Luke Misa was ranked as a late second, early third-round talent at the 2024 NHL draft, so when he was still on the board when the Calgary Flames picked him in the fifth round, Craig Conroy and crew knew they needed to select him.
The Win Column recently caught up with the Brampton Steelheads forward for a one-on-one interview after his team’s 6–2 win over the Niagara Ice Dogs on March 16. We talked about the draft experience, personality, and the Brampton relocation.
The draft experience
With the last draft being held at the Sphere in Las Vegas, it looked to be a quality experience for television, but what was it like for the players? After posting 81 points and getting ranked in the range of 58–76, Misa did everything he could to stand out to NHL scouts.
Q1: What was your experience being at the draft like?
Luke Misa: “It was cool being in Vegas. I was there with a lot of my family, and I had some friends there, too; it was a really good experience. Being in the sphere too was really cool, but it was a great time all around.”
Q2: What was your reaction to being drafted by the Flames? Are you familiar with the city at all?
LM: “I went there once when I was younger for the Stampede. [Getting drafted] was awesome; it was such an honour to be drafted by the organization. Going down to camp in the summer and then in September is just really cool. To be in a city like Calgary, it’s a great place, and I’m just really excited to be part of the organization.”
Take a look at his interview from the draft:
Q3: Do you have a favourite hockey memory?
LM: “I’d say getting drafted by the Flames organization.”
Tyler Rohleder: “Short and recent, but definitely a pretty solid one.”
LM: “It’s definitely my best hockey memory, but you know, other than that, it would be scoring my first OHL goal. [That first goal] is a huge thing for OHL players. There’s been a lot of great memories, but I’d say the top one is getting drafted by the Flames.”
TR: “Absolutely, and here’s to creating even more great memories, right.”
For those wondering, his first goal took place four years earlier against the same opponents, the Niagara IceDogs, in a game on October 21, 2021. Take a look:
Misa, on and off the ice
Every fan knows the on-ice production of their favourite players, but they don’t always know what the player is like away from the rink. Here, we catch up with Misa about his hockey role models, hobbies, and personality.
Q4: Do you have a hockey role model or someone you try to model your game after?
LM: “I’d say I try to model my game after a player like Jesper Bratt on New Jersey. I think he’s a really fast player. Another guy, I would say, is Andrew Mangiapane as a really good role model. Those guys that are fast and can make plays.”
TR: “Kind of bouncing off of the role models thing, do you have a favourite player?”
LM: “I’d say growing up, my favourite player to watch was always McDavid, just because being from Toronto, I was able to watch him in the OHL as well, and he’s such a fast and skilled player, it was always really cool to watch him.”
TR: “Classic answer for sure.”
Q5: “Do you have any hobbies outside of hockey?”
LM: “Oh, for sure, I’d say I like to golf. I have a pool table at home, so I like to play pool a lot. Those are the main two activities I do outside of hockey.”
TR: “Speaking of non-hockey stuff, do you have any superstitions pre-game?”
LM: “I wouldn’t say I have any superstitions, but I follow a routine and do it in the same order.”
TR: “Always good to have some order and discipline.”
Q6: “Speaking of hobbies, how would you describe your personality to Flames fans, what do you bring to that lockeroom?”
LM: “I’m someone who values kindness and community, and I love meeting the fans. I also try to be funny too. I’m really dedicated to the team and just trying to be the best I can.”
Misa’s growth and development
Misa definitely is that player with pace and playmaking, as he sits third on his team with 82 points in 65 games. Clearly, the move from Mississauga to Brampton didn’t stop the ‘Misa momentum.’ He centres the Steelheads’ first line with 19:53 of time on ice per game while generating 2.5 scoring chances per game.
Q7: What element have you worked on most this season?
LM: “The area I try the most to develop is my skating, you know I think skating is such an important thing. Especially when you get to the next level, and the game continues to get faster and faster, and I try to make skating one of my strong suits, and I’m continuing to improve that.”
Q8: After spending a couple of seasons with the Mississauga Steelheads, what was it like relocating seven kilometres down the road to Brampton?
LM: “Yeah you know what it was good, it was a pretty short move, like we didn’t have to move that much.”
TR: “Did you even have to move at all?”
LM: “No, you know what most guys didn’t even have to move billets. Pretty much the same, but the fans have been awesome in Brampton, the rink’s nice, our room is great. It was a pretty easy move, and it’s a great place.”
TR: “Well, thank you so much for taking time out of your day to chat with us, and safe travels.”
We here at The Win Column want to thank the entire organization of the Brampton Steelheads for helping us coordinate this interview with Luke Misa. Are there any questions you would’ve asked Luke Misa? Are there any other prospects you would like us to chat with?
Let us know in the comments below.
