It’s official: Mississauga Steelheads hockey club moving to Brampton

The Mississauga Steelheads are leaving town.

In a message sent to season ticket holders this evening, the Ontario Hockey League team announced it is heading up the road to Brampton in time for the 2024/25 hockey season.

“We strongly believe that a relocation will allow us to not only continue to expand our reach, but also create new opportunities to engage with the team in fresh and exciting ways. The decision to move was not made lightly, and we are confident that this change will contribute to the continued growth and success of the hockey club. Mississauga will continue to be part of our home territory,” the message reads.

The move will mark the end of 26 years of junior hockey in Mississauga.

Currently playing out of the Paramount Fine Foods Centre, the team will relocate just seven kilometres up the road to the Powerade Centre in Brampton.

Leaving town has been a possibility for the past several years as the team had a difficult time attracting fans.

As well, it is believed part of the reason for the move is a rent hike the City of Mississauga was demanding from the team. The city and the Steelheads have been discussing an extended lease, but in the end Brampton came up with a deal the team couldn’t turn down, according to sources.

Brampton has wanted an OHL team to fill its arena since the Battalion departed for North Bay in 2013.

Mississauga and Brampton both entered the OHL in 1998.

Mississauga started with much fanfare when it entered the league as the IceDogs under the ownership of hockey icon Don Cherry. After the 2007/08 season, the IceDogs left to play in St. Catharines.

The city was not left without a team, however, as the Mississauga Majors immediately stepped in. That team, under the ownership of Eugene Melnyk, lasted until 2012 when the franchise was sold to Elliott Kerr of Landmark Sport Group and the nickname changed to the Steelheads.

The Steelheads are currently in third place in the Central Division of the OHL, four points behind the Sudbury Wolves for top spot.

This revamped logo that replaces Mississauga with Brampton has been circulating online.