Rookie London Knights forward’s work ethic earning locker-room praise

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Cohen Bidgood earned the ultimate thumbs up from the London Knights organization this week.

He was named the hardest-working player for the first month of the OHL season by his teammates.

“Every night, I’m just trying to help and play my role,” the 17-year-old forward said. “Not everyone can be a 50-goal scorer like (Easton) Cowan or (Denver) Barley. I feel like I know my role and if I’m in the lineup, I’ll do it.

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“And if I’m not in, I’ll battle to get back in.”

Bidgood was a Knights seventh-round pick last year who started in Junior B with the Chatham Maroons. He was dealt to the St. Marys Lincolns and became a major contributor to the team’s long-awaited run to the Sutherland Cup final.

“He knows how to play,” London GM Mark Hunter said. “He loves the game. It’s all good things and the coaches really like how he plays.”

The 6-foot, 185-pounder had the time of his life with the Lincolns. Along the way, he scored what turned out to be the winning goal in a Game 7 second-round victory over the London Nationals at a packed Western Fair.

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“I was put in a great situation,” Bidgood said. “I got every opportunity (at age 16) and I was just trying to do whatever I could to help the team win. Everyone wanted the exact same thing. The fans and the atmosphere was amazing and behind every goal (of that playoff run) was so much energy.”

Bidgood, also a lacrosse player until age 14 in Peterborough, spent the summer in his hometown preparing for his first OHL season. He scored his first two major junior goals in an Oct. 5 loss at Brampton.

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“It was nice to get a couple early,” he said. “I want to chip in as much as I can.”

If he keeps up the work ethic, he’ll get a lot more chances.

LEONARD TO ATTACK: The Knights moved over-age defenceman Alec Leonard to the Owen Sound Attack for a conditional 14th-round pick in 2027. That selection becomes a 10th-rounder in ’27 if the 20-year-old plays one regular season or playoff game after the trade deadline (Jan. 10).

Leonard, originally a Niagara second-round pick, deserves to play at the major junior level and it’s great he is getting another chance. The Attack brought him in following an injury to captain Konnor Smith to add some veteran savvy and grit.

“Alec checks all those boxes off for us,” Owen Sound GM Dale DeGray said. “Being a right-shot defenceman is a bonus and having already played a couple of years in the Western Conference is another plus.”

rpyette@postmedia.com

KNIGHTSWATCH

• Friday: vs. Brantford, 7 p.m. at Canada Life Place. Bulldogs on a 4-0-1 run.
• Saturday: at Saginaw, 7:05 p.m. Knights return to site of Memorial Cup heartbreak.
• Sunday: at Sarnia, 2:05 p.m. Sting off to a hot start.

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