Half-dozen Mississauga Steelheads honoured in OHL coaches’ poll

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Published April 21, 2022 at 6:33 pm

Team captain Ethan Del Mastro was doubly recognized in the Ontario Hockey League coaches’ poll, where six Mississauga Steelheads received recognition.

The poll is intended to recognize the top three players in 20 different skill categories within each conference. Del Mastro, the 18-year-old defenceman from Freelton, Ont., who is a Chicago NHL draft choice, was named the best defensive defenceman and best penalty killer in the Eastern Conference. During the regular season, Del Mastro helped the Steelheads allowed the second-fewest goals (183) in the 20-team league, while also contributing 48 points to lead the team’s defencemen in scoring.

Centre Owen Beck was named best on faceoffs in the conference and wing Luca Del Bel Belluz was named the most improved player. Del Bel Belluz broke out as a 30-goal, point-per-game scorer after getting just one goal in 2019-20, the OHL’s last season before a long pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Steelheads scoring leader James Hardie received second-place recognition for best shot and third for most dangerous in goal area after his 41-goal, 77-point campaign. The Hamilton Bulldogs’ Mason McTavish won both of those categories.

Defenceman Kasper Larsen finished second for hardest shot — also as runner-up up to McTavish — and was third for most underrated player.

Overage defenceman Evan Brand was also voted the second-best shot blocker in the conference.

Kingston Frontenacs forward Jordan Frasca, of Caledon, was chosen the second-best defensive forward. Frasca’s performance this season has helped him earn an NHL entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

The OHL playoffs get underway on Thursday.

The fourth-seeded Steelheads face the Barrie Colts at Paramount Fine Foods Centre on Friday in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series. Game 2 is at 2 p.m. on Sunday, before Barrie hosts the next two contests on April 25 and 27.

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