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The London Knights made it to the Memorial Cup final last spring.
They’re expected to be one of the top teams in major junior hockey again during the 2024-25 season.
The Canadian Hockey League picked the defending OHL champs No. 3 in its preseason top rankings behind only the Western league’s Medicine Hat Tigers and the bulked-up Brampton Steelheads, who have relocated from Mississauga this year.
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London will have a strong returning core group of players led by Philadelphia Flyers prospects Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey, San Jose Sharks first-rounder Sam Dickinson and Oilers first-rounder Sam O’Reilly. Reigning OHL MVP Easton Cowan is expected to get a long look with Toronto before the Maple Leafs ultimately determine if he stays with them or is sent back to the Knights.
With Cowan, the Knights swept to the league title in May against Oshawa, who checks in at No. 8 in the poll. The Brantford Bulldogs are ranked ninth.
The rankings were determined with input from NHL Central Scouting ahead of the regular season that officially begins this Friday. The Knights will open next Friday (Sept. 27) at home against the Flint Firebirds.
The Saginaw Spirit, which beat London in a Memorial Cup final classic in June, will raise their championship banner next Wednesday (Sept. 25) against the Windsor Spitfires.
There is much work still to be done with the roster, but the current Knights are early favourites to return to the OHL final for a third straight year. The 2025 Memorial Cup is slated to be held in Rimouski, Que., and the Oceanic check in at No. 5 on the preseason list.
The next rankings will be released in two weeks after all three member CHL leagues have started play.
CHL Top-10 Rankings – 2024 Preseason
- Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
- Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
- London Knights (OHL)
- Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
- Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
- Cape-Breton Eagles (QMJHL)
- Prince George Cougars (WHL)
- Oshawa Generals (OHL)
- Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
- Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
rpyette@postmedia.com
@RyanatLFPress
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