Kashawn Aitcheson


Kashawn Aitcheson is a Canadian junior ice hockey defenceman for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. He was drafted 17th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL entry draft.

Early life

Aitcheson was raised on the east side of Scarborough, Ontario, spending much of his childhood living near Ted Reeve Community Arena where he played minor hockey. His parents divorced when he was eight years old, and he helped raise his younger brother. Aitcheson credits his family, especially his grandparents and his uncle who played Junior A and NCAA Division III hockey, for supporting his hockey career. His father is from Jamaica; Aitcheson has said he looks up to players who have "paved the path for our generation, to push Black hockey and change the culture in hockey as well".

Playing career

On August 31, 2022, Aitcheson signed with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. During the 2022–23 season, he recorded one goal and two assists in 23 games. During the 2023–24 season, he recorded eight goals and 31 assists in 64 regular season games. During the playoffs he recorded one goal and three assists in six games. On January 18, 2024, after he legally body-checked a Sudbury Wolves player, Aitcheson fought with another Wolves player. Following the game, members of the Wolves' team group chat wrote about rewarding a bounty to the player who injured Aitcheson in the next Barrie–Sudbury match. An OHL investigation resulted in the suspensions of two Wolves players for 10 and 15 games, and the Colts chose not to play Aitcheson against the Wolves for the remainder of the season.
During the 2024–25 season, Aitcheson recorded 26 goals and 33 assists in 64 regular season games. On October 22, 2024, he was selected to the CHL/USA Prospects Challenge. On March 15, 2025, he scored his 24th goal of the season, setting a single-season franchise record for goals by a defenceman, and surpassing the previous record held jointly by Andrew Marshall, Aaron Ekblad and Brandt Clarke. In recognition of his play, Aitcheson was named to the OHL's Second All-Star Team.

International play

On April 16, 2024, Aitcheson was selected to represent Canada at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships. During the tournament he recorded one goal and two assists in seven games and won a gold medal.
In December 2025, he was selected to represent Canada at the 2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the tournament he recorded one goal and three assists in seven games and won a bronze medal.