The rumours are true: the Brampton Steelheads will be donning Cornwall Royals jerseys at the Seaway Shootout series on Oct. 16-17.
“Cornwall holds a special place in the history of major junior hockey, and the Royals built a legacy that still resonates in this community more than three decades later,” Ontario Hockey League commissioner Bryan Crawford said in a statement released Thursday.
The series is a celebration of that history, Crawford said, and the return of the blue, white, and red to the Ed Lumley Arena is “a fitting way to honour the players, fans and volunteers who made Cornwall one of the great junior hockey markets in the country.”
The Cornwall Royals jersey the Brampton Steelheads will wear during the Seaway Shootout games to be played in Cornwall on Oct. 16-17, 2026. Ontario Hockey League / Supplied
The logo was originally chosen in 1969 through a fan contest. Roger Healy, a 15-year-old high school student at the time, designed it and was awarded a transistor radio for his efforts. The logo was used for 23 years, including in three Memorial Cup championships in 1972, 1980 and 1981, before the team left Cornwall in 1991.
The logo’s current owner is Marty Benson, who granted permission for the league to use the old-school Cornwall-on-skates graphic.
“This tribute wouldn’t be possible without Marty’s support, and we’re grateful for his generosity,” said Crawford. “He has done so much to keep the Royals story alive in Cornwall, and we’re proud to help share it with a new generation of hockey fans.”
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While currently limited to the Seaway Shootout, there’s a chance the jerseys may one day be worn year-round. Crawford told the Standard-Freeholder that the series is, in effect, a market test to explore the possibility of awarding an expansion franchise to the city. Crawford is pushing to create four new teams in the next five to 10 years, Cornwall has been in the league’s crosshairs for over a year.
Crawford has set that bar high, saying he’s looking for sellout crowds at both games.
The Steelheads will face the Ottawa 67’s on Oct. 16, and then the Kingston Frontenacs on Oct. 17. Both teams have played numerous exhibition games in Cornwall in the last decade.
From left, Brampton Steelheads players MacGregor Richmond, and Kieran Witkowski show the Cornwall Royals jerseys the team will wear during the Seaway Shootout games to be played in Cornwall on Oct. 16-17, 2026. Ontario Hockey League / Supplied
After the series, fans can bid on the game-worn jerseys, with proceeds going to OHL Assists, a program that helps organize community-driven initiatives in OHL communities.
Before the games, the league is hosting events around the community.
A free public skate has been scheduled at the civic complex on Friday, Oct. 16 from 4 to 5 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 17, three AAA showcase games will be played by teams from Hockey Eastern Ontario at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. before the Steelheads face the Frontenacs.
Tickets for the Seaway Shootout are available at ohl.ticketpro.ca.
Nick Dunne is an award-winning (and award-losing) journalist at the Standard-Freeholder.
He has worked in Cornwall, Ottawa and Sudbury.
NiDunne@postmedia.com