2019-20 Season Summary: Mississauga Steelheads

The 2019-20 season was surely bound to be one of development for the Mississauga Steelheads, who added a number of new faces to close out 2018-19 and featured 12 players born in 2002 or 2003 on their roster. It may not have been a commanding season for the Fish, who swam out of the campaign third in the Central Division with a 27-29-4-1 record, but they managed to keep their heads above water with more than one player making a big splash throughout.

Edmonds earns the ice time
Having split goaltender duties in Barrie his last couple seasons, Kai Edmonds took on the full-time starting role with the Steelheads this year with a lot of minutes to show for it. The 19-year-old netminder played the most of any goaltender this season; standing between the pipes for 54 contests where he posted 25 wins and a 3.26 goals-against average.

Harley continues to impress
Thomas Harley had another strong year on the Mississauga blue line. The Dallas Stars first rounder saw an extended stay in camp with the big club before returning to the Trout to put up 57 points over his 59 appearances, good for a seventh place finish among defenceman in points and a sixth place finish in goals with 18 on the campaign. Harley was voted the Eastern Conference’s best skater and second-best offensive defenceman in the OHL Coaches Poll while also representing the OHL in the CIBC Canada Russia Series and receiving n invitation to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp.

Schwindt’s efforts are rewarded
Hard work paid off for top centreman Cole Schwindt, and the Florida Panthers took notice. The third year two-way skater led the Fish with 71 points, upping the 49-point output he notched over his sophomore year. Following his strongest season yet, the 2019 Panthers third round draft pick was signed to an entry-level contract. The 6-foot-3, 186Ib. Schwindt was the OHL’s Player of the Month for December.

Hardie makes some noise
In his NHL Draft year, James Hardie made a big impression with the Steelheads. Coming off a 22-point rookie campaign, the forward impressed fans and scouts alike with a 63-point production that included a team-leading 34 goals. The 18-year-old Hardie led the Steelheads in shots on goal (252) and power play goals (11). He was the eighth overall pick of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.

Eyes on the future
Though they’ll will be without right winger Calvin Martin who graduates from the league as an overager, the Trout boast a versatile group that includes three 2000-born skaters who could all very well return next season. Those older players include dependable left wingers Richard Whittaker and Nicholas Canade, who both contributed with outputs of 44 and 40 points respectively. Third year OHLer Keean Washkurak, a St. Louis Blues prospect, was dependable down the middle with a 52-point showing in a 49-game season. Washkurak was voted the Eastern Conference’s hardest worker for a second straight year in the OHL Coaches Poll.