On Friday, Romani was checked into the boards by Erie Otters’ Ty Henry at 10:32 of the first period and did not return to the game. Later that evening, a North Bay Battalion post-game article confirmed that the 19-year-old sustained a broken clavicle and will be out of the lineup indefinitely. While no specific timeline for his return has been provided, it is anticipated that Romani will miss a significant amount of time.
Before the injury, Romani was performing well, averaging a point per game with two goals and five points in the first five games of the 2024-25 season. Recently coming off his first NHL training camp, he was a standout prospect in Penticton and played all three games at the Young Stars Classic, scoring against his former North Bay teammate, Domenic DiVincentiis.
Last year, as a double-entry draftee, the then-18-year-old had an outstanding season in the OHL, finishing second in scoring with 111 points and leading the league with 58 goals. This impressive performance earned him a spot on the OHL Second All-Star Team, marking his first such recognition in four years of junior hockey. His remarkable season led to him being selected in the sixth round of the 2024 entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks with the 162nd overall pick.
Hailing from Pickering, Ontario, Romani is just 21 points away from achieving a point-per-game average over his prolific OHL career. With 91 goals, he has tallied 173 points in 194 games, all with the North Bay Battalion. Due to his July birthday, he still has the option to play one more year of junior hockey if his recovery takes longer than expected. Otherwise, he could aim for a professional roster spot next fall.
The North Bay Battalion will now be without one of their key offensive players. As of now, they are tied for fourth in the OHL’s Central Division standings with eight points (4-3-0-0 record), while the Niagara Ice Dogs lead the division with 10 points early in the season.
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