Photo Credits: Charles Warburton
The 2025-26 OHL season officially kicked off last week for the Brampton Steelheads. The team played two games, losing 6-3 in their season opener against the Peterborough Petes on Thursday night and picking up a 4-1 win in their home opener against the Niagara IceDogs.This season, Brampton will be a young team. In an article from the Toronto Star, it was noted that 15 players from last season are gone. Key players include Porter Martone, Luke Misa, and Jack Ivankovic, who all made the jump to the NCAA, while Stevie Leskovar, Konnor Smith, Spencer Sova, Carson Rehkopf, and Angus MacDonell will begin their professional careers.
The Steelheads will have some veteran presence on the team, as Mason Zebeski, MacGregor Richmond, William Eggelton, and Parker Von Richter are back. Jakub Fibigr and Gabriel Chiarot are expected to return to the club, as they are currently at NHL training camps.
A player to keep an eye on this season
For the Steelheads, having a young team is also a blessing, as it showcases players who may not have gotten a look if others had returned. One player in particular who has been notable is center Julian Demiglio. The 19-year-old from Concord, Ontario, has worked his way up to the Steelheads after playing in the OJHL the last three seasons with the Stouffville Spirit. In 50 games last season, he put up 18 goals and 38 assists for 56 points. He continued to have a strong showing in the playoffs, scoring eight points in nine games. In the 2024 season, he had 38 points in 55 games.
Demiglio played five games for the Steelheads last season, picking up one assist. So far this season, he has been the Steelheads' best player out of camp. In the preseason, Demiglio had 10 points in six games. In the two games he has played this season, he has three points. I believe as the season goes on, he will continue to impress Steelheads fans with his ability to put the puck in the back of the net. At 5’11", he is a fantastic player for his size. The Steelheads are no stranger to players with his height and skill. Some former Steelheads that come to mind are James Hardie, Luke Misa, Bryson Ciafrone, and Lucas Venuto.
To me, his NHL comparable would be Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks, with his speed, goal-scoring, and playmaking skills.
Demiglio will be a problem for opposing teams if he can continue to play at the pace he is at right now. With the Steelheads being a young team, guys like Demiglio and his teammates are hungry to make noise in the Eastern Conference for the Steelheads.
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