Brampton Steelheads Defenceman Stevie Leskovar Signs with Minnesota Wild
BRAMPTON, ON – The Minnesota Wild have officially signed Brampton Steelheads defenceman Stevie Leskovar to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced today. The 20-year-old was drafted in the sixth round (174th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft and is currently playing his final season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Leskovar, a 6-foot-4, 216-pound native of Cambridge, Ontario, has played 33 games with the Brampton Steelheads this season, accumulating 70 penalty minutes. In the 2023-24 season, he notched 12 points (2G,10A) and 113 penalty minutes in 61 games with the Steelheads while maintaining a plus-11 rating. Over his four-season OHL career, split between the Peterborough Petes (2021-23) and the Steelheads franchise (2023-25), Leskovar has recorded 20 points (4G,16A) and amassed 237 penalty minutes in 158 games. His junior career also included a stint with the Lakefield Chiefs of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL), where he tallied 18 points (10G, 8A) in 16 games during the 2021-22 season.
Steelheads Head Coach and General Manager James Richmond praised Leskovar’s perseverance and commitment. “We are so proud of Stevie and very happy for him and his family. He has worked his tail off and persevered over a lot of obstacles along the way. We know he’ll continue to work to become a professional hockey player. Congratulations, Stevie. Well earned!”
As an over-ager, Leskovar is set to complete his final OHL season before transitioning to the professional ranks. His size and physical presence on the blue line make him a valuable addition to the Minnesota Wild’s prospect pipeline.
