Futures Watch: London Knights’ 2026 Draft Class and New Faces
As the 2026-27 OHL season approaches, the London Knights are preparing for a new campaign. We spoke with Associate General Manager Rob Simpson about the club’s 2026 draft class and the new faces fans should keep an eye on heading into the upcoming season.
2026 Draft Class Revisit:
Player Spotlight: Ryan Beaulieu
Profile: 6’0”, 190lbs, left-shot defenceman
Hometown: London, ON
Birthdate: Jan 10, 2010
Drafted: 1st Round, 14th Overall (2026 OHL Priority Selection)
2025-26 Stats (London Jr. Knights U16 AAA): 28 GP, 13G, 34A, 47 PTS
Selected 14th overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, London native Ryan Beaulieu recorded 47 points (13-34–47) in 28 games from the blueline with the London Jr. Knights U16 AAA program last season. Beaulieu also captained the club to a U16 Alliance Championship and was named to the OHL Cup All-Star Team after recording 11 points (5-6–11) in six games.
“Ryan Beaulieu is a complete defenceman who brings an impressive combination of defensive reliability and offensive ability from the back end. He’s a difficult player to play against – competitive, assertive and capable of shutting plays down while moving pucks efficiently the other way. Offensively, his shot from the point is a real weapon. He does an excellent job of finding shooting lanes, getting pucks through traffic, and has the accuracy to pick corners from a distance. There’s a good balance to his game; he can defend hard, contribute offensively and impact play at both ends of the ice. That versatility and competitiveness make him a defenceman you can trust in a lot of different situations.”
Player Spotlight: Ryker Kesler
Profile: 6’2”, 157lbs, right-shot forward
Hometown: West Bloomfield, MI
Birthdate: Dec 19, 2010
Drafted: 2nd Round, 27th Overall (2026 OHL Priority Selection)
2025-26 Stats (Det. Little Caesars 15): 20 GP, 15G, 20A, 35 PTS
Selected 27th overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, Ryker Kesler spent the 2025-26 season with the Detroit Little Caesars 15U AAA program, recording 35 points (15-20–35) and 60 penalty minutes in 20 regular-season games. The 6-foot-2 forward also appeared in three games at the 2026 OHL Cup.
“Ryker Kesler is a pro-style player who already shows a strong understanding of the details required to impact the game beyond the scoresheet. He plays a direct, purposeful game and brings a physical element to every shift. He competes for positioning, finishes his checks and understands how to make life difficult on opposing players. What stands out is the maturity in his approach – he plays within structure, manages the puck well and understands his responsibilities in all three zones. Ryker has the type of game that can translate as the level gets higher because his identity is built around details, competitiveness and playing winning hockey.”
Player Spotlight: Jackson Marthaler
Profile: 6’2”, 198lbs, left-shot defenceman
Hometown: Superior, WI
Birthdate: Feb 10, 2008
Drafted: 4th Round, 76th Overall (2026 OHL Priority Selection)
2025-26 Stats (U.S. National U18 Team): 54 GP, 0G, 4A, 4 PTS
Selected 76th overall in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection, Jackson Marthaler spent the majority of the 2025-26 season with the U.S. National U18 Team, recording four assists in 54 regular-season games. The Superior, Wisconsin, native also suited up for the USNTDP Juniors in the USHL, where he added four assists, and is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the 2027-28 season.
“Jackson Marthaler is a big, mobile, puck-moving defenceman who uses his size and skating ability extremely well. Defensively, he closes gaps quickly with his feet and takes away time and space before opposing forwards have an opportunity to create. He complements that mobility with a strong defensive stick, allowing him to disrupt plays and separate opponents from the puck without taking himself out of position. With the puck, he has the ability to transition play efficiently and move pucks up ice. His combination of size, mobility and defensive awareness gives him the tools to be a difficult matchup while providing value in transition.”
Player Spotlight: Luca Santala
Profile: 6’2”, 198lbs, right-shot forward
Hometown: Zurich, SUI
Birthdate: Jul 28, 2009
Drafted: 1st Round, 40th Overall (2026 CHL Import Draft)
2025-26 Stats (Kiekko-Espoo U18): 17 GP, 12G, 10A, 22 PTS
Selected 40th overall in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, Luca Santala spent the 2025-26 season with Kiekko-Espoo in Finland, recording 12 points (7-5–12) in 25 games at the U20 level while adding 22 points (12-10–22) in 17 games with the club’s U18 team. The 6-foot-2 forward also represented Finland at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, recording six points (2-4–6) in five games. Santala is currently projected as a first-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft, according to Daily Faceoff’s early rankings.
“Luca Santala is a complete two-way centre who plays the game the right way in all three zones. He brings a strong combination of size, hockey sense and offensive ability, while showing the details and responsibility you want to see down the middle. Offensively, his shot is a real weapon, particularly his one-timer, where he can get pucks off quickly and with power. He protects the puck extremely well, using his size and reach to extend possessions, create separation and make plays under pressure. Away from the puck, he understands positioning and works to get above plays defensively. Luca’s ability to impact the game on both sides of the puck gives him the versatility to be trusted in a variety of situations.”
