In a whirlwind 24 hours, defenceman David Bedkowski went from playing his 201st game for the Owen Sound Attack to preparing for his 202nd in the jersey of the Ottawa 67's. The sudden shift marked a pivotal moment for both the player and the team as they gear up for the latter half of the season.
A Rapid-Fire Trade and a Memorable Journey
The news came around 11 a.m. on the morning of January 14, 2026, just after Bedkowski's milestone game with Owen Sound. Tasked with joining his new team in North Bay for a game that very night, the newly acquired 67's player embarked on a frantic 352-kilometer journey from Owen Sound.
"I drove the five hours from Owen Sound, stopping in Collingwood for a burrito … I was steering with my knees and eating with my hands," Bedkowski recounted with a laugh after a practice at TD Place. He arrived at the arena by 6 p.m., just as his new teammates were beginning to dress. "It was kind of a whirlwind, but I think that was the best way to do it. Just to get (introductions) over with right away."
Part of a Strategic Plan for Size and Strength
Bedkowski's acquisition was not an isolated move. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound defenceman was a central piece in the Ottawa 67's strategy to add significant size and physicality ahead of the OHL trade deadline. This plan also included bringing in forwards Nic Sima (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), Teddy Spitznagel (6-foot-3, 187 pounds), and, earlier, Sam McCue (6-foot-2, 200 pounds).
67's assistant coach Paul Stoykewych emphasized the importance of these moves. "Any time you get through a 68-game season it's a grind, and to go through a seven-game playoff series, four rounds, it's a grind," he said. "And when you're undersized, it becomes even more challenging. All of a sudden you add players who are big, physical, intimidating … it makes everyone else on the team big, physical and intimidating."
Home Debut in the Battle of the Ottawa River
The new-look 67's are set for their first major test at home. Bedkowski, along with Sima and Spitznagel, will make their home debuts on Friday, January 16, 2026, when Ottawa hosts the Gatineau Olympiques. This game kicks off a two-game series over 24 hours, famously dubbed the "Battle of the Ottawa River." Sam McCue, who was injured early in his first game with Ottawa, is also expected to return to the lineup for this crucial matchup.
The team's recent northern road trip yielded mixed results, with losses in North Bay (4-2) and Sault Ste. Marie (2-1) before securing a 6-4 victory in Sudbury. Bedkowski already made an impact on the trip, recording an assist on a Spencer Bowes goal in Sudbury. Fans and team officials alike are eager to see how the newly assembled, larger lineup performs in the intense atmosphere of a hometown rivalry series.
