Drafted first overall by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection there were a lot of expectations placed on Michael Misa going into his first season with the Spirit. After being granted exceptional status for only the seventh time in CHL history many wondered that while massively talented, could the 15-year-old could compete right away playing in a league with players 4-5 years older than him? Despite missing 6 weeks of the 2022-23 season due to a fractured tibia, Misa had the most productive rookie season for an exceptional status player in OHL history tallying 56 points in just 45 games played. Misa’s points per game average of 1.24 was better than all past exceptional status players in a rookie season (ahead of John Taveras’ 1.18, Shane Wright’s 1.14, and Connor McDavid’s 1.05). Following his remarkable season Misa would go on to win the Emms Family Award as Rookie of the Year in the OHL.

This image is autographed by Michael Misa. Misa’s signature was witnessed by an Upper Deck representative as part of UDA’s 5-step authentication process.