Other members of the 2026 class include:
| PLAYER | POSITION | HOMETOWN | DOB | 2025-26 TEAM | DRAFTED |
| Jack Samek | C | Etobicoke, ON | Mar 8, 2010 | Markham Majors U16 AAA | 2nd round, 37th overall |
| Brian Cooke | G | St. Louis, MO | Apr 21, 2008 | Minot Minotauros | 3rd round, 61st overall |
| Joseph Chiella | RD | Mississauga, ON | Mar 19, 2010 | Toronto Nationals U16 AAA | 4th round, 74th overall |
| Kosta Housseas | LD | Toronto, ON | Jan 27, 2010 | Markham Majors U16 AAA | 4th round, 75th overall |
| Ewan Sim | C | New Glasgow, NS | Mar 25, 2010 | Weeks Majors U18 AAA | 5th round, 95th overall |
| Graham Littlejohn | LW | Wallacetown, ON | Dec 8, 2010 | London Jr. Knights U16 AAA | 6th round, 108th overall |
| Cash McElmurry | C | Royal Oak, MI | Jun 1, 2010 | Detroit HoneyBaked 15’s | 7th round, 135th overall |
| Christopher Pinko | C | Springfield, NJ | Jun 3, 2010 | North Jersey Avalanche 15’s | 9th round, 175th overall |
| Patrick Taylor | C | Lake Forest, IL | Mar 12, 2010 | Windy City Storm 15s | 10th round, 182nd overall |
| Jamal Havusic | RD | Etobicoke, ON | Mar 19, 2010 | Oakville Rangers U16 AAA | 11th round, 215th overall |
| Liam Klubertanz | LD | Grand Bend, ON | Sep 8, 2010 | Lambton Jr. Sting U16 AAA | 12th round, 235th overall |
| Stuart DeMunnik | LD | Tiny, ON | Jul 20, 2010 | York-Simcoe Express U16 AAA | 13th round, 242nd overall |
| Zeller Clark-Schoeb | G | Summit, NJ | Aug 18, 2010 | NJ Rockets AAA Elite Black 15’s | 14th round, 275th overall |
| Cameron Godard | C | Oakville, ON | Apr 7, 2009 | Burlington Eagles U18 AAA | 1st round, 14th overall (U18) |
| Andrew Menlove | G | St. Thomas, ON | Aug 27, 2009 | Elgin-Middlesex Canucks U18 AAA | 2nd round, 34th overall (U18) |
| Ethan Haklander | C | Komoka, ON | Aug 7, 2009 | London Jr. Knights U18 AAA | 3rd round, 48th overall (U18) |
| Juho Piiparinen | RD | Lahti, FIN | Aug 10, 2008 | Tappara Tampere | 2nd round, 101st overall (Import) |
2026 New Faces:
*Note: Player additions are current as of publication. Team signings remain ongoing, and this section will be updated throughout the offseason as additional players are signed and trades are completed.
Player Spotlight: Anthony Thomas-Maroon
Profile: 6’0”, 174lbs, left-shot forward
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Birthdate: Sep 2, 2008
Drafted: 11th Round, 222nd Overall (2024 OHL Priority Selection)
2025-26 Stats (Muskegon Lumberjacks): 59 GP, 2G, 17A, 19 PTS
Anthony Thomas-Maroon spent the 2025-26 season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, recording 19 points (2-17–19) and 78 penalty minutes in 59 regular-season games. The St. Louis, Missouri, native was originally selected by London in the 11th round (222nd overall) of the 2024 OHL Priority Selection and is committed to Western Michigan University for the 2027-28 season.
“Anthony Thomas-Maroon is a reliable 200-foot player who impacts the game in all three zones. He plays with purpose and detail, competes hard away from the puck and consistently puts himself on the right side of plays. He’s difficult to play against because he doesn’t give opponents much time or space and is willing to engage physically to win possession. Offensively, he supports the puck well, gets to hard areas and can make plays when opportunities are there. Defensively, he understands his responsibilities and can be trusted in key situations. He brings the type of complete, competitive game that coaches value – a player who can contribute in different ways and make his line difficult to play against every shift.”
Player Spotlight: Kane Barch
Profile: 5’10”, 196lbs, left-shot forward
Hometown: Plano, TX
Birthdate: Mar 13, 2009
Acquired: Jan. 7. 2026
2025-26 Stats (U.S. National U17 Team): 54 GP, 7G, 16A, 23 PTS
Acquired from the Kitchener Rangers at the trade deadline, Kane Barch spent most of the 2025-26 season with the U.S. National U17 Team, recording 23 points (7-16–23) in 54 games. He also appeared with the USNTDP Juniors, adding 10 points (2-8–10) in 36 games, represented Team USA at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and is committed to the University of Michigan for 2028.
