Saginaw Spirit star Michael Misa named OHL’s most outstanding player

Michael Misa kicked off a busy stretch with a nice victory on Monday.

The Saginaw Spirit star was named winner of the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s most outstanding player, the league announced.

Misa, 18, is projected to be a top-five pick in next month’s NHL Draft.

The native of Oakville, Ont., led the OHL in scoring with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in 65 games, the highest point total for a player in the league since Patrick Kane in 2007.

Misa put up the big numbers while being left off the roster for Canada’s world junior team, which was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Misa’s 62 goals are tied for the third-most by a draft-eligible skater in OHL history.

“In my mind, it was never in doubt that Michael was the most outstanding player in our league this season,” Spirit GM Dave Drinkill said in a statement. “He carried our team on his back when we needed him the most and we’re so proud of him. For him to do all of this in his draft year is even more impressive. People forget he was only 17 to start the year.”

Granted entry into the OHL a year early as an exceptional player, Misa was picked first overall by the Spirit in the 2022 draft and helped Saginaw win the Memorial Cup last season.

Misa is the first Saginaw player to win the OHL’s top individual award.

Twenty media members (one representing each OHL city) voted on the award.

Brantford Bulldogs star and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis finished second.