Kitchener, Ont. – The Kitchener Rangers announced today that forward Luca Romano, the Rangers’ first-round (11th overall) draft pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, has committed to an Ontario Hockey League standard player agreement and education package with the club.
“We are excited to sign Luca and welcome him and his family to the Rangers,” said Kitchener Rangers General Manager Mike McKenzie. “Luca has an abundance of on ice tools that are going to make him a very dangerous player in our league. He will make up a big part of our core group moving forward and we can’t wait to see him in a Ranger uniform.”
Romano, a native of Toronto, Ont., spent the past two seasons with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens AAA Hockey Club in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). This past year, Romano racked up 46 points (15G, 31A) in 36 games with the Jr. Canadiens before being selected 11th overall by the Rangers. A proven winner, Romano was a key member of the Jr. Canadiens when they captured the 2023 OHL Cup Championship this year and also played an integral role the season prior, leading the Jr. Canadiens as GTHL U15 champions.
“It’s very special to officially sign with Kitchener,” said Romano “I’ve dreamed of this my whole life. I’m ready to get started and meet more of the Rangers staff and teammates at camp this weekend.”
A 5-foot-11, 168-pound right-shot forward, Romano played in seven games at the 2023 OHL Cup and tallied eight points (5G, 3A), including a plus-nine rating. Additionally, he played in one Tier II Junior A game with the Stouffville Spirit in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).
Romano will wear number 86 for Kitchener and will be at the Rangers Development Camp this weekend, held this Friday through Sunday at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex. For more information on the Rangers Development Camp, click here.
OHL Central Scouting says: “Luca is a highly skilled centre that loves to have the puck on his stick. He is a very strong skater and has a good top end speed, shifty and hard to contain down low as he can stop and turn on a dime. He has high-end skills and is a threat with the puck to beat defenders in numerous ways. He loves to use his speed wide and if it is not there, he has very good vision and can hit the next waves of players easily. He competes hard for pucks and has a good active stick that he uses to defend with.”
