London Knights draft 14 new faces at 1st in-person OHL Priority Selection since 2000

The London Knights have added 14 new prospects to their roster following the 2026 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection, marking their first in-person draft event since the year 2000. The team began the selection process by picking players with strong hockey pedigrees.

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I wasn’t old enough to be able to raise the puck very well, so I knew I had to go five-hole.

Among the early selections was Ryan Beaulieu, whose father, Josh Beaulieu, also played for the Knights. Later, the Knights drafted Ryker Kesler, son of former NHL star Ryan Kesler, a player known for his defensive prowess and offensive skill. Kesler humorously recalled a childhood anecdote about scoring on NHL goalie Carey Price at age seven.

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It was an amazing feeling being able to get up and hug my family and then to walk [to the stage], I was so honoured.

The Knights continued to build their team by selecting center Jack Samek from the Mississauga Majors, a player described as having high hockey IQ. In the third round, they addressed their goaltending needs by drafting Brian Cooke, a six-foot-three goalie. The team then made three consecutive picks in the fourth round, all defensemen: Joseph Chiella and Kosta Housseas, who have a long-standing rivalry from minor hockey, and Jackson Marthaler from the U.S. National Development Team program.

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a player who always finished his checks against him.

Further bolstering the team, the Knights selected Ewan Sim in the fifth round, brother of current Knight Landon Sim, who helped the team win the Memorial Cup in 2025. Ewan Sim expressed his long-held desire to play for the London Knights. The team concluded their selections by drafting forward Graham Littlejohn from the Jr. Knights in the sixth round, a player noted for his versatility and energy.

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Watching Landon play, all I wanted to be was a London Knight, and now to get that chance is amazing.