Photo Credit: Charles Warburton
With a playoff berth clinched, the Mississauga Steelheads are fighting for what position they will finish in the season. There are two weeks until the 2023-24 season ends, and the real season begins for 16 teams.
Mississauga’s forward group and goaltending have been successful this season, but their defence has yet to get the praise they deserve. Players like Chas Sharpe, Parker Von Richter, Stevie Leskovar and Finn Harding have been a big part of the Steelheads’ back end, offensively and defensively. One player that has been fantastic for the team is Jakub Fibigr.
Fibigr was drafted by Mississauga 16th overall in the first round of the OHL Import Draft. This season, Fibigr has had a great rookie season with Mississauga. In 52 games, he leads all OHL rookie defencemen with seven goals and 26 assists for 33 points.
A prospect in this year’s NHL Draft, Fibigr can provide offence to any NHL team that will draft him in June. Czech Prospects on X/Twitter said Fibigr is “A smooth skater with strong four-way mobility, lateral quickness and good edge work.”
Fibigr likes to model his game after Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly. But he reminds me of a Czech legend, another defenceman, and former Maple Leaf Tomas Kaberle, with his skating ability and playmaking skill set. If Fibigr can continue to build on his confidence this season leading into the playoffs and NHL draft, the sky will be the limit for this young man in his professional hockey career.
