2024 NHL DRAFT PRIMER
As the 2024 NHL Entry Draft approaches, the London Knights are poised to be well represented in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Knights have a historic record of 195 players drafted into the NHL, and they aim to add to that number this weekend. The first round of the NHL Draft begins on Friday, June 28th at the Sphere. Here’s a look at the draft-eligible players from the Knights who hope to hear their names called.
#11 Ryder Boulton
Ryder Boulton was signed to the London Knights as a free agent after attending the Knights training camp in August. An American born player from Huntington, New York, USA, Boulton spent the majority of his young career in Buffalo, playing 5 seasons with the AAA Buffalo Junior Sabres. Ryder is the son of long time NHLer, Eric, and plays a very similar rough style game as his dad. Playing in 45 games this season for the London Knights, he recorded 2 goals & 3 assists, with 56 penalty minutes. Known for his physicality and toughness, he adds an element of grit and energy to the team.
#14 Evan Van Gorp
Evan Van Gorp is a native of Watford, Ontario and attended the Sarnia Sting’s training camp and was later signed to the Knights as a free agent after a strong camp in London. Van Gorp played AAA hockey in his minor career for both the Lambton Junior Sting as well as the Elgin Middlesex Canucks. Van Gorp began the season with the Strathroy Rockets of the GOJHL for 17 games, where he recorded 14 points in 17 games before being called up by the London Knights. In the 2023-2024 season, he was in the lineup for 44 games, recording 6 goals and 6 assists.
#23 Sam O’Reilly
O’Reilly is from Toronto, Ontario and was drafted by the Knights in the second round with the #37 pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. In 2022-23, in just 35 games with the London Nationals in the GOJHL, O’Reilly registered 63 points. In his one season, he was picked for the GOJHL Future Stars Team, Western Conference All-Rookie Team, and Player/Rookie of the Month awards. In his first full season with the Knights, O’Reilly recorded 20 goals with 36 assists, totalling 56 points in 68 games. Across the postseason, O’Reilly added 12 points in 16 games and 4 points in 4 games during the Memorial Cup. O’Reilly was named to the CHL Top Prospects Game in January and finished the season ranked 24th by NHL Central Scouting. O’Reilly will look to follow in the footsteps of Knights 2023 NHL first round picks Oliver Bonk and Easton Cowan who both played Jr. B prior to their stellar rookie seasons with the Knights.
“He was a second line center and key player on a team in the Memorial Cup. That’s a hard thing to do at 17 years old.” – Dale Hunter
#70 Ruslan Gazizov
Gazizov was drafted by the Knights with the 12th pick in the 2021 CHL Import Draft. Growing up in Omsk, Russia, he played minor hockey for Avangard Omsk. Gazizov played in various international tournaments, including the U16 International Junior Russian team, U16 Youth Olympic Games, alongside the U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Gazizov has played three seasons with the Knights where the growth in his defensive game and 200-foot game was on display in 2023-24. Gazizov played big minutes in 5-on-5, power play, and penalty kill throughout the season. He finished the year with his highest scoring season in a Knights uniform, Ruslan led the Knights with 36 goals and added 45 assists across 63 games. Gazizov enters the NHL Draft as a re-entry, ranked 192nd by NHL Central Scouting.
#73 William Nicholl
William Nicholl was drafted by the Knights with pick #52 in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Nicholl, a native of Manotick, Ontario, grew up playing minor AAA hockey locally in Ottawa. He played five games with the Knights his first season, recording a goal and an assist. The rest of his 2022-2023 season was spent with the St. Thomas Stars of the GOJHL where he recorded an impressive 64 points in 43 games, leading to him winning the GOJHL Western Conference Rookie of the Year. This year was his first full season in the OHL, scoring 6 goals with 14 assists for a total of 20 points with the club.
“Will stepped up for us numerous times throughout the season. He played a big role for our team when we dealt with injuries and suspensions throughout the season.” – Dale Hunter
#3 Sam Dickinson
Dickinson is from Toronto, Ontario where he played AAA minor hockey for the Toronto Marlboros in the GTHL. Sam competed for Canada Team Black in the World U17 Hockey Challenge as well as U18 Team Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he was named an assistant captain. Dickinson’s rookie season saw him post 23 points during an OHL Championship run. Dickinson made a major jump in his second season with the club, earning high draft rankings throughout the year and eventually being named captain of team red at the 2024 CHL Top Prospects Game. Dickinson produced arguably the best season the organization has seen from a 17 year old defenceman. Dickinson finished second amongst OHLers with a +56 plus/minus and recorded the most points by a 17 year old defenceman in franchise history with 70 points in 68 games. Dickinson’s talent was on full display during the Memorial Cup recording 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games and finishing the season ranked 7th by NHL Central Scouting.
“Sam Dickinson has a command of the game. An assuredness in his play and a significant presence when he’s on the ice. You’re looking at smarts, you’re looking at skill… You’re looking at a top pair defenceman in the National Hockey League.” – Craig Button
#51 Jared Woolley
Jared Woolley was selected in the 6th round with the 105th pick of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. Woolley, standing at 6’4″, 207 lbs is the largest Knight on the roster and amongst the biggest in the OHL. Woolley played most of his AAA hockey career with the Quinte Red Devils of the ETAHL and began the season playing with the St. Thomas Stars, posting 21 points in just 19 games. In the new year, Woolley was called up to the Knights for a full-time role. Woolley finished the season playing 37 games and scored 3 goals with 2 assists and a +5 plus/minus. Woolley ended the season ranked 73rd by Central Scouting.
#80 Owen Willmore
Willmore, a native of London, Ontario and played minor AAA hockey for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs. Owen was drafted by the London Knights in the 14th round with pick #279 in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Since then, Owen has periodically made some starts for the Knights, but mostly played for the St. Thomas Stars and the Stratford Warriors in the GOJHL. During his last playoff run with the Warriors, Willmore went 15-7 with a 2.34 GAA and .932 SV%. Willmore was a staple in the Knights net this year sharing the crease with Michael Simpson. In his first full season with the team, Willmore recorded 23 starts for the club where he posted a 2.96 goals against average alongside a .899 save percentage.