The Saginaw Spirit have selected exceptional status player Michael Misa as the first overall pick in the 2022 OHL Draft, the team announced Thursday.
Misa becomes the fifth exceptional status player to be selected first in the OHL Draft, joining John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid and Shane Wright.
Sean Day is the only other player to be granted exceptional status to the OHL, but was selected fourth overall in 2013.
“It is an honour to be selected by the Saginaw Spirit with the first overall pick in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection,” said Misa via a press release from the team. “I am committed to this team, this city, and these fans. There is lots of hard work and development ahead. I am looking forward to the future and contributing to the organization on and off the ice.”
Misa scored 16 goals and 43 points in 27 games with the Mississauga Senators U16 AAA team in the GTHL regular season. He also broke McDavid's record during the OHL Cup after recording 21 points in seven games and was named the tournament's MVP.
On April 14, the 15-year-old was granted exceptional status to enter the OHL draft, which "is granted to a player whose qualities not only on the ice, but as a person, deem the player deserving of the rare privilege of participating in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) at an early age," according to the CHL.
Though the Spirit have already announced their selection, the draft will officially take place on Friday.
