With Cowan back, will offense come to life?

Knight Watch: London looking to find its offensive groove; Three games in three days will test Knights’ stamina; Club signs brother Boulton. Columnist Jake Jeffrey has latest Knights news — plus notes from around the OHL …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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The London Knights will have one of their biggest offensive weapons back in the lineup this weekend, as Easton Cowan is set to rejoin the team following a strong training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 28th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft caught many by surprise this fall, sticking around camp until the last possible moment — and proving that he had the talent worthy of a first-round pick. He had 53 points last year with the Knights, and followed that up with 21 in 20 playoff games. It’s certainly a welcome addition for a team that has at times struggled to generate offense at even strength early in the 2023-24 season.

The Knights remain the top-ranked team in the OHL ahead of a busy three-game weekend that starts Thursday and will see them travel to Peterborough and Sarnia, with a home game sprinkled in against Kingston on Friday night.

London is coming off a 4-1 win over Guelph last Saturday, where Denver Barkey, Jackson Edward and Ruslan Gazizov all scored their first goals of the season. Oliver Bonk, Brody Crane, Juan Copeland and Jacob Julien are still waiting for their first goals of the campaign, although Julien did pick up his first assist in Saturday’s win over Guelph.

The Knights make the trip to Peterborough Thursday night — where Michael Simpson will face his former team in what will be a rematch of last year’s OHL Championship. From there, it’s a quick turnaround, as the Knights host Kingston Friday, and then head down Hwy. 402 to Sarnia on Saturday. With three games in three days, look for Owen Willmore to possibly see some action, either Friday or Saturday.

The Midwest Division is tight yet again, with four of the five teams having three wins to start the season. Erie is the odd team out, as they’re still searching for their first victory. Guelph and Owen Sound are both expected to be very good this year, and Kitchener could be a challenge, as well, although they have been inconsistent through the first two weeks.

Ahead of last weekend, the Knights announced that forward Rene Van Bommel will be sticking around with the team, as they signed the Strathroy product to an OHL package. And on Thursday, the Knights signed forward Sawyer Boulton, the older brother of fellow Knights forward Ryder Boulton.

Easton Cowan, now back from Toronto Maple Leafs training camp, is hoping to provide an immediate boost on offense for the Knights. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Thursday (Oct. 12, 7:05pm) @ Peterborough Petes (2-1-0-0, 1st in East Division)

Michael Simpson returns to his old stomping grounds in a rematch of last year’s OHL Finals, and the Petes still have plenty of firepower returning from last year’s championship roster. Jax Dubois (2G, 5A) and Jonathan Melee (2G, 3A) have led the way up front, and Owen Beck has returned from Montreal Canadiens camp. Max McCue's younger brother, Sam, has a goal and an assist in his first three games. Former Knight Zach Bowen has won his only start since joining the Petes, a 26-save performance against Ottawa.

Friday (Oct. 13, 7:00pm) vs. Kingston Frontenacs (2-3-0-0, 2nd in East Division)

Buffalo Sabres prospect Ethan Miedema will be one to watch Friday night at Bud Gardens. The big forward has four goals and eight points in five games this season. He was one of the major pieces Kingston received in the Shane Wright trade last year. Chicago Blackhawks prospect and captain Paul Ludwinski is another one to keep an eye on. The dependable two-way forward has a pair of assists through his first two games. This is the Frontenacs’ first and only trip to Budweiser Gardens this season.

Saturday (Oct. 14, 7:05pm) @ Sarnia Sting (3-2-0-0, 2nd in West Division)

This is a much different Sarnia team than the one that played London in the Western Conference final last season. But the Sting have exceeded expectations so far. They’ve scored six or more goals in three of their five games, so the offence is still there. In fact, only the Soo Greyhounds have scored more than Sarnia to start the year. Marko Sikic is coming off a hat trick and leads the team with five goals and eight points, while Tyson Doucette has four goals in five games. Nick Surzycia takes over as the starting goaltender gig for Sarnia, following a three team trade that sent Ben Gaudreau to Erie. 

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Jordan D’Intino had a breakout weekend for the Soo Greyhounds, recording his first OHL hat trick. With five goals and nine points through six games, D’Intino is currently third in OHL scoring.

Strathroy’s Hunter Haight had another solid week, recording his first OHL hat trick for the Saginaw Spirit.

Former teammates with the London Junior Knights, Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs) and Aiden Young (Saginaw Spirit) both scored their first OHL goals last weekend.

Jett Luchanko had points in all three of Guelph’s games to start the season before Saturday’s loss in London.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

1 - Goaltender Michael Simpson recorded his first OHL assist Friday night in London’s loss to North Bay.

27 - There are plenty of former Knights scattered around the NHL. A whopping 27 have made NHL rosters to start the season, with Chicago and Toronto having the most (three each).

PROSPECT PIPELINE

Jared Woolley (6th round pick in 2022) scored his first GOJHL goal (the Knights assigned the defensemen to the St. Thomas Stars).

Evan Van Gorp (free agent signing) has two assists in his first two games since joining the GOJHL’s Strathroy Rockets. Van Gorp signed with the Knights after getting invited to training camp as a free agent. 

Brendan Gerber (6th round pick in 2023) has five goals and 10 points through eight games with the GOJHL’s Elmira Sugar Kings.

AROUND THE OHL

London native Jordan D’Intino is the OHL Player of the Week. He had four goals and three assists to help the Soo Greyhounds to a pair of weekend wins. Mississauga Steelheads netminder Ryerson Leenders was named OHL Goaltender of the Week for the second straight week. 

The Sarnia Sting, Saginaw Spirit and Erie Otters completed a three-team trade that will see goaltender Ben Gaudreau go from Sarnia to Erie. The Spirit acquired Otters netminder Nolan Lalonde in the trade. 

Niagara, Erie, and Flint are the only remaining teams without a win to start the season.

The Brantford Civic Centre hosted its first OHL game since 1984 when the Brantford Bulldogs held their season opener against the Oshawa Generals on Saturday. 

The Barrie Colts U16 AAA team won the Wendy Dufton Memorial Tournament this past weekend in London, defeating the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks 6-3 in the championship game Sunday night.