Few players could have made a mid-season transition to the North American game like Youngstown’s Martin Misiak.

The Phantoms utilized all avenues to add to their roster throughout the season, but perhaps no acquisition was more impactful than that of the 18-year-old Slovakian in late January.

Centering Youngstown’s top line in his debut, Misiak wristed a power-play goal from the left dot for his first career United States Hockey League goal.

On the surface, the young forward tallied 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 27 games during the regular season.

However, he paced all Youngstown skaters in the postseason with 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in nine games, underscoring his importance and impact on a team that captured its first Clark Cup championship this season.

“‘Martie’ is a kid who works extremely hard,” Phantoms head coach Ryan Ward told FloHockey. “He’s got all the natural physical tools to be a pro, and he wants to be a pro, and I think that’s the biggest thing. He’s a super competitive kid, and he’s going to do everything he can to put himself in a position to have success.”

Martin Misiak Player Profile

Date of Birth: Sept. 30, 2004
Age: 18
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 198 pounds
Shot: L
Ranking: No. 45 by NHL Central Scouting (EU Skaters)
Production: 27 games, six goals, 11 assists, 17 points
College: N/A

Adjusting To The USHL, Developing Into A Power Forward

When he was acquired, Misiak had accumulated 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 29 games for the HC Nove Zamky squad of the Slovakian League.

He was in his second year playing professional hockey against grown men, which proved to be a terrific development tool for the young forward.

Additionally, he showed well for Team Slovakia at the IIHF 2023 World Juniors. Despite not recording a point in three tournament games, he proved he could handle himself and belonged: throwing his weight around to regain possession of the puck, taking pucks hard to the net and showing off his shot.

Coming over to the USHL, Misiak possessed several translatable skills that helped him make an immediate impact with Youngstown: elite speed, a great shot and a strong two-way game.

Of course, he had to adjust to playing on a smaller rink and having less space and time to react and make plays, but Misiak substantiated that to be no significant hurdle to cross.

He already spoke English very well, making his transition much easier, but he hadn’t played in a grueling schedule like the 62-game compressed format of the USHL.

With at least two games every weekend, sometimes with travel in between, Misiak quickly learned how to battle through the grind of the league.

4 weeks ago... 🏆#ClarkCupChamps │ 🎥 @_msfilms pic.twitter.com/Msfmp74bbe

— Youngstown Phantoms (@YtownPhantoms) June 16, 2023

In the second half of the season with the Phantoms, the Slovakian became a reliable two-way power forward for Youngstown. The coaching staff helped him unlock his full potential.

“It took him a little bit of time to realize what his strengths were, but when he started playing like a power forward and taking pucks to the net and using his body and physicality, that elevated his game down the stretch,” Ward said of Misiak.

Misiak largely spent his first season with the Phantoms centering the team’s top line, playing alongside fellow 2023 NHL Draft-eligible prospect William Whitelaw and Edmonton Oilers’ 2021 sixth-round pick Shane Lachance.

With every game that passed, Misiak looked more and more comfortable in his role, and the points started to add up, while his line shut down the opposing team’s top lines defensively.

“When we moved him to the middle of the ice, I think just being inside and not being a perimeter player and focusing on being a power forward, that was where we saw his biggest improvements, and his consistencies within that play really, really improved,” Ward added.

Shined When It Mattered Most

Misiak found the scoresheet sporadically through the first couple of weeks of his season, but he became much more of an offensive contributor down the stretch of the regular season.

From mid-March to the regular season’s close, he collected 11 points (four goals, 11 assists) over the final 15 games, displaying many of those same attributes that helped him make a successful transition into the league.

He recorded the game-tying goal in early April against Chicago on a play that hopped over the defender’s stick in the attacking zone. Misiak turned on the jets and beat the Steel netminder to put the Phantoms in position to win the game, which they did in overtime thanks to William Whitelaw.

Against Muskegon on April 1, he recorded his first three-assist contest with Youngstown.

And fittingly, he recorded the final goal of the regular season, an empty-net tally, foreshadowing his impact in the Clark Cup Playoffs.

In the postseason, Misiak elevated his game to another level. It seemed that the brighter the lights shined, the better he played.

He was dominant in the faceoff circle in the Eastern Conference Finals against Chicago, playing a pivotal role in both maintaining possession of the puck and keeping it out of the hands of the Steel’s high-octane offense.

“That was an area that was probably the most pleasant surprise for us – his ability to win faceoffs,” Ward said of Misiak. “And, for us to start with the puck, it’s a huge part of the game that probably goes undervalued, but it’s something we put a huge premium on down the stretch, and ‘Martie’ did a great job of it.”

What a goal by Martin Misiak!! pic.twitter.com/sxZpEiiLwz

— Youngstown Phantoms (@YtownPhantoms) May 9, 2023

Overall, Misiak was terrific in the postseason. Had Jacob Fowler not stonewalled every opponent he faced, some real consideration could have been given for the former to be the Clark Cup’s Most Outstanding Player.

He had just two goals, but he proved to be an excellent facilitator of the puck, finding his teammates time and again for great scoring chances.

Misiak is expected to be back with the Youngstown Phantoms for the 2023-2024 season, and a full USHL season could see the youngster explode offensively.

Based on his performance in a limited sample size this past year, demonstrating how committed he was to helping his team as fast as possible and making it look easy, Ward does not doubt that Misiak has a path to the NHL.

“For me, the potential he has with his frame and his speed and power is something that if he continues to develop, (going pro) is a sure thing for him,” Ward said.