BRAMPTON, Ont. — The Brampton Steelheads prove that a little change can go a long way.
Though their newfound home is a mere nine-minute drive from the Mississauga rink they came from, the club’s impact on their current community has rippled far beyond the map.
The junior team’s move for the 2024-2025 season has brought a beacon of joy for a hockey community that has had its heart ripped out multiple times after having both the Battalion of the OHL, and Beasts of the Central Hockey League and ECHL, leave within the last 12 years.
“It means everything,” said fan Nolan Resse, prior to Friday night’s game at the CAA Centre. “I grew up here, played hockey all my life in Brampton. I missed [the games] when the first team left and I’m just happy that they have a team again.”
The new Steelheads supporter touted the club’s arrival as having delivered a fresh pulse of energy to the rink.
“It’s great. Every night the fans are great to talk to, passionate and I can’t name a better city to watch hockey at.”
The team’s relocation from Mississauga didn’t just fill a void for fans like Reese, it sparked a broader revival in the fabric of their community.
Beyond the ice, the team has placed an emphasis on embedding themselves within their new home.
“Our number one goal is community,” said Michael Hastings, Steelheads vice president of team services and business operations. “Anything that we do, on and off the ice [is for the community]. Our players are amazing. They attend a number of minor hockey practices, school assemblies, so everything we’re doing is that goal towards community.”
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That community focus has produced tangible results as the Steelheads have been able to directly fuel youth hockey with valuable resources.
“We’ve been able to raise almost $20,000 for minor hockey this season through ticket fundraisers and other various initiatives so we’re really proud of that fact,” said Hastings.
With the investment the club has made in forging its relationship with its newfound home, the team’s connection with its longtime supporters hasn’t seemed to have been affected.
Long-time season ticket holder Mohsin Qureshi has had no problem with the transition.
“Mississauga will be missed, but Brampton is a new home,” said the self-described super-fan. “People are super nice, they always welcome me.”
Qureshi, who’s supported the club since 2012, simply just loves the Steelheads, no matter where they may call home.
“It’s an amazing opportunity. Every day I go to the game, I always feel like I’m having the time of my life. It’s great hockey.”
For those unremitting fans like Qureshi, the excitement of this season has only just begun.
Brampton currently sits fourth in the Eastern Conference, and with a playoff spot locked up, all eyes have turned to the chase for the franchise’s first ever CHL championship.
“Hopefully they’ll make it a couple rounds, maybe even the Memorial Cup,” said Jonathan McAfee, another longtime supporter. “ But just the vibe, the playoff atmosphere, I just feed off of it. When it’s loud and the crowd goes off, it’s really fun.” — Ethan Gabor and Tomas Morgan
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Photo Gallery
The Brampton Steelheads proudly display their team logo on the walls of the CAA Centre. Photo: Tomas Morgan 
A young Brampton Steelheads fan proudly shows off an autographed Mississauga Steelheads jersey, a keepsake from the team’s earlier days. Photo: Tomas Morgan 
Steelhead fans cheer from behind the glass during an electrifying game at the CAA Centre, one fan sporting a Harding jersey. Photo: Michael Coyle 
A packed crowd of Brampton supporters fill the stands, watching the team battle it out against the Petes. Photo: Logan Brown 
Steelheads mascot is seen pretending to eat a young fans head. Photo: Logan Brown 
Lucas Karmiris is seen ready for a defensive zone face-off. Photo: Michael Coyle 
Steelheads fan holds up a “Steel Strong” rally towel prior to puck drop Friday night. Photo: Michael Coyle 
Brampton super fan is seen decked out in team gear and celebrating a Steelheads lead in the second intermission. Photo: Tomas Morgan 
Brampton’s bench is seen midway through the second period. Photo: Logan Brown 
Steelhead fans of all ages are participating in a TV timeout cheer. Photo: Logan Brown 
