Anthony Romani, a 21-year-old winger entering his sophomore season at Michigan State University, is drawing increased attention from coaches and scouts after overcoming a series of injuries and demonstrating significant offensive potential. Selected 162nd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2024 NHL Draft, Romani’s path to collegiate and professional hockey has been marked by perseverance and steady development.
Romani’s junior career included a standout 2023-24 season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he led the league with 58 goals and ranked second in points with 111. However, his final junior season was interrupted by a broken clavicle sustained just six games in, limiting his impact. Prior to that injury, he showed promise with the North Bay Battalion and Barrie Colts, particularly during the playoffs when he played through a high-ankle sprain to lead Barrie in scoring with 12 goals and 24 points over 16 games.
At Michigan State, Romani’s freshman year saw him tally 14 goals and 28 points in 37 games, placing him among the team’s top scorers. Coaches Mike Townes, Jared DeMichiel, and head coach Adam Nightingale have highlighted Romani’s hockey intelligence and offensive instincts, noting his ability to contribute not only in scoring but also in penalty killing. His physical development, aided by strength training with specialist Dan Noble and skill sessions with coach Josh Wrobel, has translated into a more complete and confident on-ice presence.
Wrobel, who has worked closely with Romani since 2022, credited him as a “late bloomer” who has refined his shooting technique and expanded his scoring repertoire beyond long-range snipes to include deflections and opportunistic goals around the net. Strength and conditioning have been central to his progress, with Romani gaining both power and acceleration, attributes that his coaches believe will serve him well as he continues to mature.
Romani’s decision to prioritize development at Michigan State over an immediate jump to the American Hockey League last season has been viewed positively by his trainers and coaches. His individualized strength and conditioning program, spearheaded by Michigan State’s director of athletic performance, Will Morlock, has allowed him to build a foundation for future growth.
Born in Pickering, Ontario, Romani has faced setbacks including missing a critical year of minor hockey due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the disappointment of being initially undrafted. He attributes much of his recent improvement to motivation sparked by those challenges. Describing himself as a smart offensive forward with strong hockey IQ, Romani is now focused on improving his first-step speed and anticipates that continued progress will lead to securing an entry-level contract with Vancouver.
Michigan State’s coaching staff remains optimistic about Romani’s trajectory. “We’re pumped for him to take another step next season,” associate coach Jared DeMichiel said, reflecting the confidence surrounding the promising young winger as he looks ahead to his second collegiate campaign.