Brampton Steelheads

The Brampton Steelheads are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The Steelheads are set to play their games at the CAA Centre in Brampton, starting with the 2024-25 OHL Season.
==History== 
The OHL originated in Mississauga with the Mississauga IceDogs. The IceDogs played in Mississauga from 1998 to 2007 being purchased by Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk in 2006. Following the 2006-2007 season, Melnyk sold the Icedogs who moved to St Catherines to become the Niagara IceDogs. At the same time Melynk moved the Toronto St. Michael's Majors to Mississauga to become the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. The Majors played in Mississauga from 2007-2012, also hosting the 2011 Memorial Cup. Following the 2012 season Melnyk sold the Majors franchise to Elliott Kerr of Mississauga's Landmark Sport Group. As a part of the sale, the Majors identity was returned to St. Michael's College, allowing the team to move forward under the fan-selected "Steelheads" moniker.
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.
2016–17 was the best season currently in Mississauga Steelheads history. Backed by continued strong performances by Bastian and McLeod as well as a breakout 44 goal season from 2017 1st Round Draft Pick Owen Tippett, the Steelheads won their first Central Division Title. Entering the 2017 OHL Playoffs in the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference the Steelheads defeated the Ottawa 67's in 6 games in the 1st Round before defeating the Oshawa Generals in 5 games in the 2nd Round. In the Eastern Conference Finals the Steelheads swept the Peterborough Petes in 4 games to win their first Bobby Orr Trophy in franchise history. The Steelheads would fall in the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals in 5 games to the Erie Otters.
In 2017–18 Mississauga returned to the bottom of the Eastern Conference ending the season in 7th place, (4th in the Central Division). The Barrie Colts once again defeated the Steelheads in the 1st Round of the Playoffs, this time in 6 games. In 2018–19 Mississauga was the best team of a weak bottom half of the OHL Eastern Conference finishing in 5th place but 20 points back of Sudbury in 4th. In the playoffs the Wolves easily swept Mississauga in 4 games. The 2019–20 OHL season was cancelled before completion of the regular season, the J. Ross Robertson Cup or the 2020 Memorial Cup in Kelowna. At the time of cancellation the Steelheads sat in 6th place in the OHL Eastern Conference with a record of 27-29-4-1 but 17 points up on 9th place, which would have guaranteed the Steelheads a 7th playoff appearance in 8 seasons.
In January 2024, the Steelheads proposed to relocate to Brampton for at least the 2024-25 season, pending approval from the OHL. The relocation was approved by the OHL in June 2024, with the franchise retaining the Steelheads name. 
==Uniforms and mascot==
The primary logo for the Steelheads displays a Steelhead trout below the word Mississauga with a maple leaf after it. The Steelheads colours are blue & white. The secondary logo features the Port Credit lighthouse within an M, representing the city landmark.
The Steelheads' blue and white uniforms bear a striking resemblance to those of the nearby Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL; their home sweaters are white with blue striping and collars, while their road sweaters are blue with white striping and collars.
The team mascot is named Sauga. The name was created during a fan contest during the summer of 2012, when the organization asked its fans to create a name for the new Steelheads mascot.
==Championships==
Division titles
*2016–17 Emms Trophy – Central Division
Conference titles
*2016-17 Bobby Orr Trophy – Eastern Conference
J. Ross Robertson Cup
*2017 Finalists vs. Erie Otters
==Season-by-season results==
==Season-by-season results==
Season 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Playoffs
Season 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Finish 	Playoffs
2012–13	68 	26 	34 	0 	8 	60 	0.441 	179 	221 	5th, Central 	Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Belleville Bulls, 2–4
2013–14	68 	24 	38 	1 	5 	54 	0.397 	167 	267 	5th, Central 	Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Oshawa Generals, 0–4
2014–15	68 	25 	40 	2 	1 	53 	0.390 	178 	265 	4th, Central 	Did not qualify
2015–16	68 	33 	30 	2 	3 	71 	0.522 	215 	229 	4th, Central 	Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Barrie Colts, 3–4
2016–17	68 	34 	21 	6 	7 	81 	0.596 	240 	219 	1st, Central 	Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Ottawa 67's, 4–2Won in conference semifinals vs. Oshawa Generals, 4–1Won in conference finals vs. Peterborough Petes, 4–0Lost in OHL Finals vs. Erie Otters, 1–4
2017–18	68 	33 	32 	1 	2 	69 	0.507 	251 	250 	4th, Central 	Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Barrie Colts, 2–4
2018–19	68 	32 	29 	5 	2 	71 	0.522 	239 	250 	3rd, Central 	Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Sudbury Wolves, 0–4
2019–20	61 	27 	29 	4 	1 	59 	0.484 	223 	227 	3rd, Central 	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
2021–22	68 	37 	23 	2 	6 	82 	0.603 	229 	189 	2nd, Central 	Won in conference quarterfinals vs. Barrie Colts, 4–2Lost in conference semifinals vs. Hamilton Bulldogs, 0–4
2022–23	68 	31 	31 	6 	0 	68 	0.500 	226 	258 	4th, Central 	Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. North Bay Battalion, 2–4
2023–24	68 	38 	22 	8 	0 	84 	0.618 	248 	212 	2nd, Central 	Lost in conference quarterfinals vs. Sudbury Wolves, 1–4
==Coaches==
*2012–2016: James Boyd
*2016–present: James Richmond
==Captains==
* 2012–13 – Stuart Percy
* 2013–14 – Brett Foy
* 2014–15 – Bryson Cianfrone
* 2015–16 – Joshua Burnside
* 2016–17 – Michael McLeod
* 2017–18 – Michael McLeod, Nicolas Hague
* 2018–19 – Cole Carter
* 2019–20 – Liam Ham
* 2020–21 – none
* 2021–23 – Ethan Del Maestro
* 2023–present – Chas Sharpe
==NHL alumni==
List of Steelheads alumni to play in the National Hockey League (NHL):
* Nathan Bastian
* Owen Beck
* Trevor Carrick
* Sean Day
* Dylan DeMelo
* Nicolas Hague
* Thomas Harley
* Mason Marchment
* Spencer Martin
* Michael McLeod
* Ryan McLeod
* Jacob Moverare
* Alexander Nylander
* Stuart Percy
* Cole Schwindt
* Owen Tippett
==See also==
*List of ice hockey teams in Ontario
==References==
== External links ==
* 
Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1996
Category:Ice hockey teams in Ontario
Category:Ontario Hockey League teams