It’s one thing to be taken in the first round of the National Hockey League draft. It’s another thing when that player laced up for a GOJHL team a little over a year ago.
Easton Cowan was chosen 28th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs after being ranked 51st among North American skaters. He credits his time with the Komoka Kings as a big reason why he matured as a hockey player. “I was sent there (by the London Knights), which was great for my development. I had a lot of great teammates, great coaches, and a lot of support from my friends and family. We had an awesome team, we were all very close, and I learned a lot from those coaches. I was also able to practice with the Knights and played a couple of games when I was in Komoka.” He added playing for the Kings couldn’t have worked out much better from a location perspective. “Everyone could still come to my games, and I was only 15 minutes down the road. At the same time, you’re still not at home so it is a bit different, but I was very lucky to be so close.”
Roop Chanderdat is the President and General Manager of the Kings and said Cowan bought into being a King from day one. “He was proud to be a part of the team and had a good following from the local kids here. Easton is a very likable young man who brought a lot of energy and skill to our team. We knew from day one he was special, was going to make hockey a full-time career, and he is well on his way to getting there.” Chanderdat added the 18-year-old from Mt. Brydges was respectful of both on and off-ice staff and made his teammates better. “He brought a lot of energy to our practices and games and wanted the team to do well. That drove his line, other lines, and the rest of them to step up their competitiveness.
Cowan admitted he wasn’t physically ready for the Ontario Hockey League as a 16-year-old, and he credits his time in Komoka in making him not only a better player but a better person. “I played in every situation, and we made the playoffs. It was good for my development, and I can’t thank Roop and his staff enough for the time and effort they put into me to make me the person and the player I am today. It was great to play in (the GOJHL) and a lot of London Knights have played there before so it gave me a positive mindset.”
Cowan was also complimentary of the OHL organization, and he expects to be back in London this coming season. “I went to Toronto’s development camp and learned a lot and now I am training in London. We came up a bit short last season, but I think we will have a pretty good team coming up. We want to win.” The Leafs appear to be in no rush to hurry Cowan into the big league, something he said is fine by him. “I will be back in London for a couple of years for my development. I will hopefully one day play in the National Hockey League, and I am doing what’s best for me.”
Cowan has met a few of the current Maple Leafs including Morgan Reilly and Mitch Marner, a former Knight. “They were very supportive and obviously they’ve been through this before so having all that is good for me.”
One scouting report on Cowan said “Easton Cowan is a highly intelligent and creative forward. He creates opportunities by outspeeding and outdangling the opposition. Cowan’s hockey sense matches the quickness in his feet, he’s able to link passing plays in transition, manipulate defensive gaps with clever movements and feints, and find pockets of space in the slot.”
Good luck Easton, the GOJHL will be cheering for you.
