at 6th overall this year.
What's Next

Following Bate's selection, Saginaw will look to build on their draft performance as they continue with additional rounds in the selection process, aiming to strengthen their roster further.

Bottom Line

Drew Bate's selection emphasizes Saginaw's commitment to acquiring high-caliber talent that not only produces points but also demonstrates leadership qualities necessary for growth in the competitive OHL environment.