After historic rookie year, Mbuyi embracing larger role with Attack

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Pierce Mbuyi arrived in Owen Sound with high expectations, and the 17-year-old winger has continued to deliver for the Attack after a record-setting rookie campaign.

Taken seventh overall in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, Mbuyi made an immediate impact in his first season, earning the Emms Family Award as the OHL’s Rookie of the Year. This season, he's continued to establish himself as one of the league’s top young forwards.

Mbuyi leads Owen Sound in scoring with 23 goals and 50 points in 41 games, while his 13 power-play tallies are the most in the OHL.

The Attack sit sixth in the Western Conference with an 18-19-1-3 record. A busy trade deadline saw the team move all-star goaltender Carter George to the Soo Greyhounds and trade captain and shutdown defenceman David Bedkowski to the Ottawa 67’s.

“I think the trade deadline was in our heads a lot,” Mbuyi said. “The whole room was kind of off with everything going on, but now that it’s over, we can get back to playing our game.”

"It’s just about getting back to how we were at the start of the season. We started off well and slid since then, but the message is this our group now, it's set in stone. Let’s come together and get back to how we were."

Committed to Penn State for next season, Mbuyi is also drawing attention from NHL scouts. Central Scouting ranks him 44th among North American skaters, while TSN director of scouting Craig Button has him 25th in his latest rankings.

“I just want to go out there and play my game,” he said. “Show the scouts what I can do and not worry about the lists.”

Mbuyi also credits the support from the Owen Sound community for his success.

“It’s a small market and a tight community,” he said. “Everyone loves the Attack and supports us. It makes a big difference.”