A week after the the London Knights and Niagara IceDogs worked out a trade for two players and two draft picks, the teams have combined on a deal involving three players and three draft picks.
The Knights have acquired Juan Copeland, a second-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2026 from Niagara in exchange for forwards Ryan Humphrey and Mathieu Paris.
“(The move) stems from some earlier moves that we had made,” explained London associate general manager Rob Simpson. “After making the trade for Henry (Brzustewicz) we knew that we were going to have to replace some of those draft picks. Obviously the (overage) position is a specialty position and it is hard to find good ones.
“I think that’s why Niagara wanted a guy like Ryan Humphrey. It’s never easy to say goodbye to players like Ryan Humphrey and Mathieu Paris. They are quality people and have been great in our locker room.”
Copeland is an 18-year-old forward who was selected 22nd overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
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To put that in perspective, it was the same pick the was used to draft Henry Brzustewicz two years later and Brzustewich, due to two compensatory picks that were awarded to other teams was technically a first-round pick.
“Juan has played in the league for a couple of years now and has a ton of skill,” said Simpson. “He plays a pucks possession game and can make plays all over the ice.
London players will begin to head to National Hockey League training camps this week.
Zach Bowen (Edmonton), Jackson Edward (Boston), Isaiah Goerge (N.Y. Isnalders), Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia), Denver Barkey (Philadelphia), Easton Cowan (Toronto), Jacob Julien (Winnipeg) and Kasper Halttunen (San Jose) will all be at their teams respective rookie camps. Landon Sim will be with the St. Louis Blues but will not be participating in on-ice activities as he rehabs an injury.
The Knights will play their next pre-season game on Sept 21 at the Joe Thornton Community Centre in St. Thomas, Ont., against the Erie Otters.
London and the Otters will play the next night at 7 p.m. at Budweiser Gardens.
That will be the Knights’ final pre-season game.
They will open the regular season with a home-and-home against the IceDogs that will bring together a number of former teammates on both sides.
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