Michael Misa receives 2025 E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence

Michael Misa goes to get pleasure from a beautiful June.

The Saginaw Spirit star was named winner of the 2025 E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence whereas showing with Sportsnet’s Ron MacLean and Kevin Bieksa and fellow high NHL Draft prospect Matthew Schaefer earlier than Sport 3 of the Stanley Cup Ultimate on Monday.

First awarded in 2015, the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence is introduced yearly by the league to a candidate who finest exemplifies dedication to excellence by means of energy of character, competitiveness, and athleticism.

Misa, a local of Oakville, Ont., turned the primary Spirit participant to steer the CHL in scoring this season. He had 62 objectives and 72 assists for 134 factors in 65 video games.

Given distinctive standing into the OHL and allowed to enter the league a yr early in 2022, Misa helped the Spirit win the Memorial Cup in his second season (2023-24).

Misa is projected to be a top-five choose within the NHL Draft on June 27 in Los Angeles.

“Michael Misa is the candidate most deserving of the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence as he demonstrated the athleticism, compete and character that defines this award in his pursuit to be one of the best participant he may very well be,” stated Dan Marr, director of NHL Central Scouting.

“Receiving distinctive standing to play as a 15-year-old within the OHL is a particular honour that comes with excessive expectations and Michael excelled in navigating his means ahead with a formidable degree of humility, consistency, and record-breaking play as one of many high prospects on this yr’s draft class.”