Photo Credits: Charles Warburton
The Brampton Steelheads made big trades in the offseason. Head coach and general manager James Richmond swung for the fences when he acquired overage defenceman Spencer Sova from the Erie Otters.
With Chas Sharpe moving onto the AHL, the Steelheads needed to fill his void, and they did that when they got Sova. Sova has many remarkable similarities to Sharpe, a steady defenceman who can play at both ends of the ice. At 6’1″, it is rare to see a defenceman that tall control play on both offence and defence. He reminds me of Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars.
Another part of his game that I notice is how calm and composed a leader he is. Returning to his style of play, not only does he help with the Steelheads on defence with his shot-blocking ability, positioning, and physicality, but he does a great job at stopping scoring chances, and his offensive play, to me, is outstanding. His passing ability is something Brampton has needed from a defenceman to break out a play, and he has fit into this high-flying offence. He is always jumping up in the play, creating a scoring chance. Sova has eight points in eight games this season.
Sova is a four-year OHL veteran. He captained the Erie Otters before being traded to Brampton. You can sense that he is one of the Steelheads’ leaders in the dressing room and on the ice.
Although undrafted, Sova has attended NHL camps with the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Once his time in the OHL is done, don’t be surprised if he signs with an NHL team since players with his size and skill are hard to find in today’s game of hockey.
