Anthony Romani – North Bay Battalion – Player Profile

HT	WT	DOB	POS	SHOOTS	OHL DRAFT	NHLCS	COUNTRY
6’1”	184	July 12, 2005	RW	R	41st 2021	70th N.A.	CAN

SEASON	LEAGUE	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS
2019-2020	GTHL U15	Toronto Jr Canadiens	32	28	13	41
2021-2022	OHL	North Bay	54	8	6	14
2022-2023	OHL	North Bay	66	23	20	43
2023-2024	OHL	North Bay	68	58	53	111

I don’t usually go into detail on draft re-entries, but Anthony Romani is an exception. One year ago, I had him ranked him 31st among OHL skaters—potentially too low. Now, after a strong season, he may require a higher pick. Not selecting Romani last year was a missed opportunity.

Though Romani lacks the flashy skills that often captivate fans, his consistent playmaking and scoring touch make him a dominant force. With a league-leading 58 goals and second with 111 points this season, Romani’s understated brilliance has put him in contention for the Red Tilson Award as the league’s most outstanding player.

Despite lacking above-average skating and physical abilities, Romani demonstrates elite hockey sense that few can match. His ability to evade coverage and get open for passes to unleash his much-improved shot is exceptional. While his stats portray him primarily as a goal scorer, he also makes plays from the wing, showcasing very good vision and a knack for finding teammates in scoring positions.

Though Romani’s offensive play has improved significantly, there are two areas where I did not see as much progress as I had hoped. First, Romani could use his size more effectively with a more physical style of play. While he still needs to fill out his frame, I believe he has the potential to be a bigger force if he adds more physicality to his game. Secondly, while his defensive skills are not terrible, I expected his defensive awareness to be further along given his high hockey IQ. With more focus on a physical presence and defensive fundamentals, Romani can take his game to the next level.