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Denver Barkey will lead the London Knights this season.
The Philadelphia Flyers prospect and Canadian world junior hopeful was named captain by coach Dale Hunter before practice Wednesday. His first chance to showcase that new role will be against rival Saginaw Friday at Canada Life Place.
“It’s an honour obviously,” the 19-year-old from Newmarket said. “A lot of great names have worn the ‘C’ here and a lot of responsibility comes along with it. It’s something you look forward to as a kid, but it doesn’t really change anything.
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“Everyone’s a leader no matter if they have a letter or not. I’m looking forward to building towards another (OHL) championship.”
Easton Cowan and Oliver Bonk, both NHL first-rounders, will be part of the leadership group along with over-age forwards Landon Sim and Jacob Julien.
“I’m super happy for him,” Cowan, the Maple Leafs first-rounder, said of Barkey. “I think we all wanted him to be captain. He deserves it. He works non-stop on and off the ice. I’ve grown up with him since (age) 16 and to see him wear that ‘C’ Friday night is going to be something special.
“It couldn’t have happened to a better person in Denver.”
The Knights didn’t have a captain during last season’s run to the Memorial Cup final. Sean McGurn and George Diaco shared it in 2022-23 and Barkey looked up to Luke Evangelista, the current Nashville Predators forward, as a rookie.
“They were all easy-going, great guys,” said Barkey, the Knights’ first-round pick in 2021 and a 100-point scorer last year. “The big thing that stood out with me is how kind they were and the energy they brought to the room every day.
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“At times when the room did need to be held accountable or things were getting a little out of hand or we needed to be set straight, they were the first ones to step up and raise their voice.”
Barkey and Cowan became leaders last year despite not having letters on their jerseys. That’s when they both found their voices in the room.
“”You get drafted to the NHL and you gain more of a role,” Barkey said. “It gives you confidence to step up and say stuff when you need to. It helps a lot and you’re just trying to be the best person you can be.”
There are many jobs a captain has to handle within a major junior hockey organization. He needs to make sure the young players are happy and comfortable, make sure everyone is buying into the coaches’ instructions and perhaps most importantly, conducting themselves the right way off the ice.
“Ever since we got back here (to London), we want to build for another OHL championship and hopefully a Memorial Cup,” Barkey said. “We’ve been through it two-plus years and we know what’s coming at us.
“We’re trying to prepare for it every day.”
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