Islanders Schaefer, Aitcheson Invited To World Junior Summer Showcase
On Sunday, Hockey Canada announced that they invited 44 players to the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase.
Among those 44 were recent New York Islanders draftees Matthew Schaefer and Kashawn Aitcheson.
44 players invited to World Junior Summer Showcase Forty-four players will begin the road to the 2026 World Juniors at the Summer Showcase in Minneapolis.
Schaefer, drafted first overall by the Islanders in June, scored seven goals with 15 assists for 22 points in 17 games with the Erie Otters of the OHL last season. The 17-year-old defenseman is already familiar with international competition, as he represented Canada's 2025 National Junior Team and won gold at the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship.
Schaefer will be the second-youngest Canadian at the Summer Showcase, aside from projected 2026 first-overall pick Gavin McKenna.
Taken by the Islanders at 17th overall in 2025, Aitcheson will join Schaefer and the Canadian d-corps at the Summer Showcase. The left-shot defenseman scored 26 goals with 33 assists for 59 points in 64 games with the Barrie Colts of the OHL last season.
Like Schaefer, Aitcheson has experience representing Team Canada as a fellow gold medalist at the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship.
Schaefer and Aitcheson's presence at the Summer Showcase is a welcome progression for the Islanders' prospect pool, which has seen a rising stock since the 2025 NHL Draft.
The Summer Showcase will be available to stream live at USAHockeyTV.com.
PHOTO: @NYIslanders
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