OHL 20 in 20 Futures Watch: London Knights

Perennial contenders, the London Knights are putting a disappointing second round playoff exit at the hands of the eventual champion Guelph Storm in their rearview mirror and forging ahead with a new crop of OHL Priority Selection recruits.

The Knights went big with their first round selection in April, adding Kanata Lasers 6-foot-1, 190Ib. winger Stuart Rolofs with the 20th overall pick. The Carp, Ont. product racked up 33 goals, 24 assists and 57 points over 39 games this past season and gives the Knights a physical presence along the boards and at the net front.

London owned a pair of second round picks, adding 6-foot-2, 209Ib. Toronto Marlboros defenceman Logan Mailloux at 33rd overall and Sudbury Minor Midget Wolves centreman Max McCue one pick later at 34th overall.

A native of Belle River, Ont., Mailloux excelled in his first GTHL season, playing big minutes for the Marlboros while recording 44 points (13-31–44) over 67 games.

McCue captained Team NOHA at the OHL Cup Powered by Under Armour and was a big part of his team in Sudbury, finishing the campaign with 41 points (14-27–41) over 24 contests.

Rolofs, Mailloux and McCue have all committed to the Knights for the 2019-20 season.

The Knights also owned a pair of third round selections, adding SCTA Minor Midget scoring co-leader Ty Anselmini of the Guelph Gryphons at 47th overall. The Knights made Niagara North Stars defenceman Connor Federkow the 53rd overall pick.

The Knights continued to address all areas of their depth chart in the rounds to follow, picking up Shattuck St-Mary’s 16U forward Liam Gilmartin in the fourth round (82nd overall), Markham Waxers goaltender Cameron Smith (85th overall) and Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs defender Ethan MacKinnon (102nd overall) in the fifth round, Mercer Chiefs 16U centre Matthew Argentina (122nd overall) in the sixth round and Niagara North Stars winger Matteo Giampa (142nd overall) in the seventh round.

Rolofs, Mailloux, McCue and Federkow are all currently attending Canada’s National Under-17 Development Camp in Calgary.

The Knights made a total of 18 picks in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.

Over 20 days in July ontariohockeyleague.com will take a look at the future of all 20 OHL clubs.  See more from the OHL 20 in 20 series.