Easton Cowan picked up right where he left off after an award-winning 2023-24 campaign with the London Knights.
The Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect scored a goal in his first game back with the Ontario Hockey League outfit on Wednesday, helping his team to a 5-4 overtime win over the Owen Sound Attack.
Cowan’s goal was a short-handed effort less than 10 minutes into the first period. The high-scoring winger slotted the puck five-hole on Attack goalie Carter George off a feed from teammate Sam Dickinson.
As a whole, the Knights got some big contributions from NHL first-rounders, as Cowan (Maple Leafs, 2023), Dickinson (Sharks, 2024), Oliver Bonk (Flyers, 2023) and Sam O’Reilly (Oilers, 2024) all found the back of the net in the win.
Cowan spent the pre-season with Toronto, tallying two assists in five games, both of which came on the power play. The Maple Leafs returned the 19-year-old to the OHL club on Monday as he is ineligible to play in the AHL.
Last season, Cowan picked up 24 goals and 62 assists in 54 games to earn the OHL MVP award. He added 10 goals and 24 assists in 18 playoff games en route to an OHL title and an appearance at the Memorial Cup.
With Cowan back in the fold, the Knights are expected to make another run at an OHL championship. London is off to a slow start at 1-3 but has been waiting for several key players to return from NHL camps.