Seven Strong: Steelheads 2025 NHL Draft Preview
Brampton, ON – The 2025 NHL Draft is set for this Friday and Saturday, June 27 and 28, in Los Angeles, California, and seven Brampton Steelheads are hoping to hear their names called.
With the NHL season wrapped up, hockey teams and fans are turning their attention to the next major event on the hockey calendar, the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, where 224 players will see their dreams come true. Last year’s draft in Las Vegas was a big one for the Steelheads, with five players being selected from the blue and white. This year, the Trout will look to continue this trend with another strong group of draft-eligible talent, with six Steelheads named on the NHL Central Scouting Prospect Rankings.
NHL Central Scouting 6th Ranked NA Skater – Porter Martone
Leading the way for Brampton’s draft eligibles is Porter Martone. The Peterborough native took the OHL by storm since joining the Steelheads, tallying 191 points in his two and a half seasons with the club. Martone kicked off his spectacular draft-eligible season by being named the Steelheads captain, as he has become a leader not just on the ice but in all aspects of the sport. The new Steelheads’ captain did not stop there, as he also took a lead in the Trout record books, passing James Hardie for the most points in a single season by a Steelhead, setting the new record at 98. This new total came in record time, as Martone missed nearly a month of OHL action to represent Canada at the World Junior Championships in Ottawa. Martone continued to make waves for Canada when he was selected to represent the Men’s national team at the IIHF World Championships in Sweden and Denmark, where he had the opportunity to learn from legends like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. This remarkable season earned Porter a selection on both the OHL and CHL prospect showcases, where he displayed his flare for the dramatics with an overtime-winning goal in the inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects game. Martone will look to break one more Steelheads’ record this Friday as he hopes to pass Alex Nylander as the highest drafted member of the Trout.
NHL Central Scouting 4th Ranked NA Goalie – Jack Ivankovic
Much like last year, the Steelheads have another top draft-eligible goaltender in the form of Jack Ivankovic. The Mississauga native stepped into the starter’s crease this season where he did not disappoint, posting a .903 save percentage and 3.05 Goals Against Average through 43 games this season while adding 2 shutouts on the way. The lightning-fast goaltender has long been regarded as the top Canadian netminder of his age, holding down the crease for the U17 team last season and the U18 team this season. Ivankovic dominated the latter of the two, posting a .961 save percentage and a 1.05 goals against average at the tournament, helping Canada capture Gold while earning the nod as the tournament’s top goaltender in the process. His national selections did not stop there, as Kovie also earned a spot on the World Junior Championships roster in Ottawa where he became the first seventeen-year-old goalie to start a game for the country since 1987. Jack’s stellar season earned him a selection to both the CHL and OHL top prospects games where he represented Canada in a match against the top American draft eligibles and for the Eastern Conference in a showdown versus the top Western Conference prospects. Ivankovic will look to follow in the footsteps of fellow Steelheads goalies Spencer Martin, Jacob Ingham, and Ryerson Leenders by hearing his name get called this weekend.
NHL Central Scouting 112th Ranked NA Skater – Aidan Lane
The Steelheads had a late addition to their Draft Eligible group in Aidan Lane. The Mississauga native was highly touted in the 2023 OHL Draft, but his commitment to Harvard allowed him to slide to the Steelheads in the fourth round. This past season, Lane led St. Andrews as the captain of their U18 squad before making a seamless transition to the OHL level with Brampton. Lane made his presence felt immediately, burying a dramatic game-tying goal with just 18 seconds left on the board in his very first OHL game. The rookie then went on to notch 13 points in just 13 games with the club. His unique blend of smarts, skill, and size will intrigue NHL teams this weekend.
NHL Central Scouting 151th Ranked NA Skater – Lucas Karmiris
Next comes a center with two-way projectability in Lucas Karmiris. Since being the 13th overall pick in 2022, Karmiris has become a mainstay in the middle of the Brampton lineup. The Brantford native plays with a combination of speed, skill, and tenacity, making him a factor in all three zones. This unique skillset earned Karmiris a nod on the OHL Top Prospects team for the Eastern Conference for their matchup in his hometown of Brantford. Though he battled injury this season, Karmiris still put up an impressive 35 points in just 40 games while helping bolster the Steelheads’ penalty kill that surged upon his return. Karmiris will catch the eye of any team looking for more two-way responsibility this weekend.
NHL Central Scouting 160th Ranked NA Skater – Gabe Chiarot
Following right behind Karmiris comes Gabe Chiarot, who sits just 9 spots back. A Hamilton native, the speedy power forward enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, quadrupling his goal output and tripling his point production from 2023. His new career high in goals of 21 tied Chiarot for 12th place among OHL Draft Eligibles despite playing in a smaller role than those ahead of him, as he helped bolster the Brampton 3rd and 4th lines. This role helped Chiarot round out his game as alongside putting the puck in the net, he also developed a tendency to punish opponents with big hits, and pressure defencemen on the forecheck and penalty kill. Chiarot is a true teammate, as he is always willing to step up for his linemates if need be. With the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers bringing back a more physical game, we could see teams covet Chiarot’s game at the Draft in Los Angeles.
NHL Central Scouting NA Skater Honourable Mention – Luke Dragusica
The Steelheads also possess another bruiser on the backend in Luke Dragusica. The 10th defenceman off the board in the 2023 OHL Draft, Dragusica carved out a sizable role on the Steelheads’ blue line as a rookie last season, where he carried a +17 rating through 47 games. Dragusica missed most of this season with a lower-body injury, but will step into a much bigger role next season with the departures of Finn Harding, Konnor Smith, Spencer Sova, and Stevie Leskovar. His physical presence and opportunity to grow will intrigue teams looking to bolster their backend.
NHL Central Scouting Unranked NA Skater – Kieran Witkowski
Another name to look out for next weekend will be Kieran Witkowski. A second-round pick of the Steelheads in 2023, Witkowski showed massive signs of improvement throughout the season. The Sophomore winger jumped from 7 points in his rookie year to 30 this past season. Much like Chiarot, Witkowski thrived despite a smaller opportunity for a contending Steelheads team. This helped him refine his game as a relentless forechecker who can handle tough tasks like penalty killing. Witkowski showed flashes of his high-end skill this season, most notably in a stellar performance against the Greyhounds, where he recorded his first career OHL hat-trick. With a much larger role next season, Witkowski can be a hidden gem for a team that takes a chance on him.
With back-to-back deep classes, the Steelheads continue to build and develop a strong NHL pipeline under General Manager and Head Coach James Richmond.
