BRAMPTON STEELHEADS HAVE FOUR PLAYERS SELECTED AT 2025 NHL DRAFT
Between days 1-2 of the NHL Draft, four Steelheads heard their names called at the 2025 NHL Draft.
It was another monumental day for the Brampton Steelheads at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles, seeing four players selected, three of whom were forwards and one netminder. This marks back-to-back strong classes for the Trout, as the 2024 Draft in Vegas saw an additional five players selected, which tied 2016 for the most Steelheads taken in a single draft. With nine players chosen from the Steelheads in the past two drafts, Brampton has stamped its name on the map of NHL talent producers.
The Philadelphia Flyers made Steelheads history with the 6th overall pick, where they drafted Steelheads Captain Porter Martone, officially making him the highest drafted Steelhead in franchise history, passing Alex Nylander, who was selected 8th in 2016 by the Buffalo Sabres. Martone led the way for the Steelheads this season with a record-breaking year, tallying 37 goals, 61 assists, and 98 points, with the latter two setting new single-season highs for the club. With that, the third-year forward brought his OHL totals up to 204 points (89G 115A) in just 178 games played. With the selection, the Peterborough native will join a fellow Peterborough native, and former Steelhead Owen Tippett, in the orange and black.
In the second round, the Nashville Predators also made Steelheads history with their selection of goaltender Jack Ivankovic at 58th overall. With the pick, Ivankovic passed Spencer Martin, taken 63rd overall in 2013, as the highest drafted netminder out of the Steelheads organization. This also marked the second time in just two seasons where a Trout goalie product was drafted to the NHL, proving the franchise’s ability to develop top-end netminders under head coach and general manager James Richmond. The 5’11” puckstopper suited up in 43 games for Brampton this season, where he sported a 3.05 goals against average and a 0.903 save percentage. The Mississauga native became the first Steelhead to be selected by the Predators.
In the 6th round the Steelheads saw their third player taken off the board, as the Vancouver Canucks drafted Gabe Chiarot with the 175th overall selection. The 5’11” wrecking ball of a winger dressed in 66 games for the Trout this year, posting career highs across the board with 21 goals, 14 assists, and 35 points, and a plus-21 rating. The Hamilton native continues to prove himself since being selected 136th overall in the 2022 OHL Draft.
The Steelheads did not have to wait long to hear their next name called, as just one pick later, the Calgary Flames selected Aidan Lane at 176th overall, marking the first time in Steelheads history to see back-to-back NHL picks. Since joining the Steelheads from St. Andrew’s College, Lane recorded 13 points in just 13 games with the Trout. Lane will join Steelheads teammate Luke Misa, a 2024 NHL Draft pick, in the Flames organization.
