Schedule announced for 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

For former Mississauga Senators teammates Malcolm Spence and Michael Misa,
it was their first interplay 4 years in the past off the ice that kick-started a long-lasting friendship.

“Misa was the one who really welcomed me to the Senators,” recollects Spence. “I broke my wrist in [U11] and he
was the one who made me really feel welcomed and launched me to the Sens after I
came visiting from Burlington. Right away, we clicked and we turned actually
shut.”

Misa and Spence first met as members of the Senators in
2019 and over the following three seasons with the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) membership they turned shut buddies not simply on the ice, but additionally off it, bonding
over different issues like Sunday Night Football.

“Malcolm got here in with an ideal perspective and he’s an ideal individual to be round,
so we linked actual fast,” says Misa. “He’s become like a brother to me.”

As Misa and Spence’s friendship grew, so did their competitiveness, usually
pushing one another to be higher on and off the ice and constructing off their
successes — one thing that continues to at the present time.

“The competitors is certainly all the time there between us. He pushes me and I
push him,” says Spence.

That competitiveness was evident in the course of the 2021-22 season with the Sens,
which occurred to be their final. The two completed second and third on the
staff in scoring — Spence had 56 factors and Misa had 43. The pair additionally helped
Mississauga seize the 2022 OHL Cup, its first since 1993. As a
15-year-old, Misa led the event with 20 factors (10 targets, 10 assists),
whereas Spence was proper behind with 13 (six targets, seven
assists).

During the 2022-23 season, the buddies discovered themselves enjoying
towards one another for the primary time after they had been drafted 1-2 within the
2022 OHL Priority Selection. Misa, a 2007-born ahead who granted
distinctive standing to enter the OHL draft, went No. 1 to the
Saginaw Spirit whereas Spence landed with the Erie Otters.

“On the ice, it’s all the time aggressive. But, as soon as we’re off the ice, we’re
buddies once more and we perceive that as gamers,” says Misa.

“It’s all enjoyable and video games as buddies, however after we play towards one another,
it’s severe,” provides Spence.

Reunited once more

Last month, Spence and Misa realized they might be collectively once more for the primary time since their days in Mississauga after they had been named to
Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team for the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup —
one thing they’re each glad about.

“I’m positively having fun with it proper now, seeing his jersey on my staff once more,
making nice performs, I’m tremendous glad for that,” says Spence.

“We’ve all the time had a decent bond so its all the time good to have somebody that I can
discuss to [on the team],” Misa provides.

Going for gold

Misa and Spence
know what it’s wish to symbolize the Maple Leaf towards worldwide
competitors, having accomplished so on the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in
Langley and Delta, BC final fall. Spence was a member of Canada Black whereas
Misa represented Canada Red.

“The international competition is always some of the best,” Misa provides. “We
need to be prepared for every recreation as a result of everybody brings their greatest recreation to
the Hlinka Gretzky.”

As the 2 proceed to develop and put together for his or her futures, Misa and
Spence know they’ve a number of work to do to ultimately make it to the NHL.
But for now, the pair, who’re each draft eligible in 2025, are targeted on the
job at hand — profitable gold.

“It would be huge to be able to bring that success home,” Spence says.
“We’re taking it daily, we’re going to deliver as a lot of our success in
and proceed to construct on it. For myself, I hope to simply get higher each
day. If I can try this, every part else will deal with itself.”

“We got here right here to win the gold medal so everybody on the staff is striving to
get that objective,” echoes Misa. “The subsequent degree is even tougher so I simply wish to
deliver every part I can this summer time and be taught every part and maintain bettering.”

Wherever their skills take them, each Misa and Spence say they may
proceed to help one another wherever they find yourself.

“We constructed chemistry off the ice and it transitioned off it. Me and Michael
have lots of that chemistry, so each time we play collectively, it led to
particular moments, so I’ll perpetually cherish these,” Spence says. “He’s considered one of
my greatest buddies and I can’t thank him sufficient.”