NY Islanders 6th round pick named Eastern College Athletic Conference Defenseman of the Month

The revamped NY Islanders prospect pool continues to succeed in their respective 2025-26 campaigns, receiving accolades throughout the season. But this time, it’s not one of their high draft picks; instead, a sixth-round defenseman playing in the NCAA.

Freshman defenseman Xavier Veilleux of Cornell University was named ECAC Defenseman of the Month for January. The 19-year-old left-hand shot provided three goals and eight assists across 10 contests for the No. 9 Big Red.

Veilleux receives ECAC honors for January

The Islanders selected Veilleux 179th overall out of the USHL, playing with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. During his draft year, Veilleux’s numbers were nothing spectacular, racking up 32 points (3 G, 29 A) in 62 games, following it up with a 41-point (8 G, 33 A) campaign across 61 games in his D+1 season.

Making the jump to the collegiate ranks this season, Veilleux has elevated his game to another level against stiffer competition. Nearly a point-per-game defenseman with 21 (5 G, 16 A) in 22 games, Veilleux is tied for second in scoring for Cornell, while sitting 11th among all NCAA blue liners.

A two-way defenseman, Veilleux has been excelling across all three zones for Cornell. An incredibly cerebral player, the L’Ancienne-Loretta, QC native tends to outsmart his opponents rather than beat them with pure skill.

A left-shot defenseman, Veilleux is at the bottom of a logjam when it comes to cracking the Islanders' roster. With the left side locked up for the next three seasons between Matthew Schaefer, Adam Pelech, and Alexander Romanov, players like Isaiah George, Marshall Warren, and Kashawn Aitcheson are also waiting for their opportunities to become everyday players.

Being that he is playing in the NCAA, the Islanders have some time to sign Veilleux to an ELC before losing his rights. But the way he has been playing this season, he’s one worth keeping an eye on.