Kitchener Ranger named OHL’s most outstanding player

CTV’s Colton Wiens takes a look at what earned Sam O’Reilly the title of the OHL’s most outstanding player.

Sam O’Reilly of the Kitchener Rangers is the 2025-26 recipient of the Red Tilson Trophy.

It is awarded to the most outstanding player of the regular season, as voted by the Ontario Hockey League’s writers and broadcasters.

“I am incredibly honoured to receive the Red Tilson Trophy,” O’Reilly said in a media release. “I wouldn’t be accepting this award today without the support of my family, billets and teammates throughout my years in the league, I’d like to thank my coaches and support staff in London and now Kitchener.”

O’Reilly played several seasons with the Knights and was named the team’s captain at the start of the season. Then, in January 2026, London traded the 20-year-old centre, along with defenceman Jared Woolley, for defenceman Jacob Xu and 10 future draft picks.

A press conference was held at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium at 1 p.m. on Tuesday to announce O’Reilly as the season’s standout. He was joined by Rangers COO Joe Birch, General Manager Mike McKenzie, Head Coach Jussi Ahokas and OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford.

“There’s a lot of great players in our league, but especially the impact that he’s made for our team. I think he really deserves it. He’s a 200 feet player. He competes. He does everything on the ice,” Ahokas said.

“We are very proud and excited for Sam to receive the Red Tilson Award,” McKenzie said in the media release. “Even though he has only spent half a season in Kitchener his impact on our team has been immeasurable. He is a complete player... and couldn’t be more deserving of this award. Congratulations to Sam and his family on this tremendous honour.”

The City of Kitchener is a great spot to be. So, I’m just really happy to be here and all the guys have done a really good job for me,” O’Reilly said.

Ahokas said O’Reilly’s experience winning it all with London is an obvious plus in the dressing room.

“When they talk in the room and say they’ve been there and it’s not new for them. So, I think it’s huge,” Ahokas said.

In terms of points, O’Reilly recorded 43 in 28 games with Kitchener during regular season action, as well as 28 in 218 games with the Knights. Despite the high scoring season, he finished 21st in the league in points and 24^th in the league in goals.

“Sometimes people just get caught up in the points thing, right? And the scoring leader thing and he’s obviously the best player. We said it when we talked to you on CTV a week ago, so, ‘Called it,’ is what I’m saying,” Andrew Merrigan, Host, The AudPod said.

“He does all the little things correctly and well. So it’s like why wouldn’t he win it,” Justin Born, Host, The AudPod said.

“He’s something else,” Jack Pigeau, a Rangers fan since 1966 said.

O’Reilly leads the Rangers in points this post season and helped the team recently clinch the Western Conference Championship. O’Reilly has recorded 22 points in 14 playoff games and is averaging a goal a game.

O’Reilly was selected in the first round, 32nd overall, in the 2024 NHL draft. While he was picked up by the Edmonton Oilers, his rights were traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Justin Azevedo, the last Ranger to win the Red Tilson Trophy, is expected to be at Tuesday’s announcement. He was recognized for his efforts on the ice during the 2007-08 season.

O’Reilly joins Azevedo, John Tucker (1983-84), Walt Tkaczuk (1967-68) and Bill Harrington (1951-52) as the only Rangers to ever win the award.

Past recipients include Mitchell Marner (2015-16), Connor McDavid (2014-15), John Tavares (2006-07), Eric Lindros (1990-91) and Doug Gilmour (1982-83).

The other finalists for the trophy were Cole Beaudoin of the Barrie Colts, Jake O’Brien of the Brantford Bulldogs, Nathan Aspinall of the Flint Firebirds and Nikita Klepov of the Saginaw Spirit.

The award is named for Albert “Red” Tilson, who was the scoring champion for the 1942-43 OHA season. He died while serving in the Second World War.

A ceremony will be held in June for O’Reilly at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

While he is happy to win the award, O’Reilly said he’s more focused on winning another OHL championship and Memorial Cup.

“Obviously, this is a nice accomplishment and you know something I’m going to have with me forever, but the main focus has been winning that OHL and hopefully a Memorial Cup,” O’Reilly said.