The London Knights received reinforcements in the form of a New York Islanders prospect. Jesse Nurmi was loaned back to the OHL on Tuesday, Dec. 30, and more support is on the way. 

The Knights announced via their X account that forward William Nicholl will make his season debut on New Year’s Eve against the Sarnia Sting. 

Nicholl, 19, had been out with an upper-body injury. London Knights’ PR X account announced on Aug. 22, 2025, that the Edmonton Oilers prospect underwent upper-body surgery earlier in the summer, and his expected recovery was 4-6 months. 

The Oilers took a late-round swing on Nicholl in the 2024 draft. Selected, 196th overall after recording only 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists) in 65 games, some fans were scratching their heads regarding the pick. However, it’s important to remember that not only was that Nicholl’s first full season in the OHL, but he was buried in a star-studded lineup. 

That star-studded lineup didn’t disband last season, with many all-stars returning. But Nicholl really elevated his game and became a versatile offensive weapon for Dale Hunter. 

London's key players, Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey, both missed a significant number of games during the 2024-25 season due to injuries. Additionally, some impactful forwards, such as Kasper Halttunen and Blake Montgomery, did not join the team until November. Nicholl took advantage of the increased ice time during the absence of these players.

Nicholl’s skill and confidence with the puck will be a much-needed addition to London’s lineup. Let’s be honest, this Knights team is nowhere near as skilled as they’ve been over the last three years. Nicholl’s return is like a trade deadline acquisition for the Hunters.