After coming close to winning it all a year ago, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan and the London Knights are determined to finish the job at the 2025 Memorial Cup. 

So far, they’re on pace to do exactly that.

Following a near-perfect run through the OHL playoffs, going 16-1 to capture their second straight J. Ross Robertson Cup, the Knights have picked up right where they left off, winning their first two games at the tournament and sitting atop the leaderboard with four points.

Statistically, Cowan is at the center of it all. Through two games, the 20-year-old leads the tournament in scoring with four points (1G, 3A) and is tied for the lead in assists (3).

He was a driving force in London’s tournament-opening 3-2 overtime win over the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday. Cowan picked up two primary assists in the game, including a highlight-reel setup on the winner. After a nifty move at the blue line, he shuffled a backhand pass to Sam O’Reilly, who made no mistake, burying it.

Cowan followed it up with another standout performance on Sunday in a 3-1 win over the host Rimouski Oceanic. 

He recorded a goal and an assist – his secondary helper coming on a tic-tac-toe go-ahead goal that stood as the game-winner – and led all skaters with seven shots on net.

It’s a continuation of what has been another standout season for the Mount Brydges, Ont., native.

Drafted 28th overall in the first round by Toronto in 2023, Cowan posted 69 points (29G, 40A) in just 46 regular-season games for London before adding an OHL-best 39 points (13G, 26A) in 17 playoff contests this year.

The 'Cowboy' also led all players at the 2024 Memorial Cup with eight points (3G, 5A) in four games.

This year, it’s much of the same. 

‘Never Take Anything For Granted’: Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Reflects On Marner’s Mentorship, Another Shot At Memorial Cup A year after coming up short in the Memorial Cup final, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and London Knights forward Easton Cowan is heading back for a chance at redemption in Rimouski. 

The Knights wrap up the round-robin portion of the tournament on Tuesday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Depending on the outcome of Monday’s matchup between Medicine Hat and Moncton, London’s final round-robin game could decide who earns a bye to the final and the top seed. 

London was in the same position last year – undefeated in the round-robin and one win away from the title before falling 4-3 to the Saginaw Spirit in the championship game.

This time, they’re hoping for a different ending.

“It means a lot. Just to have that opportunity again,” Cowan said in a sit-down interview with TSN’s Mark Masters last Thursday. “I think most of us thought about it all summer when we were training and having to push a bit more. Unfortunately, we lost, but like they say, you come back stronger, and I feel like we have a really close group. We’re excited for another opportunity at it. You might not play with each other ever again. So, you can’t take anything for granted.”

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