London Knights unveil 55th captain in team history

Ryan Brown will wear the “C” for the London Knights in 2026-27.

The fourth-year forward from Newmarket was introduced as captain at an event at the Labatt Amber Lounge on Oct. 19. Evan Van Gorp and Cohen Bidgood were named alternate captains.

Brown is a Dallas Stars draft pick. He joined the Knights last season in a trade with the Sarnia Sting and went on to lead London in scoring with 22 goals and 63 points, then added five points in five games during the first round of the OHL playoffs against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

“Ryan is a player that carries our team motto and principles with pride, passion and leadership,” explained Knights general manager Mark Hunter. “He is a high-character person that has shown tremendous growth both on and off the ice as a London Knight.”

That motto, “Hopeful and humble,” has carried London to a 7-1-0-1 start. In their two most recent games, the Knights beat the Sudbury Wolves and the Erie Otters by a combined score of 11-2.

Brown had four assists against Erie. That gives him eight points in just five games this season.

“It’s an incredible honour and privilege to wear the C for such a historic organization that has a great tradition of captains before me,” Brown said. “I’m humbled to be voted by my teammates as their captain. We have strong leaders in our room that I’m sharing this with in Evan [Van Gorp] and Cohen [Bidgood].”

London has seven NHL draft picks on their roster, four of them first-rounders. That kind of talent brings high expectations.

The Knights have won at least 40 games in each of the past four seasons. Over that span, they’ve captured two OHL championships and a Memorial Cup.

London owns the best points percentage in the OHL at .833. Next up is a big home-and-home series with the Sarnia Sting, starting Wednesday, Oct. 21 in Sarnia and wrapping up Friday, Oct. 23 at Canada Life Place.

Both games start at 7 p.m. and can be heard on Classic Rock 98.1 and at www.classicrock981.com.