“Kane Barch is an in-your-face, highly competitive player who has a way of making his presence felt every time he steps on the ice. He combines a strong skill set and high-end hockey sense with an exceptional compete level and willingness to play through contact. He hunts pucks, finishes checks, gets inside opponents and has the ability to create offence once he gets possession. What separates Kane is that his competitiveness doesn’t come at the expense of his skill or intelligence – he can process the game, make plays and drive offence while playing with an edge. He’s the type of player you absolutely love having on your bench and hate playing against. His style of play has the ability to change the complexion of a game.”
Player Spotlight: Geno Carcone
Profile: 5’9”, 190lbs, left-shot forward
Hometown: Woodstock, GA
Birthdate: Nov 14, 2006
Signed (FA): June 4, 2026
2025-26 Stats (Green Bay Gamblers): 58 GP, 13G, 39A, 52 PTS
Geno Carcone recorded 52 points (13-39–52) in 58 regular-season games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers during the 2025-26 season, finishing tied for second on the team in assists and third in scoring. The Woodstock, Georgia, native spent the past three seasons with Green Bay, totalling 115 points (34-81–115) in 159 regular-season games.
“Geno Carcone is the type of player who wants the puck on his stick, and when he gets it, good things tend to happen. He has the ability to create plays that lead directly to quality scoring chances, whether that’s finding a teammate through a seam or creating his own opportunity. Last season he was very effective operating off the half wall on the power play, where his hockey sense and ability to read pressure really stood out. He can quickly identify openings, manipulate defenders and penalty killers, and attack different layers of coverage. What makes him dangerous is that he’s a dual threat – if you take away the passing option, he has the ability to find his own shot. He’s an offensive-minded player who can make something happen when the puck is on his stick.”
Player Spotlight: Thomas Zocco
Profile: 5’10”, 187lbs, right-shot forward
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Birthdate: June 15, 2006
Signed (FA): June 19, 2026
2025-26 Stats (Sioux Falls Stampede): 60 GP, 22G, 48A, 70 PTS
Thomas Zocco played a key role in the Sioux Falls Stampede’s Clark Cup championship run last season, leading the team with 70 points (22-48–70) in 60 regular-season games. He finished fourth in USHL scoring during both the regular season and playoffs. Zocco spent the 2024-25 season with the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express, where he also led the club in scoring with 53 points (19-34–53) in 49 games.
“We’re really excited about the addition of Thomas Zocco. He’s the type of player that other players want to play with because of his ability to make everyone around him better. There’s a lot of deception and creativity in his game, and his high-level hockey sense allows him to see plays developing a step ahead. Thomas sees layers in his offensive attack – he can manipulate defenders, create hesitation and open up space before finding teammates in dangerous areas. He understands how to put defenders into difficult situations and has the skill to capitalize when those opportunities develop. He had a very strong season last year and continues to trend upward. We believe there is another level to his game, and we’re excited to see where his development takes him.”
Additional new faces include:
| PLAYER | POSITION | HOMETOWN | DOB | 2025-26 TEAM | DRAFTED/ACQUIRED |
| Alex Campeau | C | Cornwall, ON | Mar 23, 2009 | London Nationals (GOHL) + London (6 GP) | 1st round, 23rd overall (2025) |
| Cooper McAslan | D | Bowmanville, ON | Mar 16, 2009 | London Nationals (GOHL) + London (4 GP) | 2nd round, 43rd overall (2025) |
| Owen Miniotas | RW | London, ON | May 2, 2009 | Komoka Kings (GOHL) + London (1 GP) | 3rd round, 60th overall (2025) |
| Eloan Le Gallic | C | Toronto, ON | Feb 6, 2009 | St. Thomas Stars (GOHL) + London (4 GP) | 3rd round, 62nd overall (2025) |
| Jake Ritson | LW | Thunder Bay, ON | Feb 12, 2009 | Strathroy Rockets (GOHL) + London (2 GP) | 5th round, 88th overall (2025) |
| Charlie Weiss | G | Thunder Bay, ON | July 21, 2009 | Vaughan Kings U18 AAA | 5th round, 100th overall (2025) |
| Cody Wood | D | Uxbridge, ON | June 13, 2008 | London Nationals (GOHL) + London (4 GP) | 8th round, 162nd overall (2024) |
| Jacob Vandeven | D | Komoka, ON | Mar 3, 2008 | Komoka Kings (GOHL) + London (8 GP) | Jan 8, 2026 (trade w/ OS) |
| Kobe Nadalin | G | Woodstock, ON | May 29, 2009 | Woodstock Navy Vets | July 8, 2026 |
With another wave of young talent entering the organization, the Knights will have plenty of options as they shape their roster for the 2026-27 season. London’s 2026 draft class adds another group of promising prospects to the pipeline. Combined with returning prospects looking to take the next step, the Knights will look to remain among the OHL’s contenders and extend their historic streak of 24 consecutive postseason appearances.
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