A Steelheads staff member is repping a cowboy hat for country night at the CAA Centre. Photo: Tomas Morgan 
A stack of pucks is seen prior to warmup Friday night. Photo: Tomas Morgan 
Three Brampton fans in the concourse prior to puck drop Friday night. Photo: Logan Brown 
A crowd of Brampton fans take in the action. Photo: Logan Brown 
Pregame ceremony for the Steelheads overage players. Photo: Michael Coyle 
Brampton Sports Hall of Fame is seen in the concourse of the CAA Centre. Photo: Tomas Morgan 
Two fans are pictured smiling after the one fan caught a puck that flew out of play. Photo: Logan Brown 
Fans in cowboy hats are seen eating and drinking on 2nd level of the arena. Photo: Logan Brown 
Brampton’s mascot hanging from the glass during a TV timeout. Photo: Logan Brown 
A young fan wearing his Steelheads practice jersey from when they were located in Mississauga. Photo: Tomas Morgan 
The Steelheads and Petes get set to face-off in the neutral zone. Photo: Tomas Morgan 
Toronto Observer reporter Bennett Griffith is seen interviewing Vice President of team service and business operations Michael Hastings prior to Friday’s game. Photo: Tomas Morgan 
A fan on the concourse wearing a Porter Martone jersey. Photo: Michael Coyle 
Toronto Observer reporter Bennett Griffith is seen interviewing a Steelheads super fan. Photo: Michael Coyle 
A local school performing the Canadian national anthem pregame. Photo: Michael Coyle 
Steelheads player Konnor Smith is depicted after landing a hit on a Petes’ Quinton Page. Photo: Tomas Morgan
Sidebar
Steelheads Shining Star
The Steelheads returned to Brampton bringing a special team back home along with a very talented player.
Porter Martone has come to the city, just west of Toronto, with his scoring and play-making ability on full display.
Martone is projected to go top-five in the 2025 National Hockey League entry draft giving many Steelheads fans a clear picture of what he is going to bring at hockey’s highest level.
“That’s pretty exciting when the guy you’re watching play 34 games on home ice that is highly ranked for the NHL draft,” said longtime Steelheads ticket holder Mark Harris, in an interview at the CAA Centre.
The 18-year-old Martone has helped his team clinch fifth place in the Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference, good for a playoff spot.
“He’s the heart and the soul of the Steelhead team this season,” said Harris.
Coming over from the Sarnia Sting halfway through the 2022-2023 season, it did not take long fans to realize that they may have a special player they could call their own.
“When [Martone] arrived from Sarnia in the trade, we realized right away he was an amazing player,” said Jordan Mercer, a Steelheads fan from Toronto. “He started going up the draft rankings and you saw something was special here.”
Martone is looking to be the highest Steelheads player to be taken in the draft, higher than Alex Nylander who was drafted eighth overall in 2016.
Mercer believes that even though the next level is going to bring new challenges for Martone, it won’t stop him from achieving success.
“Once you go to the National Hockey League, it’s a totally different animal. You’re going to find challenges. I think he is up to the challenge to work his way up into a position where he can be a positive player on a team,” said the Toronto native in an interview on the concourse.
Martone is important on this year’s team and puts all he has into each shift, every night in Brampton. On Friday night against the Peterborough Petes he continued to show fans how good he is when he scored the opening goal for his 200th career OHL point.
This guy (Martone) seems like he’s gonna be a guy a team turns to in all situations. He’s a big player with intensity, and he’s got scoring touch,” said the Steelheads fan.
“We saw it tonight”.
Martone’s goal on Friday night was his 95th point of the season. The fans love his game on the ice and the person he is in the community.
“Porter is an amazing guy and a really good player. He’s a really good guy to watch,” said Mohsin Qureshi, who has been a Steelheads season ticket holder since 2012.
The Steelheads and their captain begin their quest for an OHL championship on March 28 in Oshawa against the Generals. — Michael Coyle
