The 2025 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft presented by Upper Deck, took place June 27-28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
A total of 224 players were selected through seven rounds, including 131 forwards, 69 defencemen, and 24 goaltenders. The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) was proud to see 20 alumni selected in the draft.
Of the 20 players selected, four were first round picks – all of whom were named GTHL Top Prospects in either 2022 or 2023. Each of the seven rounds saw at least one GTHL alumnus selected.
Michael Misa was the first GTHL alumnus off the board. Misa, a former Mississauga Senator and 2022 OHL Cup MVP, heard his name called by the San Jose Sharks at second overall.
Former Toronto Jr. Canadien Porter Martone followed in representing the GTHL, as the Philadelphia Flyers used their sixth overall pick to select the 2022 OHL Cup silver medalist.
Jake O’Brien (Toronto Jr. Canadiens) went two picks later at eighth overall to the Seattle Kraken. O’Brien captained the Jr. Canadiens to their 2023 OHL Cup championship.
Former North York Ranger Kashawn Aitcheson filled out the first round, going 16th overall to the New York Islanders. Aitcheson was followed by another former Ranger, Simon (Haoxi) Wang, who was selected 33rd overall by San Jose. With the selection, Wang became the highest drafted Chinese-born player in NHL history.
The draft highlighted several familiar connections, including three pairs of former GTHL teammates and one trio from the Mississauga Senators:
- Michael Misa, Malcolm Spence, and William Moore all suited up for the 2006-born Mississauga Senators during the 2021–22 season.
- Jake O’Brien and Luca Romano played together on the 2007-born Under-16 Toronto Jr. Canadiens during the 2022–23 season.
- Jimmy Lombardi and Shamar Moses were teammates on the 2007-born U16 Don Mills Flyers in 2022–23.
- William Moore and Aiden Lane played together on the 2007-born U16 Toronto Marlboros in 2022-23.
Eight of the GTHL’s 12 ‘AAA’ clubs were represented throughout the NHL Draft. The Mississauga Senators, Toronto Jr. Canadiens, and Toronto Marlboros led the way, each with four alumni selected. The Don Mills Flyers, North York Rangers, Toronto Young Nationals, and Vaughan Kings each had two alumni selected, while the Mississauga Rebels were represented by former standout, Ethan Czata.
2025 NHL Draft Facts: GTHL Alumni Edition
- Simon (Haoxi) Wang surpassed fellow GTHL alumnus Kevin He as the highest drafted Chinese-born player when the San Jose Sharks selected Wang 33rd overall in the second round.
- 12 former GTHL Top Prospects were selected in the 2025 NHL Draft:
- 2022: Michael Misa, William Moore*, Malcolm Spence, Kashawn Aitcheson, Porter Martone
- 2023: Jack Ivankovic, Luca Romano, Jake O’Brien, Jimmy Lombardi, Shamar Moses, Ethan Czata, Aiden Lane, William Moore*
- *Two-time GTHL Top Prospect
- One former U18 ‘AAA’ All-Star was selected in the 2025 NHL Draft: Lirim Amidovski.
- Michael Misa is the younger brother of Calgary Flames prospect Luke Misa, who was selected in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
- Malcolm Spence, Porter Martone, and Michael Misa won gold with Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
- Jake O’Brien, Ethan Czata, Jack Ivankovic, and Luca Romano won gold with Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
- Michael Misa, William Moore, and Malcolm Spence won the 2022 OHL Cup together with the Mississauga Senators, defeating Porter Martone’s Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the championship game. Misa scored a hat trick, along with two assists to lead the Senators to victory, taking home tournament MVP honours. Spence and Martone each scored a goal in the final.
2025 NHL Draft: GTHL Alumni (20)
| Round | Selection | Name | NHL Team | GTHL Team |
| 1 | 2 | Michael Misa | San Jose Sharks | Mississauga Senators |
| 1 | 6 | Porter Martone | Philadelphia Flyers | Toronto Jr. Canadiens |
| 1 | 8 | Jake O’Brien | Seattle Kraken | Toronto Jr. Canadiens |
| 1 | 16 | Kashawn Aitcheson | New York Islanders | North York Rangers |
| 2 | 33 | Simon (Haoxi) Wang | San Jose Sharks | North York Rangers |
| 2 | 43 | Malcolm Spence | New York Rangers | Mississauga Senators |
| 2 | 47 | Alexei Medvedev | Vancouver Canucks | Vaughan Kings |
| 2 | 51 | William Moore | Boston Bruins | Mississauga Senators/Toronto Marlboros |
| 2 | 56 | Ethan Czata | Tampa Bay Lightning | Mississauga Rebels |
| 2 | 58 | Jack Ivankovic | Nashville Predators | Mississauga Senators |
| 3 | 71 | David Bedkowski | Buffalo Sabres | U14 Toronto Young Nationals |
| 3 | 74 | Luca Romano | New York Islanders | Toronto Jr Canadiens |
| 3 | 77 | Francesco Dell’Elce | Colorado Avalanche | Toronto Marlboros |
| 4 | 121 | Lirim Amidovski | Minnesota Wild | U18 Toronto Jr. Canadiens |
| 4 | 125 | Jimmy Lombardi | Los Angeles Kings | Don Mills Flyers |
| 5 | 129 | Shamar Moses | Florida Panthers | Don Mills Flyers |
| 6 | 176 | Aiden Lane | Calgary Flames | Toronto Marlboros |
| 6 | 186 | Alexander Weiermair | Vegas Golden Knights | Vaughan Kings |
| 7 | 215 | Marco Mignosa | Tampa Bay Lightning | Toronto Young Nationals |
| 7 | 217 | Matthew Hlacar | Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto Marlboros |
Stay connected with the GTHL on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.