Barrie Colts co-captain Kashawn Aitcheson has signed a three-year, NHL entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, the club announced Tuesday afternoon.
The deal totals $3,225,000 and includes a $102,500 signing bonus, with a cap hit of $1,075,000, according to PuckPedia. The contract carries an average annual value of $1,575,000 and runs through the end of the 2028-29 season.
Aitcheson, nicknamed "Kash," was selected 17th overall by the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old Toronto native is wrapping up the best statistical season ever by a Colts defenceman.
A record-setting season in Barrie
Through 54 games, the six-foot-two, 200-pound blueliner leads all OHL defencemen in goals (28), power-play goals (15), points (70) and plus/minus (plus-45). He set franchise records this season for the most goals and points by a defenceman, and passed Brandt Clarke to become the Colts' all-time points leader among defencemen.
Over 205 career games with Barrie, Aitcheson has racked up 171 points, including 63 goals and 108 assists, along with 335 penalty minutes. He also helped Canada to a third-place finish at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships in January.
Colts dominate Eastern Conference coaches poll
The signing wasn't the only recognition Aitcheson received this week. The annual OHL Coaches Poll, released Tuesday, saw Aitcheson and Colts teammate Cole Beaudoin each lead the Eastern Conference with first-place finishes in four different categories, Barrie 360 reported.
Aitcheson earned the most points as the Eastern Conference's Best Shot (29), Hardest Shot (41), Best Bodychecker (35) and Best Offensive Defenceman (37).
Beaudoin took top spot as the Hardest Worker (43), Best on Faceoffs (39), Best Defensive Forward (tied with North Bay's Ethan Procyszyn at 37) and Best Penalty Killer (31). He also placed second as the Smartest Player, behind Brantford's Jake O'Brien.
Other Colts also drew recognition from the league's bench bosses. Goaltender Ben Hrebik was voted the Best Puckhandling Goaltender (17), defenceman Evan Passmore finished second as the Best Shot Blocker (20), Emil Hemming was fourth for Most Dangerous in the Goal Area (17), and Parker von Richter was second in voting for Best Defensive Defenceman (22).
The poll works by having each OHL team submit one nominee per category, with coaches then voting for the top three players in each category within their conference. Players receive five points for a first-place vote, three for a second and one for a third. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own players, giving each category winner a maximum possible total of 45 points.
