OHL 20 in 20: Brampton Steelheads
They were a little young last year but gained some valuable playoff experience. Now the Brampton Steelheads are back to try and go all the way. The OHL returns to Brampton as the Steelheads have relocated less than 10 kilometres north, taking one of the league’s most skilled groups to the CAA Centre. Head coach and GM James Richmond had a busy back half of the summer, acquiring front-line talent in 52 goal-scorer Carson Rehkopf and overage defenceman Spencer Sova in separate moves while dealing netminder Ryerson Leenders to the Brantford Bulldogs, making way for a full workload for 2025 NHL Draft prospect Jack Ivankovic in the crease. There’s lots to be excited about in Brampton as the Steelheads pursue their first-ever championship with a roster likely consisting of some of the game’s future stars.
| NOTABLE DEPARTURES | KEY ADDITIONS |
| F Marc Boudreau (Acadia U.) | F Manuel Amado (13th Rd. ’24) |
| G Ryerson Leenders (Trade BFD) | D Owen Cartwright (3rd Rd. ’24) |
| F Dean Loukus (South Carolina, ECHL) | G Jacob Gibbons (Trade ER) |
| D Chas Sharpe (Toronto, AHL) | F Troy Patton (2nd Rd. ’24) |
| D Liam Spencer (Trade LDN) | F Carson Rehkopf (Trade KIT) |
| D Spencer Sova (Trade ER) | |
| F Martin Vaculik (1st Rd. ’24 Import) |
Five Questions Heading Into 2024-25:
1. Is Martone the OHL’s top NHL Draft prospect?
A good portion of scouts certainly think so. Martone’s primary competition in this space is Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa, who earned exceptional status prior to going first overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Erie Otters forward Malcolm Spence is also in the conversation as the OHL appears to have a strong group of draft eligibles moving into next summer. Misa, Spence and the Mississauga Senators defeated Martone and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the 2022 OHL Cup Final. Martone comes off 33 goals, 38 assists and 71 points over 60 games as a sophomore in 2023-24.
2. Is Ivankovic ready to carry the load at 17?
With Ryerson Leenders off to the Brantford Bulldogs in a trade announced a couple weeks ago, the Brampton crease is Jack Ivankovic’s following an impressive summer showing backstopping Canada to gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Ivankovic was a second all-rookie team member in the OHL last season, going 14-5-4-0 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. The former seventh overall OHL Draft pick is eligible for next summer’s NHL Draft and will be given every opportunity to carry the Steelheads to championship success during their first season in Brampton.
3. Will Rehkopf be the OHL’s top goal-scorer?
He came pretty darn close last season, finishing six shy of North Bay’s Anthony Romani with 52 goals on the season. That was in Kitchener, but now Rehkopf joins a high-powered Steelheads offence that also includes the likes of Porter Martone, slick playmaker Luke Misa and other skilled teammates in Lucas Karmiris, Angus MacDonell and Mason Zebeski. You wouldn’t be crazy to make Rehkopf your prediction as goal-scoring leader to start the season. The Seattle Kraken prospect has lit the lamp 100 times over 193 career OHL regular season games.
4. Can Misa reach 100 points?
As far as OHL playmakers are concerned, Luke Misa has to be up there as one of the best. His 55 assists last season set a new Steelheads single season record and helped him get drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fifth round. A late birthday, Misa had the benefit of an extra season prior to being eligible for the NHL Draft, and enters year four in 2024-25 with 150 points (43-107–150) over 192 regular season games since being taken ninth overall by the Trout in 2021. Misa would have to up his production by 19 points to reach triple digits, but with some of the names accompanying him in Brampton, this is very much a possibility.
5. How will the transition to Brampton go?
Well, Mississauga to Brampton really isn’t far – it’s about a nine minute drive from the Paramount Fine Foods Centre across the 401 and 407 to the CAA Centre. The Steelheads have seen increases in season ticket packages sold as they move into their new home with one of the most exciting groups in the league. It’ll continue to be a favourite destination of NHL scouts, who don’t have to travel far from Pearson International Airport to see the best the OHL has to offer. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his staff have welcomed the OHL back to the city with open arms, and it’ll be interesting to see how the opening weeks of the season go for the Steelheads, who will have a lot of eyeballs on them with high expectations across the organization.
Related Content:
Futures Watch – Brampton Steelheads
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