Owen Sound Attack's Rookie Sensation Has Truly Stepped Up His Game, Positioning Himself As A Strong Contender For Rookie Of The Year
The battle for rookie of the year in the OHL is a tight race, and Owen Sound Attack 16-year-old forward Pierce Mbuyi has entered his hat in the ring with his eye-popping goal-scoring stretch.
The Owen Sound Attack drafted Winnipeg Jets first-rounder Colby Barlow eighth overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. He went on to set a franchise record of 30 goals as a 16-year-old in his rookie season.
In the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, the Attack took Pierce Mbuyi seventh overall, who just like Barlow, played for the prestigious Toronto Marlboros organization in his OHL draft year.
Well, whoever it was in Owen Sound's scouting staff that pounded their first on the table to take the 5-foot-10 winger should be applauded, as Mbuyi has reached another level in his game as of late.
Mbuyi is not only leading all 16-year-old OHL players but also all rookies in goals, with a total of 23 in 49 games. Unsurprisingly, he also leads in powerplay goals with nine and shots on goal, tallying 137.
"I would say I was more of a pass-first guy and I still try and do that but I've just been scoring lately, but I've never really been a goal scorer. I worked on my shot all summer and every day after practice I work on it. I do have more confidence in my shot now," said Mbuyi in an exclusive interview with us at The Hockey News.
Pierce has been named the OHL's Rookie of the Week for the second straight week.
He grew up in Toronto and the Mississauga area cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs and told us he likes to model his game after Tampa Bay Lightning's Brayden Point and New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes.
Like Points and Hughes, Mbuyi is a highly skilled undersized forward whose offensive skillset makes up for his lack of size.
"Definitely the size of the players and the speed. I feel like I've adjusted to it now but it was difficult to adjust to at the start," Mbuyi said when asked what was most challenging adjusting to the OHL.
Moving away from home is one of the most challenging parts of a 16-year-old playing in their rookie season. This is where billet families become such a huge aspect of the OHL lifestyle.
"It hasn't been too bad (moving away from home). My billets have been amazing. I feel like everyone around me has helped me adjust, my teammates, my coaches, everyone has been super welcoming and supportive. It's been great."
An interesting tidbit on his goal-scoring prowess this season, he's been able to collect goals in bunches on the same night. He has six multi-goal games, three of which are hat tricks.
Since the new year, Mbuyi has scored 15 goals in 19 games. He has been held off the scoresheet in just six of those matches and has collected 27 points during this impressive stretch of play.
What has clicked and attributed to the stretch he's on?
"I think it's just how much my coaches have trusted me and the opportunities they give me every night, which I am super thankful for. It's given me a lot of confidence."
Mbuyi's first career hat trick came in the Attack's comeback win against Sarnia on Jan. 25. He ripped home a one-timer on the powerplay in the first and then scored two extremely important goals for his team in the third.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD629oZN7VI[/embed]
His second career hat trick was a natural hat trick in the first period against the Kitchener Rangers on Feb. 7.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZexK_k2GIw[/embed]
Then, here's his third hat trick of the season and a career-high five-point performance from Owen Sound's 8-5 win against Erie on Feb. 14.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StEd1PPwvwE[/embed]
Barlow scored 30 goals in 59 games as a rookie. With 14 games left in the schedule for Owen Sound, can their new offensive young stud tie or even break Barlow's record?
Mbuyi is eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. He's a good bet to have a shot at playing on Team Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup alongside fellow 2008-born OHL players Braidy Wassilyn and Ethan Belchetz.
The young man gave a very modest and mature response when asked if he's had any thoughts of next season and his all-important draft year campaign.
"For me, I've always tried to let my play talk for me. I don't really think about that stuff too much. Obviously, I want to get drafted high but I don't really think about it too much. I just want to go out there and do my best every time I'm on the ice."
He acknowledged that he needs to continue to work on his defensive zone play and positioning moving forward, as well as getting stronger so he can, in his words, be stronger on the puck and win those battles in the corner.
Alas, he has surely caught the eyes of scouts as an intriguing prospect for the 2026 NHL draft.
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