How the Knights’ 2021 COVID-19 draft class became a dynasty core
When the London Knights made their 2021 OHL Priority Selection choices, the world was deep in the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Minor hockey seasons had essentially shut down, forcing teams and scouts to pivot. What seemed at the time like a blind, unconventional draft has since become a masterclass in player evaluation.
With their first three picks – Denver Barkey (1st round, 16th overall), Easton Cowan (2nd round, 25th overall), and Oliver Bonk (2nd round, 26th overall) – the Knights unknowingly secured the nucleus for their future.
“I actually remember that day pretty well,” Barkey recalled. “It was during COVID, and I was up at the cottage with my family. When the Knights picked me, it was a surreal feeling – probably one of the coolest moments of my life.”
While their selection was shrouded in pandemic uncertainty, the trio’s development was anything but. Barkey joined the Knights lineup immediately, while Cowan and Bonk began their journey with time in Junior B – a detour they now credit as pivotal to their development.
“You hate it in the moment because you want to be with the big club,” Bonk admitted. “But they know what they’re doing. Dale and Mark [Hunter] have a plan every year. You just trust the process. Then the next year, we were ready.”
That trust helped foster something rare in junior hockey – a true sense of belonging. And for Cowan, who grew up nearby, it meant even more. “It was so special because they’re my hometown team. Just being able to spend the last couple of years with Barkey and Bonk – it’s been special.”
And their bond extends well beyond the rink. “We knew each other and had talked a bit online,” Barkey recalled. “But I remember the first day in London. We hung out, and ever since then, we’ve just been best friends. We push each other at the rink. We rely on each other.”
The connection only deepened when Barkey and Bonk were both drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft. “Spending time with him at NHL camp made the transition easier,” Barkey said. “It’s just been cool to spend all this time with these guys.”
Cowan, too, has leaned on his teammates not only as friends but as mentors. “They’ve been unreal for me and my development,” he said. “I’ve really matured over the last four years. I’ll always look back at my time in London and smile, knowing how great those guys are.”
Now, veterans with a clear goal in sight, the trio leads by example through work ethic, skill, and character.
“We knew we had to win our league to get back to the Memorial Cup,” Barkey said. “So our focus was on getting better every day. We needed to be our best all playoffs – and we did a good job of that.”
Bonk credits a culture of accountability and resilience for their continued success. “Every time you lose, you want to learn something. You don’t want to lose for nothing. That’s what’s made us stronger.”
That commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed by management either. “Those three players are not just good, but they care about winning and losing,” said London Knights owner and general manager Mark Hunter. “They want to win and love being a London Knight, which is impressive.”
From a draft steeped in doubt emerged one of the most cohesive, competitive, and consistently excellent cores in recent franchise history. Barkey, Cowan, and Bonk weren’t just great picks – they were perfect for a team built on development, brotherhood, and winning.
As their time in London nears its end, their legacy is already secured. They’ll be remembered on the ice, in the room, and in the hearts of Knights fans, not just for what they accomplished, but for how they did it – together.
