On Thursday, Mar. 6, the Winnipeg Jets announced the signing of London Knights' centerman Jacob Julien to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The London Knights, the top team in the Ontario Hockey League, are recognized for their player development, and their collaboration with "King Julien" serves as a prime example.
Julien's development and road to an NHL contract is all about perseverance and never giving up.
In his OHL draft year, 2020, he went undrafted and spent the 2020-21 season without hockey due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The London Knights drafted Julien 41st overall in the U18 Priority Selection in 2021. He hadn't played a game all season and was the tenth-last player selected in that draft.
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The London, Ontario native spent the 2021-22 season playing Jr. B hockey in the GOJHL for the London Nationals while also going to school for engineering.
Julien was one of the league's best forwards, recording 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points in 36 regular season games, and an additional six goals and 10 points in 10 playoff games. He was also selected to the GOJHL Top Prospects Game that season.
The 2022 NHL draft was Julien's first year of draft eligibility. However, he wasn't picked. But the 2022-23 season was a year that he will never forget.
Julien dominated the GOJHL with 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 22 games. The London Knights brass took notice and called him up in the middle of November, 2022.
By December, Julien became a full-time player for the Knights, helping them get to the OHL Championship. Unfortunately, the Knights and Julien lost to the Peterborough Petes in the finals.
Julien is known for his tenaciousness as a player and his shutdown and defensive abilities as a center. His hockey IQ is excellent and understands where to position himself on the ice when he doesn't have the puck.
The Winnipeg Jets selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL draft, 146th overall, taking a swing on a player with a comparable playing style to their captain, Adam Lowry.
Last season was a breakout campaign for the 6-foot-4 centerman, en route to achieving an OHL Championship with London.
Julien exploded offensively, scoring 29 goals and 49 assists for 78 points in 67 regular season games. Additionally, he took the most faceoffs for the team, taking 1,039 draws, and winning 582 (56% win percentage).
In the playoffs, Julien scored nine goals and 18 points in 18 games. He was phenomenal offensively last season, and he's the type of player London's Head Coach, Dale Hunter, can rely on to come out late in the game to win an important defensive zone faceoff, defend the lead, and kill penalties.
Julien has taken a step back offensively this season, registering 10 goals and 35 assists for 45 points in 58 games. However, his game isn't about his offense. He's the type of player you want on your team and hate to play against.
The Winnipeg Jets recognize his potential to become an impactful bottom-six forward some day.
London Knights Sign Seventh-Round Pick
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