Two NY Islanders prospects will participate in the World Junior Summer Showcase for Team Canada

It has been a busy week for the NY Islanders' newest prospects. Drafted into the organization on Friday, then hitting the ice for four days of development camp, which included the blue and white scrimmage.

For U20 players around the world, outside of playing in the NHL, winning the World Junior Championship is one of the biggest accomplishments. But before winning the tournament, these players have to make the team, and for Canadians, that is a difficult task in itself.

According to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, Kashawn Aitcheson and Matthew Schaefer have received invites from Hockey Canada to attend the World Junior Summer Showcase.

Schaefer and Aitcheson have been invited to The World Junior Summer Showcase for Team Canada

The World Junior Summer Showcase consists of Canada, USA, Sweden, and Finland, taking place July 25-Aug 2 at Ridder Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

Last year at the showcase, Islanders fourth-round pick in 2023, Jesse Nurmi of Finland, led all players with six points (2 G, 4 A) in four games.

Schaefer, the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, was part of Canada's 2025 WJC roster and top defenseman before breaking his collarbone in his second game of the tournament against Latvia.

The only possibility Schaefer doesn't represent the Great White North in the 2026 WJC in St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN, is if he has a full-time role on the Islanders roster. Playing only 19 games between the OHL and WJC last season, the Islanders will be patient with Schaefer and not rush to a decision. A return to juniors or the NCAA would significantly improve Canada's chances of taking home gold.

Aitcheson, a hard-hitting, point-producing blue liner, would bring an element of physicality to Team Canada, but with such a big pool of talented players to choose from, the Islanders' first-round pick will have to earn his way onto this year's roster.