When he was nine or 10 years old, Kashawn Aitcheson decided it was high time to start working on a list of life goals. First was to make a AAA team in the Greater 色色啦 Hockey League. Second was to play in the NHL, and third was to be a Hockey Hall of Famer.
鈥淚 was always that delusional kid who never thought I wasn鈥檛 going to play in the NHL,鈥 Aitcheson said.
Eight years later, as Aitcheson tucks into a post-workout pasta meal in mid-June, it doesn鈥檛 seem so delusional anymore. In fact, it鈥檚 very close to becoming a reality because Aitcheson, all six-foot-two and 200 pounds of him, will definitely be a first-round pick in the NHL draft on Friday.
色色啦-born Barrie Colts defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson is expected to be a first-round pick at the 2025 NHL draft.
Barrie ColtsMost scouts don鈥檛 think he鈥檒l get past the 15th spot (which currently belongs to the Vancouver Canucks) and could go as high as 10th (where the Anaheim Ducks are slotted). When he wasn鈥檛 being poked and prodded along with other prospects at the NHL鈥檚 recent draft combine, he was interviewing with 22 teams. One of them asked him to balance one golf ball on top of another, a feat he managed to complete in 24 seconds.
Whichever NHL team gets Aitcheson will be adding a very intriguing prospect. The defenceman led the Barrie Colts with 26 goals and tied for the team lead with 59 points this past season because he can skate and has a bomb for a shot. But he鈥檚 also a throwback, a player who not only excels in the physical side of the game but loves it.
That was no more on display than in January at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound when Aitcheson rocked Tristan Delisle of the Attack with a clean, thundering hit at centre ice, then accepted Masen Wray鈥檚 invitation to fight before breaking Wray鈥檚 orbital bone. Aitcheson also scored a goal and an assist in the game (for a Gordie Howe hat trick) and was named first star. After the game, he was kind enough to send Wray a text: 鈥淚 hope you have a good recovery.鈥
This was the Aitcheson hit on Delisle and the following fight with Wray. There is only one Kashawn Aitcheson in this draft, do not be surprised if he goes higher than most expect.
鈥 M.M (@95morrison)
鈥淗e鈥檚 a predator, in a good way,鈥 said one NHL scout. 鈥淎nd when he hits a guy, he always answers the bell. And when he answers the bell, he usually knocks the guy out.鈥
An old family photo of Barrie Colts defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson, right, pictured with his mom, Amanda, and younger brother, King.
Family photo鈥淗e wants to hit and hurt and he enjoys it,鈥 said Colts general manager Marty Williamson. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not shy about it, but he鈥檚 not dirty. He cares and he鈥檚 a great teammate. He wants to be the defender of the team.鈥
Much of that instinct comes to Aitcheson naturally. His parents split when he was eight years old. Aitcheson and his younger brother King spent much of their youth living in an apartment at Main Street and Gerrard Street East in 色色啦鈥檚 east end聽鈥 right across from the Ted Reeve Arena, where Aitcheson played house league hockey. With Aitcheson鈥檚 mother Amanda working long hours, her elder son was often charged with the task of ensuring that his younger brother鈥檚 needs were being met, and it was in that process that he developed his protective instinct.
鈥淲e shared a room that had a bunk bed and because my mom was at work, I鈥檇 have to get him up and make his lunches and make sure he was getting a good breakfast,鈥 Aitcheson said. 鈥淚鈥檇 have to get him to school on time and pick him up and take him to my great-grandmother鈥檚 house and wait for our grandmother to pick us up. I embraced it. It鈥檚 that leadership quality in me. I wanted to take care of him, I wanted to protect him, I wanted to be there for him.鈥
Barrie Colts defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson meets with a young fan at a team event.
Barrie ColtsThe Colts, who made him an assistant captain this past season that could be replaced with a C next season, picked up on that aspect of his personality quickly. When a 104-year-old Colts fan was in hospital last season, Aitcheson grabbed a teammate and 鈥斅爓ithout any prodding 鈥斅爃eaded to the hospital for a visit. He鈥檚 always first to meet with fans after games, which combined with his on-ice exploits has made him a fan favourite in Barrie.
It’s safe to say opponents don鈥檛 share that opinion. During the 2023-24 season, Aitcheson caught Nathan Villeneuve of the Sudbury Wolves with a clean open-ice hit, then had to fight Nolan Collins. The Colts were due to play the Wolves three days later, but between games Aitcheson received word from Wolves winger and Winnipeg Jets prospect Keiron Walton聽鈥斅燗itcheson lived with his family when the best friends played for the North York Rangers under-16 teams聽鈥 that there was a bounty placed on Aitcheson in a team group chat.聽Any Wolves player who knocked him out for the season would receive a monetary reward. As a result, Villeneuve was suspended 15 games by the OHL, while teammate Evan Konyen received 10 games.
The Colts sat Aitcheson out for their remaining games against the Wolves that season, but that didn’t sit well with him.
鈥淚 wanted to play,鈥 Aitcheson said. 鈥淏ring it on. That鈥檚 the way I play. I want to piss聽people off and if they鈥檙e talking about me and putting a bounty on me, they鈥檙e not focusing on the game and that leaves some room for error. If they鈥檙e going back to their room saying 鈥極h, he鈥檚 an idiot鈥 that means I鈥檓 in their heads.鈥
It would be聽a mistake to assume that all of Aitcheson鈥檚 game is based on physicality and brawn. After all, he had all those goals this past season and tied his friend Walton for the most overtime goals in the OHL with four. TSN head scout Craig Button compares Aitcheson to Ryan McDonagh of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kaiden Guhle of the Montreal Canadiens and Gustav Forsling of the Florida Panthers. And with the Panthers having so much success with a smash-mouth style of hockey that also incorporates skill, Aitcheson has proven to be a valuable future asset.
鈥淚 want聽Kashawn Aitcheson on my team,鈥 Button said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 no fun playing against him because he鈥檚 hard, he鈥檚 heavy and he鈥檚 physical. I don鈥檛 think he鈥檚 going to be a big offensive producer in the NHL, but he鈥檚 going to play the hard, big minutes.鈥
Off the ice, Aitcheson is engaging and has a presence. He鈥檚 learned to play country music on the guitar and people gravitate toward him. He met his girlfriend聽鈥 Sadie Hotles (great-granddaughter of former NHLer Red Sullivan) who plays for the University of Connecticut and hopes to play in the Professional Women鈥檚 Hockey League聽鈥 more than two years ago when she was leaving an arena and he was coming in. Hotles, who wears No. 77 like Aitcheson does, was the MVP for the Durham West Lightning when they won the Esso Cup under-18 national championship in 2022.
Hotles, Aitcheson鈥檚 parents, grandparents, great-grandmother and the village that helped him become an elite player will be on hand for his big day on Friday. If he goes between 10th and 15th as expected, one of the Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets or Canucks will get him.
Kashawn Aitcheson poses for a portrait during the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine at the HarborCenter in Buffalo, N.Y.
Chase Agnello-Dean NHLI via Getty Images鈥淚 have him on our list ahead of at least four players who are better players,鈥 one scout said, 鈥渁nd I don鈥檛 care.鈥
No matter where he goes, Aitcheson will be happy. But that鈥檚 typical for him.
鈥淭here are no bad days in this kid鈥檚 life. There鈥檚 a smile on his face every day, 鈥 Williamson said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 even happy and engaged when we do video with him. We鈥檝e gotten out of video sessions with him and I鈥檝e turned to our coaches and said, ‘Don鈥檛 you wish you had 20 guys like that?’”
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