Mississauga general manager James Richmond had one final deal to bring to wraps before the CHL trade deadline commenced at twelve noon on Thursday January 10th. The Mississauga Steelheads, well known in media circles across hockey due to the abundance of their transactions, have acquired forward Nick Isaacson and a third-round pick in 2019 from the Peterborough Petes. The draft pick they receive is originally owned by the Owen Sound Attack. In return, the Petes receive forward Mike Little from Mississauga in a deal that was completed just a short time before the noon deadline officially passed.
The newly acquired Nick Isaacson is a left-shooting forward who Peterborough originally drafted eighty-sixth overall in the 2015 OHL priority draft. Isaacson joined the Peterborough Petes for the 2016-2017 season, dressing for sixty-six games played, finishing with a total of fifteen points. He played in all twelve playoff games for the Petes that season as well.
Nick had a shortened second season, only appearing in twenty-nine games in 2017-2018 where he accumulated a total of only seven points during that time. Off to his best year in the OHL, Isaacson is already putting up his career best numbers in points, goals and assists while only appearing in a total of thirty-nine games played to date. A talented hometown kid will return to his roots from growing up in Toronto, Ontario and will look to complete a stellar season, finishing it up with the Mississauga Steelheads.
In speaking about Nick’s acquisition in the club’s last of six trades, James Richmond said in a statement with regards to Isaacson’s addition to the roster, “We are excited to bring a Mississauga boy home in Nick Isaacson. Nick brings speed, compete and size and he’s sure to help our Team through our Playoff quest. We would like to welcome Nick and his family to the Steelheads.” Undoubtedly it’s a warm welcome home for a hometown player. Nick Isaacson made his debut with the Steelheads on the road on Thursday night, suiting up with his new team and for the first time while sporting number fifteen on his back.
Going the opposite way and joining a Peterborough team in the thick of a three-way battle for second place in the East Division is 18-year-old forward Mike Little. Mike has been a Steelheads member since he was selected fifty-ninth overall by Mississauga in 2016. The Canadian played forty-eight games that season for his new team at the time where he put up eight points in the regular season and played all twenty playoff games as a rookie for Mississauga as well.
Also a hometown boy who grew up in Mississauga, Little played every game in his second season, finishing with twenty-five points in sixty-five games. This campaign, Nick continues to progress and will mesh nicely with the talent and skill in Peterborough. When asked about his former player and just how much he has meant to the team, general manager James Richmond said about the loss of the long-time member of the Steelheads, “We would like to thank Michael and his family for their commitment to the Steelheads over the last 2.5 years. Michael is a super person that we wish all the best for in the future.” The six-foot left-winger will be in the thick of a playoff push when he arrives at his new rink on Saturday night against the Battalion.
The Peterborough Petes opened a three-game homestand on Thursday night against the Generals, however, due to a restructuring of both rosters and a loss of chemistry for the Petes, Serron Noel would net the winner as Oshawa would pick up the win in overtime.
With the OHL deadline having now come and gone across the league, the Petes can return to focus which they will look to do on Saturday night when they are back in action at the Peterborough Memorial Centre at 7:05pm. The game can be viewed via stream on OHL Live while it can also be heard on EXTRA 90.5 FM.