OHL 20 in 20 Futures Watch: London Knights

The London Knights were loaded with early picks in the OHL Priority Selection and are poised to build a future around the 2018 draft class.

Three of the club’s choices came within the first 23 picks, more than any other club this season, which they used to select a trio of forwards including Luke Evangelista (14th overall), Antonio Stranges (21st overall), and Sahil Panwar (23rd overall).

Evangelista scored 37 goals with 48 assists for 85 points in 35 games for the OMHA’s Oakville Rangers.

Stranges competed for Detroit Little Caesars with 22 points in 12 games.

Panwar produced 62 points including 23 goals in 50 games for Detroit Honeybaked.

The club then made another American selection in the third round, 42nd overall, choosing defenceman Gerard Keane from Chicago Mission.

All four players have officially committed to the Knights with the announcement made in April just a couple of weeks following the draft.

Evangelista and Panwar will compete at Hockey Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-17 Development Camp from July 21-27 in Calgary along with third round pick Sean McGurn and defenceman Ben Roger who was chosen in the fourth round.

McGurn was chosen 53rd overall from the Ottawa Jr. Senators, with Roger picked 74th from the Quinte Red Devils.

Click here to see all London Knights 2018 OHL Priority Selection Picks.

Over 20 days in July ontariohockeyleague.com will take a look at the future of all 20 OHL clubs.  See more from the OHL 20 in 20 series.