Anthony Romani: Off to school. (Photo: Candice Ward, Getty Images)

Anthony Romani is a 19-year-old prospect biding his time for a chance with the Vancouver Canucks. He also represents a distress signal for the future of major junior hockey, having announced his intention to leave the Barrie Colts for the NCAA next season.  

His decision, at least publicly, does not appear to be based on a burning desire to enrol in any first-year philosophy or sociology courses at Michigan State University. It is a hockey decision, and a belief the U.S. collegiate system would better prepare him for a career in the NHL than another year in the Ontario Hockey League.  

“We thought it would be a good option going into next year,” Romani told the NHL’s news service. "I was lucky enough; when I was injured, I was able to visit Michigan State and a couple of other schools. It was really cool to see the facilities and all they had to offer.” 

Romani led the OHL with 58 goals through the 2023-24 season. He broke his collarbone in October and missed more than three months of playing time this season.  

He told the NHL news service he was in regular contact with the player development staff in Vancouver, with Mike Komisarek and Mikael Samuelsson taking him out to dinner. This next passage from the NHL’s story should be troubling for OHL fans.  

“The decision to attend the NCAA was influenced by Romani’s eagerness to train his body in some of the world’s best facilities," writes author Chris Faber. "He called it the best option for him to help become the best pro possible, and has already heard fantastic things about the trainers at Michigan State.” 

That appears to be part of an emerging trend. Defenceman Henry Mews is a Calgary Flames prospect, and he said the team influenced his decision to leave the Sudbury Wolves to enrol at the University of Michigan this fall.  

“I’m not going there for an education,” Mews told TSN 1200 in Ottawa in April. “I’m going there for what they have to offer for hockey.”   

This freedom of movement is new for players in major junior hockey. For generations, the NCAA barred OHL veterans from joining its ranks. That changed with a landmark decision to extend eligibility last fall, and the impact is still being assessed.  

The ultimate verdict could arrive in a decision from Gavin McKenna, the generational star playing with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He is already the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, and he is reportedly weighing his options with the NCAA.  

By moving to a U.S. college — reportedly Penn State University — McKenna could potentially alter the entire landscape of major junior hockey.  

"Nothing's done until it's done," Sportsnet hockey analyst Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “I was told it would be premature to make any enormous proclamation. But I asked a bunch of people around and said if you had to pick where he's going to play next year, most of them picked Penn State."

Pierce Mbuyi, rising star. (Photo: Sam Buschbeck, Owen Sound Attack)

Owen Sound Attack forward Pierce Mbuyi, the OHL’s top rookie, has declared his intention to enrol at Penn State University. He has not offered a timeline for when he plans to make the move.  

Greg Cowan, the veteran Sun Times reporter, has been following Mbuyi all season, and he suggests the 17-year-old will likely stay in Owen Sound for at least one more year.  

“Macklin Celebrini is the most notable 17-year-old to excel at the NCAA level in recent years," Cowan writes. "He scored 32 goals and added 32 assists in 38 games with the Boston University Terriers before being drafted first overall to the San Jose Sharks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.” 

Sportsnet is performing a valuable public service for all Canadian Hockey League fans by maintaining an active list of major junior players who have committed to the NCAA. There are already many familiar names on the list, which you can check out right here.  

Not all of those names are overagers, either. 

You can read Greg Cowan’s story right here.  

Off to the 705 area code. (Photo: Ian MacAlpine, The Whig-Standard)

After finishing dead last in the OHL standings, the Peterborough Petes have embarked on a busy off-season. The team made the first overall pick in the draft (Kaden McGregor), laid off a handful of front office staff, and completed a trade with the Kingston Frontenacs.  

The last move hints at how the team plans to continue rebuilding its roster. Petes GM Mike Oke sent three draft picks to the Frontenacs for 19-year-old winger Matthew Soto, who is expected to assume a leadership role with the young team this season.  

“We wanted to add more offensive punch and a little more experience,” Oke tells veteran Petes reporter Mike Davies. “We’ve assembled some good young talent and had another strong draft, but we also wanted to make sure we have a veteran presence.” 

According to Davies, the move cost the Petes one third-round pick (Sarnia’s, 2027), along with two fifth-round picks (Oshawa’s, 2027; Peterborough’s, 2029).  

“They have been a young team, but I feel like next year the young guys are going to be a lot better and I feel like they will be one of the better teams in the east," Soto tells Davies. "I wanted to be a part of that and hopefully help the team win.” 

You can read the whole story right here.  

It is NHL Entry Draft season — June 27 to 28 at Peacock Theater, in Los Angeles — meaning it is also personal profile season. The NHL’s news service spends some time here with Brady Martin, the hard-working 18-year-old forward with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.  

Hard-working? If you have ever spent time on a dairy farm, you know that undersells just how much work is required. And that is just before lunch.  

"So I'd wake up, like, 6 o'clock [in the morning], scrape out the [poop] in the pens and then put fresh stuff down for [the cows] to lay on, and then feed them all, put a couple through the milker that need to," Martin tells the NHL. “Then probably go for breakfast, and then see whatever else needs to get done the rest of the day."  

He might not have the name recognition of others in his draft class, and he might not have the same gaudy statistics (33 goals and 72 points in 57 games), but many still project him as a potential first-round pick. Martin works hard, and he’s farm-tough.  

“He’s not into superficial things, and as cliché as it sounds he’s just a typical farm boy: he likes people, he likes hard work, he thinks it’s a good quality, and we all know as we age that it’s actually a great quality, but for him to have that right now at 17 years old is special," skills coach Tyler Ertel told The Athletic last fall. "He’s just got this aura about him. For me, he’s got that it factor. And he knows who he is.” 

You can read that story right here (subscription required). 

You can read the NHL’s full story right here.  

(Photo: Mike Carlson, Getty Images)

Sam Bennett, a three-year veteran with the Kingston Frontenacs, hoists an unidentified trophy in Sunrise, Fla., on Tuesday night.