Year in Review: Luke Misa

Sophomore centreman Luke Misa used his speed and playmaking abilities to become a reliable top-six forward for the Trout.

Sophomore Start

In his second season with the Mississauga Steelheads, centreman Luke Misa had a breakout year and became a key piece of the team’s offence. Drafted in the first round (#9 overall) of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, the Oakville native took his game to the next level after posting 26 points (4G, 22A) in his rookie season. 

The 2022-23 pre-season saw the centreman put up 7 points (4G, 3A) in just 5 games, showing promising signs of what was to come. Once the season began, Misa got to work on the third line and by the end of the 2022 calendar year, the sophomore was matching his scoring pace from his rookie season with 3 goals and 8 assists. 

Breaking Out

In the new year, the Steelhead broke out of his shell and stepped into his own. He was given the opportunity to play as the team’s first-line centreman alongside Zander Veccia and James Hardie. The increased playing time and chemistry with his linemates allowed Misa to excel, speeding up his scoring pace significantly. In the month of January alone, the forward tallied 15 points (5G, 10A). 

Consistently using his speed as his greatest asset, the centreman scored two shorthanded goals this season against – one on a rush versus the North Bay Battalion and the second on a breakaway against the SOO Greyhounds. Misa ended the season tied for first in the team in shorthanded goals alongside Angus MacDonell and Justin DeZoete. 

By the end of the season, Misa had surpassed his rookie numbers registering 43 points (13G, 30A), with more than half of his goals and assists (10G, 22A) coming in the second half of the year. Of his 30 assists, 18 were primary assists, second on the team behind Hardie, demonstrating his enhanced playmaking abilities. 

As the team’s top centre, the sophomore made his mark in the faceoff dot with 483 faceoff wins, the most of any Steelhead this year, and had a 51.2 faceoff percentage. With a total of 705 career faceoff wins, Misa ranks eighth in franchise history in this category. 

More to Come

After a breakout year that saw the centreman evolve into a key forward for the Steelheads, Misa will look to continue his development in the 2023-24 season. The November-born player hopes to turn heads as he enters his first year of eligibility for the NHL Draft.