Maple Leafs prospect and OHL MVP Easton Cowan earns break

Article content

With a wink, Chris Cowan tells us it’s time that son Easton gets back to some chores on the family farm in Strathroy. 

Article content

But Chris knows Easton earned a break after the wildest June to June in his young life. From being drafted in the first round by the Maple Leafs, to a great development camp, training camp and exhibition games, Cowan returned to the London Knights and registered a record-breaking points streak, part of 96 in all, then 34 more in 18 playoff games as the Knights went to the Memorial Cup final and lost a single-game elimination to OHL rival Saginaw.  

Easton’s year officially closed Wednesday at the Hockey Hall of Fame when the 5-foot-11 right winger collected the Red Tilson Trophy as Most Valuable Player, part of the league awards show.  

“I’ve tried to get him to help out around the farm, but that’s not happening,” said Chris with a laugh. “I try to get him to cut grass and we had to spread some mulch the other day (the Cowans grow cash crops). He said ‘I have 15 minutes before my golf game.’

Article content

Article content

“But he does help out when we ask. The COVID-19 years he did a lot, but once hockey came along, that was his main focus and we let it be that for rightful reasons. He’s been very busy, it’s been tough and now he’d rather be on the golf course. We’ve been riding along with him and it has been a heck of a year with London, a very good organization.” 

Cowan, together with Saskatoon Blades centre Fraser Minten, made quite an impression in early autumn around here, Minten, a year older, lasting four NHL games in October. One or both could be competent cost-efficient help at forward for the Leafs who face at least another season of salary cap restrictions until John Tavares and Mitch Marner have their big tickets re-evaluated. 

Cowan, nicknamed Cowboy, will now take some time on the links to unwind, then go into full summer training in London starting this Monday with Total Package Hockey and Epic, with some visits to the Leafs’ practice facility, always a hub for prospects. Then it’s on to development camp. 

Article content

“I have a goal in mind and I’ll stick with that all summer,” Cowan said of taking a further step in 2024-25. 

He hasn’t yet been among the Leafs that new coach Craig Berube has contacted, but when introduced, he’ll bring greetings from Knights coach Dale Hunter, a like-minded Berube teammate on the Washington Capitals in the 1990s. Cowan’s ability to produce and play physical, solid defence will be getting attention from Berube and staff. 

‘CONFIDENT IN MYSELF’

“A new coach is another opportunity,” Cowan said. “I’m confident in myself, to do some things at camp to show who I am and how I play. Last year I was close (to making the team), this year I’m really excited. 

“(An extended camp) helped last year, then to come back and win an OHL championship. Unfortunately, we came up short in the Memorial Cup, but it does help a lot, going that far.  

Article content

“For now, I’m taking a step back from the game, let my mind chill. It was a long year.” 

The OHL’s writers and executives voted Cowan the Tilson, also won by past Leafs Eric Lindros, Connor Brown and fellow Knight Marner, but lots of hardware with Leafs connections was handed out beforehand Wednesday. 

Former Toronto winger Derek Laxdal was named coach of the year for a strong second half and overall record of 40-19-7-2 that powered the Oshawa Generals to the league final against London. A big part of that was league goaltender of the year Jacob Oster with his .905 save percentage. 

Jim Gregory, the late head of NHL Central Scouting, who put many players onto the Leafs and other NHL teams, has a GM of the year award in his name, presented by one of his grandsons, Lyle. It went to Adam Dennis of the North Bay Battlion, the Central Division’s best club this season. 

Article content

Gregory’s late Leafs coach, the cerebral Roger Neilson, had his prize for academic player of the year won by Ottawa 67’s defenceman Thomas Sirman, who was studying for his Bachelor of Arts at Queen’s University during an injury shortened season. Sirman joined a study group on the team bus that devoted time to school work on long road trips. 

Wednesday was also the last official function for retiring OHL commissioner Dave Branch. The 75-year-old, who began serving on Sept. 15, 1979, is being replaced by Bryan Crawford, most recently with Golf Canada and the RBC Canadian Open and before that, a Toronto Argonaut from 2005-11. 

[email protected] 

X: @sunhornby

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

Article content