Middleton, 21, posted nine points (one goal, eight assists), 56 penalty minutes and a plus-11 rating in 50 games with the Barracuda last season. He finished the season ranked 3rd amongst Barracuda rookies in plus/minus, and led all team rookies in penalty minutes.
Prior to joining the Barracuda, Middleton spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), recording 86 points (14 goals, 72 assists), and 219 penalty minutes with Owen Sound and Ottawa. He served as Ottawa's captain in 2015-16, before joining the ECHL's Manchester Monarchs for the final two games of the season. He appeared in all five of Manchester's playoff games.
Middleton's accolades include being named to the 2012-13 OHL Second All-Rookie Team, as well as representing Canada Ontario at the 2013 U-17 World Hockey Challenge. He was ranked #91 amongst all skaters in his 2014 NHL Draft class by ISS Hockey and #74 by Future Considerations.
The six-foot-three, 210-pound native of Wainwright, Alberta was originally selected by Los Angeles in the seventh round (210th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.
