Belle River's Noah Laus has quickly established himself as a standout performer during his debut season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, surpassing all early expectations in the Ontario Hockey League.
A Homecoming Game to Remember
The 16-year-old forward is set for an emotional homecoming this Thursday when his Greyhounds face the third-ranked Windsor Spitfires at the WFCU Centre. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., marking Laus's first professional appearance in his home region since being drafted.
"I'm very excited coming back to Windsor," Laus shared. "I've watched a lot of Spitfire games. It was a pretty cool experience, but I'm excited to play there and I'll have a lot of family and friends there."
An Unconventional Path to the OHL
Laus's journey to the OHL has been anything but conventional. The Belle River native began showing exceptional promise as early as eight years old, when he played up a year with the 2008-born Sun County Panthers squad. His development took him across the border to the Belle Tire program in Taylor, Michigan the following year.
"My brother (Niko) got invited to play over there and my dad asked if I wanted to go, too," Laus explained.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced another significant change when border closures disrupted his cross-border hockey career. His family made the difficult decision to relocate to Toronto, where both Noah and his older brother could continue their development.
"It's all my parents (dad Boris and mom Amy)," Laus expressed gratefully. "I couldn't do it without them and I couldn't thank them enough."
Rapid Rise to OHL Stardom
Laus's game flourished with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens program, where he served as captain and led his team to the OHL Cup title as a wildcard entry. His individual performance was nothing short of spectacular—he tied for the tournament lead with six goals and 13 points in just seven games.
"For me, I loved the game and just having the coaches and tools, it was unreal," Laus said of his time with the Canadiens. "I think that helped me so much and that's why I am who I am today."
His outstanding performance made him a highly sought prospect in this year's OHL Draft, where the Greyhounds selected him seventh overall. Remarkably, Sun County's Jaakko Wycisk was taken second overall by Guelph Storm, marking the first time since 2007 that Essex County has produced two top-10 draft selections.
The six-foot, 190-pound forward has adapted seamlessly to the OHL level, crediting his billets, teammates, and head coach John Dean for making the transition smooth. "My agent told me Sault Ste. Marie was most likely where I was going," Laus recalled. "My billets are awesome, the guys are great and Coach Dean really pushes me to be my best."
As Laus prepares to take the ice before hometown supporters, his rapid development and immediate impact in the OHL suggest that this homecoming game represents just the beginning of what promises to be an exceptional hockey career.
