Top pick Warren signs

The North Bay Battalion has signed centre Cam Warren, its first-round pick in the 2025 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, to an education and development agreement, the club announced Wednesday.

North Bay chose Warren sixth overall on April 11 from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16s.

In 33 regular-season games, Warren, who turned 16 on May 7, scored 24 goals and earned 39 assists for 63 points. The Vaughan, Ont., resident stands five-foot-10 and weighs 153 pounds.

“We’re thrilled to officially welcome Cam to the Battalion family,” said general manager John Winstanley.

“Cam is a player who brings a combination of high-end hockey IQ and elite skills. An electrifying player on the ice, he’s dynamic and creative with the puck on and off his stick.

“We’ve had our eyes on Cam for a while and are really looking forward to seeing what he can do here. He has a bright future, and our group is excited to continue working with him on the next stages of his development.”

Warren visited Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens the day after he was selected, noting: “I think I’m a fast player who likes to play smart and use my vision to make guys around me better. I love to play with speed and pace all around the ice.”

Warren was named the most valuable player in the OHL Cup at Toronto, which the Jr. Canadiens won after gaining entry as a qualifier. He tied for the tournament lead in points with 13 from six goals and seven assists in seven games.

A right shot, Warren is the second player selected this year to sign with the Battalion. The Troops announced June 9 that defenceman Carter Kunopaski, their second-rounder, had enlisted.

Kunopaski, a six-foot-two, 201-pound resident of Pakenham, Ont., turned 16 on Feb. 14. In 32 regular-season games with the Ottawa Valley Titans U16s, the left-shot rearguard scored four goals and added 21 assists for 25 points.

Both Warren and Kunopaski will be at training camp when it opens Aug. 25.