Is It Always Better to Leave Your Hometown to Play Hockey Elsewhere in Ontario?

Posted On: January 27, 2026
Posted By: Saultsports
Comments: 0

Over the last six months, social media has been flooded with criticism aimed at associations, coaches, sports organizations, and even the perceived quality of talent in Northern Ontario. Too often, the conversation has turned negative, forgetting one crucial truth — these are young athletes. They are kids and teenagers still learning, growing, and developing, both as players and as people. Tearing down development systems, coaching staffs, and programs without offering solutions only creates a louder echo chamber of negativity, not progress.

What’s even more troubling is that many of the loudest voices aren’t stepping forward to help build anything better. Criticism without contribution helps no one — especially not the athletes. Words matter. Public comments, posts, and articles don’t just disappear; they follow these kids on and off the ice, into the classroom, into their homes, and into their mental health. If the goal is truly development, then the focus must shift from tearing down to supporting, guiding, mentoring, and creating solutions — because positive environments build strong athletes, and strong athletes build strong programs.

For many young hockey players in Ontario, one of the biggest decisions they face is whether to stay home and develop locally or leave their hometown to chase higher levels of competition elsewhere. From Northern Ontario communities to major urban centres, the belief often exists that opportunity only comes when you pack your bags. But is leaving home always the better option?

There’s no question that larger hockey markets in Southern Ontario offer exposure. Bigger leagues, deeper rosters, and more scouts in the stands can create the perception that playing away from home automatically increases your chances. Programs in major centres often have access to top-tier facilities, full-time development staff, and competitive schedules that test players night after night. For elite athletes, this environment can be a catalyst for growth—if they are ready for it.

However, staying in your hometown has advantages that are often overlooked. Players who remain local frequently receive more ice time, play in key situations, and take on leadership roles earlier. That responsibility can accelerate development just as much as facing tougher opponents. In smaller centres across Northern Ontario, athletes are often central to their team’s identity rather than fighting for minutes on a deep roster elsewhere. Confidence, consistency, and opportunity can be powerful development tools.

There’s also the personal side of the decision. Leaving home at a young age means adjusting to billets, new schools, and living away from family support systems. For some players, that independence fuels maturity and focus. For others, it becomes a distraction that impacts both performance and enjoyment of the game. Development isn’t only physical—it’s mental and emotional, and not every player thrives in the same environment.

Importantly, the hockey landscape in Ontario has evolved. Scouts and organizations now cast wider nets, paying closer attention to regional leagues and northern programs than ever before. Strong performances, good coaching, and consistent progression can be noticed regardless of postal code. The rise of video, analytics, and regional showcases has narrowed the exposure gap between small towns and large centres.

Ultimately, leaving your hometown isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. The “right” move depends on the player’s age, maturity, skill level, and goals. For some, stepping outside their comfort zone unlocks their potential. For others, staying home a little longer—playing meaningful minutes and developing confidence—can be the smarter path.

Success in hockey doesn’t hinge solely on where you play, but on how you develop, who supports you, and whether the environment fits the player. In Ontario’s diverse hockey system, both paths can lead to the same destination.

In the last five years, 22 players from Sault Ste. Marie has been drafted by Ontario Hockey League programs — a number that speaks volumes about the depth of talent coming out of this community. Yet, so much of the conversation in Sault Ste. Marie and across Algoma focuses only on the players selected in the top five rounds. When only about 100 players are taken in those rounds league-wide, that mindset ignores the majority of athletes who still get drafted, develop, and go on to build meaningful junior, collegiate, and professional careers. Development doesn’t stop at Round 5 — in many cases, it doesn’t even start there.

Here’s the reality: OHL and NHL rosters are not made up only of top-five-round draft picks. Late-round selections, free agents, walk-ons, overagers, undrafted players, and late bloomers make up a massive part of both leagues. Work ethic, development environments, opportunity, coaching, mindset, and physical maturity matter just as much — if not more — than draft position. The draft is a starting point, not a finish line. If we truly care about development in Northern Ontario, the conversation must expand beyond early draft status and start recognizing the full pipeline — the grinders, the late developers, the overlooked athletes — because that’s where some of the strongest stories, careers, and leaders are actually built.

If we teach kids that playing hockey is only about making it to “the Show,” then we’re setting them up to believe that anything less than the NHL is failure — when in reality, the true value of hockey is in the lessons it builds: discipline, resilience, teamwork, leadership, character, and community, which last far longer than any professional career ever will.

Remember we all end up playing for the Mayors Cup, in Sault Ste Marie.

2021

Calem Mangone – Drafted 2nd overall by the Saginaw Spirit (Under-18 Priority Selection)
Cooper Foster – 2nd round by the Ottawa 67’s
Austin Fellinger – 11th round by the Soo Greyhounds
Adam Barone – Drafted 1st round by the Sudbury Wolves (Under-18 Priority Selection)

2022

Lincoln Moore – Drafted 1st overall by the Saginaw Spirit (Under-18 Priority Selection)
Charlie Burns – 9th round by Niagara Ice Dogs (Erie Otters)
Gage Evans – 14th round by the Windsor Spitfires
Evan Roach – 15th round by the Soo Greyhounds

2023

Nathan Maguire – 5th round by the Flint Firebirds
Brenden Cooke – 8th round by the Flint Firebirds
Candon O’Neill – 12th round by the Saginaw Spirit
Rylan Fellinger – 13th round by the Flint Firebirds
Declan Gallivan – 7th round by North Bay Battalion
Deven Jones-McDonald – 11th round by Oshawa Generals
Jacob Smith – Drafted 1st round by the Ottawa 67’s (Under-18 Priority Selection)

2024