Top NHL draft prospect earned suspension for ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ incident

Michael Misa won’t be invited when the teddy bears have their next picnic.

The Saginaw Spirit star — and potential top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft — earned a one-game suspension from the OHL this week for shooting objects outside the playing surface.

That’s the official ruling, at least.

In reality, after Sarnia Sting forward Beckham Edwards scored in Sunday’s matchup it kicked off an avalanche of stuffed animals flying onto the ice as part of the team’s charity “Teddy Bear Toss.”

Misa, skating back toward the Spirit bench, flipped three of the toys back over the glass into the crowd.

The 17-year-old had already potted his 25th goal of the season earlier in what would be a 4-1 win, and served his ban Wednesday, sitting out a 2-0 loss to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

The league’s second-leading scorer with 49 points in 25 games is expected to return to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Oshawa Generals.

Misa was the No. 1 pick in the 2022 OHL draft, for which he was granted exceptional player status — an honor bestowed on a handful of players like Connor McDavid and John Tavares — and allowed to enter a year early.

He’s gone on to reward the Spirit, posting 29 goals and 75 points in 67 games as an OHL rookie, helping Saginaw win the 2024 Memorial Cup as CHL champions.