Not one, but two Delisle brothers will part of the Owen Sound Attack forward group next season.
The Attack selected Max Delisle from the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s Toronto Titans with their first-round pick, fifth overall, in the 2025 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Friday night.
Max, 15, is the younger brother of Attack forward Tristan Delisle, who turns 18 next month and will play in his third OHL season in 2025-26. Both were at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre Friday to celebrate the moment, and meet with some Attack fans. Owen Sound’s new first-round pick also received an introduction and loud applause from a large crowd on the arena floor at the Bayshore, as hundreds were on hand for the Owen Sound Minor Hockey Group banquet.
And both Delisle brothers were ecstatic the OHL Priority Selection went the way it did — and now they’ll have the opportunity to be teammates.
“I’ve always dreamed of this moment,” Max says. “Just to be able to play with (Tristan) is amazing.”
Tristan: “I never thought it was going to be a possibility. But, never say never in the OHL draft. We’re here and I couldn’t be more excited. I think he’s a great player and brings a lot to the table here. I couldn’t be happier that we took him in the draft.”
Max will be the third Delisle to put on an Attack jersey, joining not only his brother but also their father Miguel — who played 31 games for the Attack during his overage season in the OHL in 2002-03. The eldest Delisle says he couldn’t be happier his two sons ended up on the same OHL team.
“We’re very happy,” Miguel says. “And to be playing in a community like Owen Sound is absolutely amazing, because I played here too. It’s a great arena, the fans are amazing here. We are more than happy with how things have gone.”
Max Delisle, a Cornwall native, is listed at 5-foot-11, 175-pounds and known for playing a skilled, physical game. He had four goals and two assists in six games for the Titans at last month’s OHL Cup.
“He’s a big kid, he’s a strong kid, good skater, good skills, plays a 200-foot game,” Attack General Manager Dale DeGray says. “I know it’s cliche stuff, but he really does. And he plays a heavy game. He’s a kid that you win with. He’s going to come in. He’s going to compete, right from the drop of the puck. We’re excited to see him come in.”
“Obviously playing with Tristan is a big factor,” DeGray continues. “But not so big that we were skewed in the vision of what he is. Because he’s really been on our list at No. 1 and No. 2 ever since September, October. And that should tell you how steady his game has been. He really does bring it … He’s a gamer and a great teammate. I’m looking forward to seeing him.”
THE OTHER THREE BEARS PICKED
Max Delisle was the first of three selections the Attack made Friday night during Rounds 1-3 of the OHL Priority Selection.
They took a six-foot, 185-pound left-shot defenceman from the Quinte Red Devils, Blake Munnings, in the second round, 28th overall.
“Good feet, solid built. Looks like a hockey player, plays like a hockey player. I think there’s some untapped offensive abilities that he has,” DeGray says. “I don’t think his team scored a whole lot, but he was probably one of the guys … rushing the puck, made plays happen and defends pretty well for an offensive guy. But he’s probably at our level he’s going to be more of a two-way guy with an offensive flair.”
Owen Sound had another second round pick, 41st overall, a selected a big-bodied American forward from the Detroit Little Caesars program — Landon Jackman. He’s listed at 6-foot-2, 207-pounds.
“He’s a big boy,” DeGray says. “I think he’s played too much centre. I think he’s more of a winger than a centreman. I think he’d be more effective there, but that will be up to the coaches to decide. But he plays hard. His best shift is probably a top-10, top-15 pick in the draft. It might have been his inconsistency that maybe had him drop. But when you’re looking at it as an organization looking for good players, you’re almost hoping for kids like that to drop and then feel comfortable enough to select them at that spot. And that’s exactly what we did.”
“He’s very excited about the opportunity and getting here in September,” DeGray adds.
DID YOU SAY SYKORA?
The final pick the Attack made Friday evening came in the third round, 57th overall: Roseland, New Jersey native Nicolas Sykora. He is the son of former professional player Petr Sykora, who spent 16 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1995-2012.
Nicolas is a 2007-born player who turns 18 next month, and DeGray says he will have the chance to come in and be a big part of the Attack next season — if he comes. The Attack GM is hoping an old connection he has with Nicolas’ father Petr can help on that front. DeGray and Sykora were teammates on the IHL’s Detroit Vipers in the 1994-95 season.
“There is still a chance he doesn’t come. But one of the things everyone will soon find out, is I played with his dad. It doesn’t say much for me,” DeGray chuckles. “But I played with his dad. And I’m hoping that will help us maybe have a little bit of a better opportunity to bring him here. It’s a bit of a gamble. A bit of a reach for the stars sort of deal. But I can tell you if he’s here, he will certainly enhance what we have moving forward.”
Listen to full comments from Attack GM Dale DeGray following Rounds 1-3 of OHL Priority Selection Friday:
Audio Player
