Pair of NY Islanders 2025 draft picks advance in the OHL Playoffs

Two members of the New York Islanders’ 2025 draft class are making their presence felt — and now, they’re one step away from the OHL Finals.

Kashawn Aitcheson and Luca Romano have both advanced to their respective conference finals, continuing strong playoff runs that are turning heads across junior hockey.

Aitcheson, selected 17th overall, has been dominant for the Barrie Colts. Through eight playoff games, the defenseman has piled up 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) while maintaining a plus-six rating. He’s also been remarkably consistent, recording at least one point in every postseason game so far.

His impact was on full display in Barrie’s series-clinching 4-1 win over the Ottawa 67’s. Aitcheson scored a key power-play goal in the third period to extend the lead before adding an assist to seal the victory. Barrie dispatched Ottawa in five games and now shifts its focus to the Eastern Conference Final against the Brantford Bulldogs.

On the other side of the bracket, Romano is playing a quieter but still important role for the Kitchener Rangers. The Islanders’ third-round pick (74th overall) has contributed three points (1 goal, 2 assists) through nine playoff games as Kitchener rolled past the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in five games.

While his numbers don’t jump off the page like Aitcheson’s, Romano has been a steady presence in Kitchener’s lineup as they prepare to face the Windsor Spitfires in the Western Conference Final.

For the Islanders, this is exactly what you want to see — meaningful playoff experience and production from recent draft picks in high-pressure situations.

And there’s a bigger possibility looming.

If both Aitcheson and Romano win their respective conference titles, they’ll meet in the OHL Championship — a head-to-head showdown between two pieces of the Islanders’ future.

For now, both are still playing.

And that’s the best development story of all

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