Men's Ice Hockey | 4/17/2026 9:33:17 AM

Former Tri-City Storm forward Cole O’Hara made his NHL debut with the Nashville Predators during the 2025-26 season.

O’Hara recorded his first NHL point in his debut, picking up an assist in his first appearance.

The Richmond Hill, Ontario native developed into one of the USHL’s top offensive threats during his time with Tri-City. After posting 28 points (11G, 17A) in 49 games during the 2020-21 season, O’Hara followed it up with a breakout 2021-22 campaign, tallying 73 points (25G, 48A) in 58 games to rank among the league’s top scorers. He added eight points in five playoff games that season.

O’Hara went on to continue his offensive success at UMass, culminating in a 51-point season (22G, 29A) in 40 games during the 2024-25 campaign before making the jump to the professional ranks.

From Tri-City to the NHL, O’Hara’s path highlights the USHL’s role in developing elite offensive talent at the next level.

About the USHL

The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 285 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and eight of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).

Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 90% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).