""It's a tournament that you watch growing up every single Boxing Day with your family through the holidays," Aitcheson told the New York Post in a phone interview with beat reporter Ethan Sears. "It becomes a dream of yours to one day represent your country on a really big stage. This is probably the biggest tournament in the world. Just with all the eyes on you, everything like that, it's obviously an honor to put on that maple leaf.""
""I think it's my coaches just trusting me," Aitcheson said. "Obviously I've worked on things in the summer like my shot. Just trying to find offensive spots. But it's also just trying to round out my game generally. Trying to be a well-rounded player that you play in all situations.""
Kashawn Aitcheson will represent Canada at the World Junior Championship, a marquee tournament tied to Boxing Day hockey tradition. The Barrie Colts defenseman was the 17th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and is a New York Islanders prospect acquired in the Noah Dobson trade. Aitcheson has 19 OHL goals this season, the most among players named to Canada's World Junior roster. Offensive gains followed summer work on his shot and increased trust from coaches. He projects as a matchup defender who can eat penalty-kill minutes, defend top lines, and contribute offensively by joining the rush and shooting from the point.
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