Easton Cowan, London Knights suffer first loss at 2025 Memorial Cup, will play semifinal Friday

Easton Cowan and the London Knights will need another game to punch their ticket to the 2025 Memorial Cup Final, following a 3-1 loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers.

London finished 2-1 in round-robin play and will await either the Rimouski Oceanic or Moncton Wildcats in Friday’s semifinal. As the result of Tuesday’s victory, Medicine Hat will square off against the winner of Friday’s semifinal.

Cowan was held scoreless for the first time in the tournament, after posting a goal and four points during the Knights’ opening two victories in the round-robin. London jumped out to a 1-0 lead but couldn’t generate any meaningful offence after Kasper Halttunen opened the scoring in the first period.

It’s worth noting that Gavin McKenna was held without a point during Tuesday’s game. McKenna is widely considered the presumptive favourite to be selected first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft and the 17-year-old phenom previously recorded two goals and four points in Medicine Hat’s first two victories. McKenna recorded nine goals and 38 points in 16 WHL playoff games and some believe that he would be the first overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, if he were eligible.

Cowan and the Knights will be offered a shot at redemption Friday in many senses, as the Knights are looking to put last year’s heartbreak behind them. London won the OHL title and advanced to the Memorial Cup Final last year, but lost to the host Saginaw Spirit.

This is Cowan’s last shot with the Knights and he’ll be afforded a real opportunity to make the Maple Leafs out of training camp next season If the Knights lift the Memorial Cup, it would cap off a tour-de-force junior career for Cowan, who is currently the Leafs’ top-ranked prospect entering the summer. Cowan and the Knights are two wins away from immortality, but their pathway to the final still remains up for grabs, with Wednesday serving as a true rest day.