Owen Sound Attack rookie forward Pierce Mbuyi has been named OHL Rookie of the Year for 2024-25.
Mbuyi was the 7th overall pick by the Attack from the Toronto Marlboros U16 AAA program in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection. He put together an incredible rookie campaign that has earned him the Emms Family Award, handed out annually to the league's best rookie.
The season for Mbuyi got better and better, as he led all OHL rookies with 29 goals and 52 points over 63 games. That set a new Attack scoring record by a 16-year-old.
He got better down the stretch, posting 38 points (21-17–38), including three hat-tricks, over 33 games after January 1.
"It is a huge honour to be named OHL Rookie of the Year," said Mbuyi. "I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, coaches and everyone behind the scenes in Owen Sound. I want to thank my coaches for their trust and belief in me, giving me so much opportunity to play every night. I also want to thank my billets Jason and Shirra for welcoming me into their home and treating me as one of their own. Lastly, I want to thank all my friends and family back home for all their support, I really couldn’t have done it without them."
Mbuyi will be eligible for selection in the 2026 NHL draft. He is the first Attack player in franchise history to win Rookie of the Year.
"We are incredibly proud of what Pierce has been able to accomplish this season and to be acknowledged as the OHL Rookie of the Year is outstanding," said Attack General Manager Dale DeGray. "With some of the players we’ve had come through Owen Sound, it’s hard to believe that Pierce is the first Attack recipient of this award. It speaks volumes to how Pierce was able to perform this season with such a young team. His skill and effort was certainly noticeable from the very start, as you could tell from the crowd’s reaction when he scored a goal. Congratulations Pierce, it’s a tremendous accomplishment."