The Steelheads struggled in their first season in 2012–13 finishing last in the OHL Central Division and 8th overall in the Eastern Conference before losing to the Belleville Bulls in 6 games in the first round. Before the 2013–14 the Steelheads drafted 15 year old Sean Day. Day had applied for and been granted Exceptional Player Status to be able to be drafted into the OHL at 15 years old. In the 2013–14 season the Steelheads again finished last in the OHL Central Division and 8th in the Eastern Conference, this time being swept by the number one ranked Oshawa Generals in four games in the first round of the 2014 OHL Playoffs. In 2014–15 the Steelheads finished in 4th in the Central Division ahead of the Sudbury Wolves but missed the 2015 OHL Playoffs finishing five points back. In 2015–16 thanks to strong performances by a trio of top 2016 NHL Draft picks (Alexander Nylander, Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian) the Steelheads finished above .500 for the first time and ended the season in 7th in the Eastern Conference standings, (4th in their division). Again though the Steelheads would fall in the 1st Round losing to the Barrie Colts in 7 games.