“It’s a team with a lot of opportunity and I’m going to make the most of it.”

There’s been a lot of buzz around the franchise coming into the league as the Golden Knights formed their roster through the expansion draft on Wednesday, June 21 and followed with 13 picks, three of them within the top 15 at the NHL Draft.

Hague was Mississauga’s leading scorer among defenceman with 46 points (18 goals and 28 assists) last season.

It remains to be seen whether he’ll play in Vegas next season or be sent to Mississauga for another season of development, but Hague is looking forward to what’s in store when his pro career begins.

“It’s history being made and it’s something that I’m really excited to be a part of,” he said.

“They put together a real good team through the expansion draft and just to be part of this new movement, new wave in the NHL, I’m really looking forward to it and I’m excited about it for sure.”

Last year, the Steelheads had five players chosen in the NHL Draft, including captain Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian and Austin Osmanski, all of whom spent the whole 2016-17 season with the team on its run to the OHL final.

While it’s early to say what will happen in next year’s NHL draft, Steelheads forward Ryan McLeod and goalie Jacob Ingham are considered high-end prospects.