Photo Credits: Charles Warburton
Tall shutdown defencemen are hard to find at any level of hockey, but once you find a player like that, it makes things easier to stop an opposing team’s offence. The Mississauga Steelheads have that in Stevie Leskovar.
Leskovar is 6’3, 207IBS. He was acquired by the Steelheads last season in a trade with the Peterborough Petes. He has been a force for the Steelheads this season. Every time he is on the ice, you notice him, especially when it comes to his physical play. Another solid suit for his game is shot-blocking. He isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body to stop a scoring chance.
Even though he is not known for his offensive game, Leskovar moves the puck well during a breakout and in the attacking zone.
If Leskovar can add more offence to his style of play, he could be the complete package for Mississauga down the stretch and next season. He reminds me of former Steelheads captain Stuart Percy. In Percy’s first few seasons in the OHL, he was a defensive player and added offence to his game. I see the same with Leskovar. If he can add a shot to his arsenal, he can be a player that teams must look for on both sides of the ice.
As the final weeks of the OHL season approach, with the strides he has taken to build his game this season, Leskovar will be a crucial contributor for Mississauga from now on and in the playoffs. If he can continue his strong play, I can see him getting invited to an NHL camp.
