According to the Canadian Hockey League on Thursday, the Ontario Hockey League is returning to Brampton. The OHL Board of Governors approved the move of Mississauga to Brampton for the 2024-25 OHL season. The franchise name of the Steelheads will continue, as the relocated franchise will be known as the Brampton Steelheads.
The Brampton Battalion were in the Ontario Hockey League from 1998 to 2013. They then moved to North Bay, where they became the North Bay Battalion. In 2008-09, the Brampton Battalion were the Eastern Conference Champions and lost the J. Ross Robertson Cup to the Windsor Spitfires in five games. Among the more notable players who played in Brampton initially in the Ontario Hockey League were Cody Hodgson of Toronto, Ontario, Canadian Olympic gold medalist and Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene of Haliburton, Ontario, former NHL left winger Raffi Torres of Toronto, and 2017 Norris Trophy winner and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns of Barrie, Ontario.
Meanwhile, the Steelheads franchise was initially known as the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors (1996 to 2007), before relocating to Mississauga where they were known as the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors from 2007 to 2012. Since 2012, the franchise has been known as the Mississauga Steelheads.
Brampton recently hosted the 2023 Women’s World Hockey Championship. Team Canada won the silver medal.
