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Caleb Malhotra sets rookie scoring record, Marek Vanacker hits 100 career goals and 200 points
Published Feb 13, 2026 • 2 minute read
Brantford Bulldogs forward Caleb Malhotra set the franchise rookie single-season scoring record in a game against the Erie Otters at the TD Civic Centre in Brantford on Feb. 13. Photo by Brian Smiley / The ExpositorArticle content
The Brantford Bulldogs celebrated another win on Friday – and some milestone moments for a pair of players.
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Hosting Erie at the TD Civic Centre, the Bulldogs (36-8-6-2) reclaimed first place in the OHL with a 5-1 win over the Otters (16-32-2-2).
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Of course the victory was big but just as large were the marks that Caleb Malhotra and Marek Vanacker hit.
With a goal in the game, Malhotra recorded his 65th point this season, eclipsing Jake O’Brien’s rookie scoring record set during the 2023-24 season.
Vanacker picked up a pair of goals and that allowed him to hit 100 career goals for his OHL career and 200 career points.
Malhotra’s goal, his 24th of the season, came at 8:34 of the second period. With the Bulldogs enjoying a power play, O’Brien fed Malhotra down low for the record-setting point.
“It’s pretty cool to have that kind of history in this organization,” said Malhotra, who trails Saginaw Spirit rookie Nikita Klepov by five points for the OHL rookie scoring lead this season.
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“The last couple of weeks guys have been joking about it getting closer so it’s cool (to get it).”
Losing a record is always bittersweet but O’Brien will hold onto some history – he set his record as a 16-year-old whereas Malhotra is a year older.
“I’m happy for him,” said O’Brien, the Bulldogs captain who is less than 30 points away from setting the franchise career scoring record.
“Obviously he’s going to hammer it so hopefully he can get it up where it can’t be broken.”
Vanacker’s 100 goals and 200 points puts him in select company, joining Arthur Kaliyev, Nick Lardis and Matthew Strome as the only Bulldogs to accomplish that feat. He is also the seventh Bulldog with 200 points joining the above mentioned players as well as Thomas, Logan Morrison and O’Brien.
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“It’s awesome,” Vanacker said of reaching the two milestones.
“(They’re) milestones that I’ll cherish but it was good to get an overall team win and good that I could put up a couple for the guys.”
Brantford Bulldogs forward Charlie Paquette tries to wrap the puck around the net against the Erie Otters during OHL action on Feb. 13 at the TD Civic Centre in Brantford. Photo by Brian Smiley / The Expositor
Erie opened the scoring on Friday when Evan Headrick scored in the first period. After that, Otters goalie Noah Erliden seemed poised to repeat his 32-save performance from a 3-2 Erie win in Brantford on Dec. 30 but the Bulldogs had different ideas.
Vanacker started things off with a power-play marker 24 seconds into the second and that was followed by Malhotra’s goal. Vanacker then finished the middle period off with his OHL-leading 37th goal of the season.
Nikolas Rossetto and Gabriel Frasca, against his former team for his 150th OHL point, rounded out the scoring.
Jeremy Freeman, Jett Luchanko and O’Brien got two assists each for Brantford. Adam Jiricek and Philip Govedaris picked up one assist each.
David Egorov earned the win in goal as the Bulldogs outshot the Otters 40-20.
Brantford is back in action at home on Saturday when it hosts the Guelph Storm at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs wrap up their weekend with a 2:05 p.m. game on Monday.
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